Cherokee, KS, Afton Subdivision, MP 135.9, Parsons Subdivision, MP 145.6

Discussion in 'Depots A-F' started by RICHCRAB, Nov 9, 2005.

  1. RICHCRAB

    RICHCRAB Guest

    Hello Frisco Folks,

    Here is photograph that I have came across of the Frisco depot in Cherokee, KS.

    Take care,

    Rich

    Ship it on the Frisco!

    Edit 3/22/2024: The westbound passenger train is on the Parsons Subdivision.

    It has just crossed the Frisco's Afton Subdivision.

    View looking south southwest.
    MKD
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 6:33 PM
  2. Cherokee, KS depot.

    Photograph dated 1959.

    FM

    Edit 3/22/2024: Tracks in the lower right corner are the Afton Subdivision main line. Beyond the depot is the Parsons Subdivision main line.

    The diamond crossing is protected by an electrically locked gate, normal position against the Parsons Subdivision.

    Photograph looking north northwest.
    MKD
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 6:31 PM
  3. Another view of the old depot.

    From April 1909 Frisco Man magazine by way of Springfield Library.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 6:35 PM
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  4. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    A souvenir album of Cherokee, Kansas.

    Included are photographs of the business district, the public school, the Frisco depot, and the railroad yards.

    Date: Between 1895 and 1905

    Cherokee Station:

    http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/220809/page/4

    Edit 3/22/2024: Frist photograph shows a southbound passenger train on the Afton Subdivision. The Cherokee, KS depot sat on the southwest quadrant of the Afton Subdivision and Parsons Subdivision diamond crossing.

    Note the curved connecting in the left foreground between the Parsons Subdivision to the right and the Afton Subdivision to the left.

    View looking west southwest.
    MKD

    [​IMG]

    Edit 3/22/2024: Train is westbound on the Parsons Subdivision north of the Cherokee, KS depot. In the lower left corned is the Afton Subdivision main line and diamond crossing.
    MKD

    [​IMG]

    Bonus! Roundhouse at Cherokee, KS:

    http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/220809/page/9

    Edit 3/22/2024: The locomotive roundhouse facilities were located in the northwest quadrant of the Afton Subdivision and Parsons Subdivision crossing. This was north of the Cherokee, KS depot.

    View is looking northwest.
    MKD

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 6:49 PM
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  5. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Cherokee, KS depot.

    1955-1959

    KansasMemory.org

    Kansas Historical Society

    Edit 3/22/2024: This is the Armco brand metal modular component replacement depot. It too sat on the southwest quadrant of the diamond crossing of the Afton Subdivision and Parsons Subdivision crossing.

    The Afton Subdivision is the track running from lower right to upper left. The Parsons Subdivision is the track running from lower left to upper right.

    Note the electrically locked gate protecting the diamond crossing. Its normal position is against the Parsons Subdivision.

    Note the gate has a raised center section are to allow a section gang motor car to pass under the closed gate. This reduced or eliminated the need to get off the speeder, run the interlocking timer, unlock the gate, open it and then repeat the process in reverse.

    There are two switch marker lamps, or in this case gate marker lamps. One is mounted high on a mast on the right of the swing portion. The second is mounted above the track centerline over the raised center section of the gate.

    Parallel to the axis of the gate they have green roundels, while perpendicular to the gate axis they have red roundels. Under the center lamp is a reflective red with white letters STOP sign.

    View looking southwest.
    MKD

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 7:22 PM
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  6. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Good Morning All,

    I am looking for a few more historical notes for the Cherokee, KS depot if anyone can assist.

    Trying to find build date and when the 2-story brick depot structure was removed. Any other details would be appreciated. I am giving a talk for the NMRA-X at the end of June and am working to improve my presentation on Frisco in the area.

    I also hope to start the model of this depot over the summer for the layout.

    Thanks Frisco Friends,

    Bob T.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 6:51 PM
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  7. pensive

    pensive Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 7:26 PM
  8. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Excellent, thanks Rich!

    Anyone know the date it was removed?

    Bob T.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 7:27 PM
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  9. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Bob,

    I cannot get you an exact date, but I can get you a range.

    The photograph of the new small rectangular depot above is dated sometime between 1955-1958. I can confirm on a 1958 aerial photograph that this newer depot is in place.

    We can tell from photographs that the long side of the old depot ran North-South with the Afton Subdivision, and the new depot ran East-West with the Parsons Subdivision. I found an aerial photograph dated June of 1950. It appears that the old depot was still in place. Check it out at this website.

    https://chasm.kgs.ku.edu/ords/pubcat.arphd2.ViewSheet?f_id=653&f_sh=26308

    I cannot zoom in far enough to tell for sure, but it appears that the depot in place is running North-South, which would indicate it is still the old depot.

    So some time between 1950 and 1958 is the best I can come up with at this point.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 9:18 PM
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  10. mark

    mark Staff Member Staff Member

    The change in depot time frame can be narrowed by four years to between 1950 and 1955.

    The depot photograph in post #5 is from Kansas Historical Society, Kansas Memory Collection. It was taken by Howard Killam. Howard was a prolific photographer of Kansas railroad depots and station signs. His photograph notes on the image indicate it was taken looking south[west]. The photo is dated 5/28/1955.

    There is a second photograph of his in the collection of the newer Cherokee depot. The notes on it by Mr. Killam indicate it was taken looking north. It appears the postcard view in post #2 is a cropped view of his photograph. This second image was taken just over four years later, dated 8/1/1959. Please see the image below.

    https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/305770/page/3

    Note on the right edge of this photograph in the distance, still standing is the concrete coaling tower at Cherokee. The coaling tower sat west of and adjacent to the Afton Subdivision main in the northwest quadrant of the junction crossing. It too shows in Ethan's referenced aerial photograph dated 6/15/1950.

    Per employee timetables for the Northern Division it was in service at least through May 15, 1948. It was retired and out of service before September 22, 1952. It was demolished after August 1, 1959.

    Hopefully additional research and contributions will further narrow the above timelines.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks!

    Mark
     
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  11. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Thanks Mark, and Ethan, great sleuthing.

    I also have a query in with the museum in Carona, KS.

    -Bob T.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 9:18 PM
  12. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    From "Frisco Rails Across Kansas" Facebook Page by Richard Crabtree.

    Here we see Frisco 2-8-2 SLSF 4143 built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1923 after it wrecked into the water tower at Cherokee, KS.

    The photograph is dated 1944, but I have not come across a confirming story in the newspaper.

    Wreck-Cherokee-1944-Friso-4143.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 9:21 PM
  13. fredman23

    fredman23 Member

  14. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Cherokee, KS depot.

    Northern Division B&B Record book.

    My personal collection.

    cherokee_b_and_b_record.jpg

    Cherokee, KS, Underwood Patent coal chute, coal chute ticket office and notes on 1927 50-ton concrete coal chute.

    Northern Division B&B Record book.

    My personal collection.

    cherokee_b_and_b_record 1.jpg

    Cherokee, KS freight house, water tank, water treatment plant and depot coal house.

    B&B record confirms the October 1944 derailment, which wrecked the water tank. The tank was razed, and rebuilt with second hand materials.

    Northern Division B&B Record book.

    My personal collection.

    cherokee_b_and_b_record 2.jpg

    Cherokee, KS, section house dwelling, section house privy, and section coal house.

    Three gangs were quartered in the Cherokee Gang, Gang L155, MP L130.5 - MP L138.0; Gang M8, MP M140.25 - M145.25 and Gang M9, MP M145.25 - M152.5

    Northern Division B&B Record book.

    My personal collection.

    cherokee_b_and_b_record 3.jpg

    Cherokee, KS had four section car tool houses, two of which were built from the ground up, and two were second hand boxcars.

    There was sufficient repair in place (RIP) track work so that a car repairer’s tool house and bolt house were built at Cherokee.

    Northern Division B&B Record book.

    My personal collection.

    cherokee_b_and_b_record 4.jpg

    Cherokee, KS car repairer’s shop, carmen’s material building, carmen’s privy, scale house and stock pen.

    Northern Division B&B Record book.

    My personal collection.

    cherokee_b_and_b_record 5.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 9:47 PM
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  15. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Awesome. Thanks Karl!
     
  16. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

  17. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 9:50 PM
  18. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 9:51 PM
  19. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 9:53 PM
  20. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Standard Section Gang Headquarters.

    Diagram layout includes section tool house, section bunk house, its privy, section house dwelling, its privy and water well.

    The section bunk house was occupied by the section gang crew members, while the section house dwelling was occupied by the section gang foreman and family.

    Section_hdqtr_plan.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2024 at 10:02 PM

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