Nostalgia & History > Topeka Railroad Days 1995 Flyer

Topeka, state capitol of Kansas & legendary birthplace of the Santa Fe Railway once had what was called “Topeka Railroad Days”. It was a colossal event, supported by the local railroads. This Labor Day weekend gala was designed to showcase local railroading sometimes with prominent "guest" RRs, and provide a surprising array of local train ride shuttles in conjunction with a variety of entertainment venues.

Ironically I never had the good fortune to be able to attend any of the Topeka RR Days events. I was either unaware (mid-late 1970s) or just plain unable to miss work time (1980 ~ 1986). And by Labor Day 1987 I was living & railroading out of state. Several years ago TO member “imrl” posted a nice thread about the event: ( https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,2116099,2116099#msg-2116099 ). I don’t know when Topeka RR Days got its start, nor do I know when the last one occurred. Since its cessation there have been similar but smaller RR “festivals” and BNSF has opened its Topeka Shops complex for public inspection, even providing food & drink.

Below is a scan of a 1995 flyer mined from “Spain’s Mountain”, an extensive private collection of paper RR collectibles & knick-knacks:

1. Both page #8 (back cover) & page #1 (front cover) here unfolded for the scanner.

2. Pages #2 ~ #3 provide a general outline of events.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/18 07:29 by santafe199.

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3. & 4. Pages #4 ~ #7 provide a detailed schedule of events w/ costs.
(Flyer scanned from the Dick Spain collection)

Thanks for looking & remembering!
Lance Garrels (santafe199)
Dick Spain (isinern)

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That was a fun event. We (1522)were there in '96 and did a round trip to Emporia in addition to being on display. That whole trip was great, both to and from Topeka and the trip while there. Santa Fe gave us the railroad from Topeka to Emporia.

Those were good times indeed.

BNSF had a nice pair of freshly painted GPs on the train, semaphores galore and lots of friendly people.

I should dig out some photos!

Freshly painted is right!

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Went to several Topeka Railroad Days, not sure about 1995. We did ride an excursion train one year to Emporia and return. Went to dinner on the stationary train parked at a grain elevator in Pauline another year. Good times.

One of the few times the 1st class car is less than any other car type. "In the day" that compartment car would be highest (cost), with the addition of being able to sit in the dome & lounge any time.

I worked several of those trains that weekend, I remember we used 156 directly out of the Topeka Shops after extensive wreck repairs. It had been the lead unit on a westbound stack train that failed to stop for a red signal at Lebo. It drove into the side of an eastbound that was crossing over from the north track to the south. Quite a mess, but the shop guys did it right. Inside the cab, the only give away was an extra weld or two on the conductor's side

I wish I had attended.

As seen in the brochure, what ever became of that flat top full lounge car built by PS and used on the pre-Hi Level El Capitan? Is it still in the BNSF Fleet?

BuddPullman Wrote:

> As seen in the brochure, what ever became of that
> flat top full lounge car built by PS and used on
> the pre-Hi Level El Capitan? Is it still in the
> BNSF Fleet?

That would have been ATSF 62, now BNSF 29 Valley View. It was built by Pullman in 1947 as club-lounge 1348...which oddly enough makes it the second Santa Fe passenger car numbered 1348 whose history I've dug up today:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4490155

I think the first one was in 1986 with UP 8444 showing as it pulled a passenger train from West to East. Would have to dig up my pic. I dug it up and it was Aug, 1986 . upkpfan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/21 19:49 by upkpfan.

That's how I remember it. There was a big whoopty doo in Topeka for the state's 125 birthday celebration. RR Days evolved from there. It was at Forbes Field until they moved it downtown one year in the late 90s or early 00s. That seemed to kill it. I think they tried one more year back at Forbes before calling it quits.

Yes Jim, when they moved it downtown, that killed it exactly. upkpfan