Nostalgia & History > Former ATSF Railway depot at Burlington, KS

Here is a photo of the former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway depot at Burlington, KS. The picture was taken on Aug. 31, 1957. I have never toured Burlington to study where the ATSF and MKT crossed. Can any of the old roadbed of both railroads be seen in a satellite photo, such as on Google Earth? I'd like to get a physical address of where the diamond was possibly located.

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The 1901 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the crossing to be at the intersection of 10th St and Potomac St. It also depicts a connection in the northeast quadrant of the crossing. The 1912 edition has the crossing midway between 10th and 11th. I think the 1901 edition may be the more accurate of the two based on the USGS 7.5' quad sheet.

Bob

There's an 1887 map of Burlington, KS in the David Rumsey map collection that confirms the 10th and Potomac location for the diamond, and also shows where the depots were located. Santa Fe's depot was just east of the crossing, which would be just on the other side of the elevator at the left edge of the photo above. It also shows the interchange track to the MKT passing behind the depot, which is barely visible in the photo.

http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/view/all/where/Burlington+(Kan.)/Kansas/when/1887?cic=RUMSEY~8~1&os=0&pgs=50&sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No

Looking at the scars on the ground in Google Maps, the ATSF line is barely discernable paralleling Potomac on the north side, and the MKT easily visible as it slices diagonally through town. The elevator is still there, as is the scar from the interchange track:

http://g.co/maps/4s2qu

By the way, the KSHS website identifies the fellow who took that photo of the Burlington depot as Howard Killam:

http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/215370

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
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> There's an 1887 map of Burlington, KS in the David
> Rumsey map collection that confirms the 10th and
> Potomac location for the diamond, and also shows
> where the depots were located. Santa Fe's depot
> was just east of the crossing, which would be just
> on the other side of the elevator at the left edge
> of the photo above. It also shows the interchange
> track to the MKT passing behind the depot, which
> is barely visible in the photo.
>
> http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/view/all/w
> here/Burlington+(Kan.)/Kansas/when/1887?cic=RUMSEY
> ~8~1&os=0&pgs=50&sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPu
> b_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No
>
> Looking at the scars on the ground in Google Maps,
> the ATSF line is barely discernable paralleling
> Potomac on the north side, and the MKT easily
> visible as it slices diagonally through town. The
> elevator is still there, as is the scar from the
> interchange track:
>
> http://g.co/maps/4s2qu
>
> By the way, the KSHS website identifies the fellow
> who took that photo of the Burlington depot as
> Howard Killam:
>
> http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/215370


I remember Howard Killam. He was a member of the Topeka chapter of the NRHS. He was a Carman at the Topeka Shops in the 70's when I worked there as a Carman also. He was still living when I left for Middle Div. engine service in early '79.

Howard was well known for his collection of depot and station sign photos

I have pictures of the Burlington Depot while I was chasing the Gridley Branch local back in the fall of 71. As the local was leaving town I followed it and noticed where the MKT used to cross. Probably couldn't find it now.

mopacrr Wrote:

> I have pictures of the Burlington Depot while I
> was chasing the Gridley Branch local back in the
> fall of 71.

Any chance you could post some shots from that chase? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to see them.