Question for the Northern Division experts. Does anyone have a date for when the Frisco US 51 overpass in Olathe would have been constructed? Karl, I know your father's maps show it, but I'm trying to pin down a more precise date. I'm sticking to 1943 as my "target era" for the Frisco. Although, Ben has that ATSF Dash-9 that he wants to run. And if anyone has pictures, especially from the 1940s or 1950s, I'd love to see them here. Best Regards,
Chris, If you mean US Highway 56, here's an aerial photograph shot 8/11/1959. There may have been an earlier bridge, but based on the earth work in this photograph, the Frisco overpass of US 56 appears to be new or recently renewed. It doesn't help with your early 1940s date, but it establishes its existence to that date, 1959.
Karl, That helps a lot, many thanks! Yes, US Highway 56. I should have double-checked my maps or have had that second cup of coffee before typing. Best Regards,
The double track bridge consists of two spans over the highway. The bridge consists of four 31'-0" and four 38'-11' I-beams. The outer guard rails are concrete. The bridge was fabricated in 1959. The Frisco Railway (SLSF) is to the east of downtown Olathe. The Frisco's right of way runs north-south to the north of the bridge taking I-35 over the tracks and turns to the south southwest to the south of I-35 all east of K-7 Highway at 151st Street. The "Old US-56 Highway" bridge that is the subject of the original post is east of South Harrison Street and north of I-35. Just to the north of the US-56 Highway bridge is the "Y" and connection track (former interchange) to the Santa Fe just on the south side of downtown Olathe, KS. This track is north of East Dennis Avenue, west of the Frisco and South Harrison Street and then runs parallel to and just north of Southgate Street west of South Harrison Street to the Santa Fe tracks. The railroad is east of the Great Mall of the Great Plains (northwest corner) and Olathe Medical Center / Hospital (southwest corner) which are located to the west of the 151st Street and the I-35 / K-7 Junction. Please see the link below and you can zoom in and follow the tracks as needed. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...637,-94.806647&spn=0.018546,0.033131&t=h&z=15 Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
The "Old US-56 Highway" bridge that is the subject of the original post is east of South Harrison Street and north of I-35. Just to the north of the US-56 Highway bridge is the "Y" and connection track (former interchange) to the Santa Fe just on the south side of downtown Olathe, KS. This track is north of East Dennis Avenue, west of the Frisco and South Harrison Street and then runs parallel to and just north of Southgate Street west of South Harrison Street to the Santa Fe tracks. The Frisco Railway (SLSF) is to the east of downtown Olathe. The Frisco's right of way runs north-south to the north of the bridge taking I-35 over the tracks and turns to the south southwest to the south of I-35 all east of K-7 Highway at 151st Street. The railroad is east of the Great Mall of the Great Plains (northwest corner) and Olathe Medical Center / Hospital (southwest corner) which are located to the west of the 151st Street and the I-35 / K-7 Junction. Please see the link below and you can zoom in and follow the tracks as needed. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...637,-94.806647&spn=0.018546,0.033131&t=h&z=15 Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
The bridge address is approximately 880 East Old US 56 Highway, Olathe, KS. View of the east side of the bridge underpass from Old US 56 Highway, looking west. Clearance on the west bound (north) lanes is 14' 6". http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...0oDdiWIkqUwsesi4Ne1esQ&cbp=12,274.78,,0,-5.11 View of the west side of the bridge underpass from Old US 56 Highway, looking east. Clearance on the east bound (south) lanes is 14' 9". http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...=0oDdiWIkqUwsesi4Ne1esQ&cbp=12,88.32,,0,-5.11 View looking south down the main line toward the US 56 Highway bridge from the East Dennis Avenue crossing. Note the south leg of the connector track wye on the right. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...Kr0CmtVQOEMBtGO5Ht5bFg&cbp=12,182.68,,0,-0.98 Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
Orientation notes on the black and white photograph post above by Karl: US 56 Highway is at the top of the photograph. Note US 56 Highway and I-35 Junction in the far northeast corner. The Olathe wye and connection (interchange) track leading off to the northwest is visible at the top right. The wye is just to the right of and the connecting track is under the black lettering "3W-143(6)W". The US 56 Highway roadway passes under the railroad bridge just south of the south leg of the wye. The Frisco Railway (SLSF) main line runs to the south through the "W" in the "3W-143(2)G" lettering in section 12 at the bottom of the page. I-35 (note 4 lane divided interstate highway) runs northeast (top right) to southwest (bottom left) diagonally across the photo. I-35 crosses over the Frisco very close to the section number "1". The highway junction in the center is Harrison Street / K-7 Highway (north-south), 151st Street (east-west) and I-35 (northeast to southwest). The Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) curving from the north to the southwest runs through section 2 in the top left corner. As a side note - The connecting track and wye are the last active right of way remnants of the Kansas City, Clinton and Springfield Railway (KCCS). Just to the east of the Frisco's main line at the wye is 24 acre Frisco Lake. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
Mark - How are things? It sounds like you all may be treading water in the KC area tonight! Superb information and summary! This Scissorbill Country fellow is still trying to wrap his mind around the Northern Division, but it's proving to be an enjoyable challenge. Best Regards,
