I am posting this inquiry in hopes someone has the Bridge and Building (B&B) records showing the ownership of the depot in Valley Center, Kansas and the depot in Medora, Kansas. The one in Valley Center was adjacent to the diamond with the ATSF. I have heard from numerous sources different accounts about which road owned and built this depot. As a side note, I have found early maps with different dates showing a connection with the ATSF in Valley Center. According to the Official Railway Equipment Registers (ORER) I have, no connection existed in the 1950s or 1960s. Anyone have any earlier ORER's that show a connection existed in earlier times? Or any other information that would help out? The depot in Burrton, KS was jointly owned and operated with the ATSF. It sat adjacent to the diamond there so I thought maybe that was the case here. The depot in Medora was adjacent to the diamond and was shared with the CRIP. Again, different opinions have been told on who actually built this depot and which road owned it. Any and all information would be great. Thank you. Dale Slechta
The Frisco owned the depot at Valley Center, KS, MP 514.6, which was built in 1886. There was a connection with the AT&SF at that location, and it was on the southwest "quadrant" of the crossing. The Frisco utilized the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific (CRI&P) depot at Medora, MP 551.5. The attached track chart is circa 1929-1930. The B&B drawings were kept current at least through the early to mid 1950s. It could be assumed that the structures lasted at least until then.
Thanks Karl for that information. I keep running into Santa Fe folks that think the ATSF built everything close to their road. I was in Valley Center, KS yesterday looking for signs of the connection but could not see any artifacts that suggested it existed. The city of Valley Center has some old maps and on them it shows a brick depot that belonged to the Santa Fe, but it was at the diamond also on the same location. Their city street maps did not show any connecting track either. It is bad when the locals do not remember things. I spoke with a couple of fellows at the elevator and they told me they did not believe there was a connecting track because the lumber yard there was built at the end of WW2 and it crowds the right of way. They did say the depot had a fire and was demolished. However, the Railroad Station Historical Society has a Frisco depot from Valley Center being moved to Hillsboro, Kansas and it is now a house. I am going to take a drive and see if that is true or not. Again, thanks for your information. Dale Slechta
Sorry to dig up an old topic! But even in 1905 there was no connection, probably because of traffic being handled at North Junction, Wichita. Here is a plat map of Valley Center, KS.
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company depot in Valley Center, Kansas. (1950-1960). Description at: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/446592 KansasMemory.org Kansas Historical Society Edit 3/18/2024: Frisco Burrton Subdivision tracks run from upper right to bottom center of the image. Wichita, KS, MP 507.8 is to the right and Ellsworth, KS, MP 607.9 is to the left. Note the paddle board train order signal extending from the agent / operator bay office. It is set to stop or against Frisco movements past the depot. Beyond the depot is an exterior framed coal shed, a baggage cart on the depot platform and the depot privy or outhouse near the right edge of the image. Santa Fe tracks run from left to right edges of this image. Their Eastern Lines, Middle Division, Third District runs from Newton, KS to the left, south through Wichita to Mulvane, KS. On the Santa Fe the SLSF crossing is MP 201.8. View looking southeast. MKD
Train collision, Valley Center, Kansas (1880-1890) ATSF vs SLSF Depot is visible in background. Description at: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/446593 KansasMemory.org Kansas Historical Society Edit 3/18/2024: An unidentified Frisco locomotive is on the left and Santa Fe locomotive ATSF 1433 is on the right. The Frisco depot is in the distance. View looking north northeast. MKD
A different angle, marked as 1955.... Description at: https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/446591 KansasMemory.org Kansas Historical Society Edit 3/18/2024: Note the two waybill boxes on the depot front. The bill box on the left of the waiting room door is presumed for the Santa Fe. The bill box between the agent / operation bay and the baggage room door is for the Frisco. The depot, owned by the Frisco, is a joint agency station with the Santa Fe. On the platform to the right of the depot is a baggage car. To its right is an outside framed coal shed. Coal was used as fuel in a potbelly stove to heat the depot on cold days. The track visible in front of the depot is the Frisco's Burrton Subdivision. Wichita, KS, MP 507.8, is to the right and Ellsworth, KS, MP 607.9, is to the left. Photographer is standing adjacent to the Santa Fe main line just off the left edge of the image. The at grade diamond crossing is just northwest of the Santa Fe whistle post. At this time the diamond crossing is protected by an automatic interlocking. View looking north. MKD
