This line was the base of construction operations of a new mainline across Kansas. This railroad would become the Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern Kansas Railroad by 1880, and later the Southern Kansas Railway in 1883.
Another segment of line was added by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1871. This segment connected Emporia, Kansas to Ellinor, Kansas.
In 1875, another segment from the Kansas City Union Depot to Olathe was added by the Kansas City, Topeka & Western Railroad; later leased to the ATSF in 1875.
By 1879, another segment between Mulvane and Wellington, Kansas was opened by the Cowley, Sumner and Fort Smith Railroad. This was leased to the ATSF in 1879.
In 1884, the Kansas City & Emporia Railway opened a connecting line between Ottawa and Emporia. This line would be leased by the Southern Kansas Railway in 1888; which in turn would be leased by the ATSF in 1889.
By 1887, the final segment of line between Ellinor and Mulvane would be opened by the Chicago, Kansas City & Western Railroad. This railroad would be leased by the ATSF in 1888.
The ATSF began purchasing all of the leased lines in 1899, and would complete it by 1901. This mainline connected to Chicago on the east and Los Angeles on the west.
The entirety of this line would be double tracked around 1905, due to an increased demand for freight service. This would be the backbone of the ATSF system.
Despite the heavy use this line saw, the ATSF oftentimes found itself in financial turmoil. As a result, it would merge with the thriving Burlington Northern in 1996 to form BNSF Railway; the current owner of the line.
BNSF operates this as the Southern Transcontinental Route, and the line between Kansas City and Wellington is known as the Emporia Subdivision. It is one of the most heavily used lines in the BNSF system.
06/26/21
West of Quenemo, a massive Pratt Through Truss bridge once crossed the Marias des Cygnes River.
The previous truss bridge here was built in 1905 to replace a single track, and evidently shorter through truss. This old truss may have been relocated to another location.
Interestingly enough, the truss bridge was damaged by floodwaters soon after completion. However, the piers were strengthened and the bridge was in service within a couple days.
The main truss was a massive 7-panel, pin connected Pratt Through Truss. It was approached by a concrete beam span and I-Beam spans on both ends.
These concrete beams replaced an older 1905 deck girders at an unknown date, possibly approximately 2000.
Interestingly enough, the approaches were rebuilt in 1945. The I-Beam spans that rest on timber substructures were added at this time.
The other substructures of the bridge were mostly made of concrete, except for one small part of the east pier; which had been built of stone. This is evidence of an older bridge.
Unfortunately, this bridge was replaced during 2018 and 2019. A new through girder bridge was opened in 2019. The truss bridge was marketed to anyone who wanted it, but it unfortunately came with a heavy cost to simply remove from the site.
Despite the great historic integrity this structure demonstrates, the author has ranked it as moderately significant, due to the more common nature of this type of truss in the region.
The photo above is an overview. Fortunately, this bridge is easy to access; sitting parallel to Maple Street.
| Upstream | BNSF Marias des Cygnes River Bridge (Melvern) |
| Downstream | Pomona Rail Bridge |