Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Emporia, Kansas (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Emporia, Kansas, was a major hub on the Santa Fe. Every westbound from Kansas City ran through here. In the eastern part of town, the line from Topeka and the Ottawa cut-off come together at Emporia Jct. West about 15 miles at Ellinor, the main lines split with one headed to Newton, La Junta, and Raton while the southern route went to Wellington, Amarillo, Clovis, and Belen. However, despite its critical location, Emporia played second fiddle to Topeka with its car and engine shops, Argentine with the largest yard on the system, and Newton and Wellington to the west. Kansas had many branch lines serving the agricultural and ranching communities. Emporia was the hub for branch lines radiating through Strong City to Abilene and Osborne, Barnard and Superior (NE), south through the flint hills to Eldorado, north to Burlingame and Alma, and the Howard Branch to Moline and Virgil, and originally to Chanute through Benedict. In the 2000 census, Emporia claimed 26,760 residents.

James Burke Map

Our tour of Emporia will be divided into Depots Industries of Emporia several pages: Freight Depot West Emporia Interstate Lead Yard Motor Car Building Along the main line Westbound Yard REA Building The Katy Connection Eastbound Yard Passenger Depot Traffic reports Local Yard Harvey House Unresolved questions and photo needs Stock Yard Towers Sources Engine Facilities Merrick Tower This document covers the yard and Emporia Jct. Tower loco facilities. Additional documents Yard Office/Tower on this website cover the other areas.

9/1/73 map

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Emporia: Yard Overview This postcard from the Wichita State University, University Libraries, Department of Special Collections. Yard view is pre-1928 rebuild.

Emporia Yard was a massive sight at one time. Of course, it has undergone many changes through the years. A major rebuilding took place in 1928 which included all new engine facilities.

In 1950 it had an eastbound, westbound, and local yard as well as a stockyard which was a major feeding station on the railroad. The yard had a capacity of 4986 cars with the longest track holding 444 cars. The roundhouse had 30 stalls covering 200 degrees and was one of the most modern on the system. A good crew would average sorting 800 cars per engine per shift (Rod Riley).

The sheep portion of the stockyard was the first to cease and finally all stock servicing by the early 70s. The roundhouse became storage and a portion was leased out. It was gone by 1990. The Eastbound yard was removed in the 80s.

To see this progression, look at some of the track plans on the following pages.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

1950 Track Plan

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

1968 Track Plan

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

1973 Track Plan

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

1977 CLIC Book

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

1990 Track Plan

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

2000 CLIC Book

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Most California trains ran through Emporia. Most Texas trains were yarded. Others were re-blocked.

"Emporia never had an ATSF ice rack. Waynoka, OK had an icing rack. The reefer trains would stop there and be re-iced before moving east. Sand Creek yard (Newton) had a smaller ice rack. When I first started in 1965, we would sometimes get express cars that had strawberries in them. We would switch them off No. 4, take the cars to Sand Creek, ice them, take them back uptown and put them on No. 8. During the late summer months, we would get EX639 trains from Wellington. These were generally cars with grapes. They were loaded but had not been sold yet. We would ice these cars, then store them in the yard. Usually they were gone within 24 hours after icing." Gary Rich.

In the middle of the yard was a scale track which operated most of the day and into the night. Most of the cars coming off the branches that spidered Emporia had to be weighed. In the steam days, Armour had no scale track, so all their cars had to be weighed in and out.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Emporia: Westbound Yard

1950 track plan The Westbound Yard contained 19 tracks. It generally re-blocked and filled trains for Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and California.

1977 CLIC book Between 1977 and 1990, the Eastbound yard was removed, and the Westbound yard became the yard for Emporia.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Emporia: Eastbound Yard

1990 Track Plan

The Eastbound Yard consisted of 14 tracks and was generally used for re-blocking or filling trains for Kansas City (mostly), Fort Madison (occasionally) and Chicago (less).

Trains left the main at Merrick tower and the switches on the west end were controlled by Merrick. This produced its name, the electric lead.

From 1977 CLIC book This yard was removed between 1983 and 1990 and its function combined with the former Westbound yard.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Emporia: Local Yard

1950 track plan

Local freights were made up here for runs from Emporia to Salina, St. Joseph via Topeka, Topeka turn, Howard District, and Arkansas City via El Dorado, Augusta, and Winfield. It also served Emporia customers. By the 70s these tracks were changed to storage.

1977 CLIC book. MP 114 should read 113.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Emporia: Stock Yards

Original stockyard. Postcard view, no date, Wichita State University, University Libraries, Department of Special Collections

TerraServer image shows the remains of the 1929 yard.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

From 1950 track plan.

By 1973, the sheep portion was gone, and the operation scaled down substantially. Rail shipments of stock had ceased.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

1952 photo from grain elevator, sheep section in foreground. Walter Anderson collection.

Overlooking sheep barns and unloading chutes. Walter Anderson Collection.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Emporia was a major feeding station on the ATSF. Livestock shipped by rail had to be unloaded, fed, and exercised every 28 hours by federal law, but that could be extended to 36 hours with a waiver. Emporia was set up for this purpose. A large number of cars heading east would be pulled from their trains at Emporia and set out at the stockyard to allow the stock to rest before continuing on another freight.

Two major stock yards have been built by the Santa Fe in Emporia. The original yard was replaced in 1928. The "new" roundhouse and locomotive service tracks were built where the former stock yard and car shops had been located. The resulting new stock yard was one of the most modern on the system.

The Santa Fe had 7500 stock cars in 1948 and handled nearly 89,000 carloads of stock that year, down from 127,000 in 1946. Carloads remained healthy until 1959 when it began a steady decline.

Its facilities in the southwest side of the yard at one time included the capacity of 175 stock cars. It included 66 pens, 20 covered, concrete floors and alleys, water trough and hydrants, feed racks in each pen, 25 chutes, 25 pockets, 20-ton hoof scale, track chute, and had flood lights (F. Lt. P.) for daily 24-hour operation. There were also 2 hay barns with capacity of 1000 tons, offices, and stockman's room (The Warbonnet, 7:3). There were car loading chutes on each side of the yard, with three parallel tracks on each side.

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection.

Emporia sheep yards had capacity for 200 double deck or 294 single deck cars. It boasted 80 pens, 3 barns with water troughs, hydrants, self-feeders, and salt boxes, double deck chutes, 29 double deck pockets, 10-man electric sheep shearing plant, 70-ton wool storage, 400-ton alfalfa storage, 57,750 bushel grain elevator, electric grain grinder and feed mixer, and had concrete alleys, dirt floors, and a 20-ton hoof scale. When Jack Delano visited in March 1943, he reported 40,000 sheep in residence.

The two tracks closest to the pens were used for loading and unloading while the outside tracks was for cleaning and disinfecting the cars for reuse. Up to four inches of

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer) sand would be used to cover the floor of these cars and hay was added to cars hauling hogs. This soiled cover had to be removed and discarded and new fill added. Caswell gons were regulars in sand service.

In the middle of the yard by the waycar track was a drover track. Modelers of Emporia during this era will want to include drover's cars in their collection. Also, until around 1970, a specific waycar (caboose) was assigned to a specific conductor. "The Santa Fe had chain gangs not pools. Every conductor in the chain gang had a waycar assigned to him. These needed to be switch out at every terminal. The Emporia yard was protected by Eastern Division switchmen. They were kept busy switching out the way cars from the Middle and Eastern Div. crews. Therefore, not only would trains leave their stock cars in Emporia, but they would change waycars as they changed crews." Gary Rich

The drover track is shown in this 1973 track plan.

Eastern Division waycars were kept in this location. Middle Division cars were kept on tracks 18-19 of the westbound yard.

Drovers cars were used if there were more than six caretakers accompanying the stock. It is believed that the drovers’ cars were at the end of the train in front of the caboose. An exception were those used in 75-76 for Superior, NE; they were at the headend.

The sheep barns burned to the ground in 1960 leaving only the stock pens. Rail transport of stock on the Santa Fe ceased February 27, 1974. The grain elevator which once served the yard was leased to Bluestem Grain by 1977 and then to Emporia Elevator by 1983.

See Frank Ellington, et. al. Stock cars of the Santa Fe Railway, and Dean Hale, Santa Fe System Standards, Vol. 1, for more information and plans for Santa Fe stockyards. Ellington's Caboose Cars of the Santa Fe Railway, and John B. McCall's Coach, Cabbage & Caboose contain photos and drawings of Drover's cars. An article in The Warbonnet, 7:3, has useful details on ATSF stock movements.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

Text of a speech given December 28, 1937, concerning the Stock Yards in Emporia.

Emporia, Kansas – Yard and Locomotive Facilities (Compiled by Steve Sandifer)

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Emporia: Engine Facilities - Updated 11-18-03

1991 TerraServer image

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

The 1928 roundhouse had 30 stalls covering 200 degrees and was one of the most modern on the system. It was of the same design as La Junta, CO, and Clovis, NM.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

The photo at the right was taken from the coal tower looking east. Dean Hale collection. Note the Robertson cinder conveyor left over from coal service and sitting unused in the days of oil. For plans and photos of Robertson conveyors, see Model Railroader, March 1969, or Mainline Modeler, September 1992.

Lower photo by James Burke.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

March 29, 1981 photo by Lance Garrels, from Freight Lines and Super Freights by Joe McMillan. The Emporia turntable was a Santa Fe standard 120' through truss design. It was fabricated in 1926 and placed in 1927. It had a 500-ton center and 130# ring rail. It originally had a gasoline engine for propulsion but that was superseded in 1936 with a 20 HP electric motor (Stephen Priest). Detailed drawings, photos, and modeling tips appeared in Model Railroader, October 1989. Although the Emporia roundhouse was relatively modern, the turntable was too short for the 2900 and 3776 class 4-8-4s as well as the 5011 class engines. They had to be taken to NR Jct., a mile east of the depot, and turned on the wye (Lloyd Stagner). Stagner reports that passenger trains with steam power ran through Emporia during the transition period. "Freight power was a little different. Steam on freight trains still ran through Newton. By 1926, the 2-8-2s were the main road power and they ran from Argentine to Newton/Wellington/Ark City. By the 1950s, the 4-8-4s were running from Argentine to Waynoka. He says that Emporia had only one water crane on the freight mains and on the hot trains, power was changed (relayed) since it would take less time to do than water the engine, especially if there was more than one train needing water. The westbound hot trains that usually relayed power at Emporia were the 53, 59 & 99. The crew went on duty at the roundhouse and was on the lead ready to get on the train as soon as the inbound crew stopped and cut off their power. Since the way cars were being changed at the same time, that didn't hurt the train at all. Eastbound, most trains went into the yard at Emporia because of block swaps, set outs or pickups. They would usually swap power just out of convenience." "By the time the diesels were being used on freight trains, the westbound trains always ran through. Eastbound, as with steam, there were lots of consolidations of trains or block swaps, so the power often was changed to accommodate what Argentine wanted for an outbound train. If the diesels had to go to the house at Argentine or the service facility to be fixed, they might be cut off a hotshot at Emporia and added to a Kansas City terminating train. [This practice still goes on today but usually further out like at Wellington, Amarillo, Clovis or Belen.]

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

With assigned way cars being eliminated in 1966 or 1967, things changed, and all the power was run through Emporia and most other terminals unless there was a need to cut a unit or relay power for some other reason. It was not usually for fuel or engine service." Drawings of oil and water columns and various other engine facility items can be found in Santa Fe System Standards, Vol. 3. The Santa Fe Modeler, 1st Quarter, 1990, had an article on Santa Fe Water Cranes. Tichy Train Group produces a kit of the FM Sheffield Model 12A. Another issue had an article on Fuel Oil for Steam Locomotives which included oil column drawings.

James Burke Photos

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

After the steam era, the James Burke photos of the coal tower. roundhouse fell into disuse. The 1977 CLIC book shows two stalls (#2 & 7) leased to A. R. M. Mfg. Co. They made Airglide grain driers. It was gone by 1990.

In its final days, the steam big hook and its tender were stored inside on a track which led directly out the east side where the wrecker train was stored.

The sand towers and power plant were removed in the early 60s.

This roundhouse was constructed in 1928. A series of photos of the old stone roundhouse and the new roundhouse under construction can be found elsewhere on this website. This includes a series of photos of the roundhouse and turntable since 1939.

James Burke visited Emporia January 17-18, 1948, and documented the locomotives present that day. This is shown on the following pages.

The car repair facilities, Repair in Place, tracks were by the engine facilities. Major repair was done in Topeka, 50 miles away. Track 1 was used to clean and recondition cars for grain or hide use. Track 4 was the priority repair track.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer Engines at Emporia, Jan. 17-18, Time Train Engine Type Remarks 1948. Compiled by James Burke 9:20a 96 1018 2-6-2 South of Emporia, bound for Moline 10:40a 25 M-177 Motor Westbound, standing at depot 11:00a Light 4041 2-8-2 Light, standing at roundhouse 11:00a Light 1620 2-10-2 Light, standing at roundhouse 11:00a Light 4068 2-8-2 Light, standing at roundhouse 11:00a Light 4029 2-8-2 Light, standing at roundhouse 11:00a Light 2904 4-8-4 Light, standing at roundhouse 11:00a Yard engine 2244 VO1000 Switching near roundhouse 11:20a Yard engine 838 0-8-0 Came into servicing area 11:45a Light 3191 2-8-2 Came into servicing area 12:00p Light 3125 2-8-2 Came out of roundhouse 12:00p 3769 4-8-4 Westbound freight past roundhouse 12:15p 39? 179 FT Westbound freight past depot 12:20p Yard engine 2229 VO1000 Switching at depot (note 1) 1:30p 1 Scout 2911 4-8-4 Westbound Scout, 13 cars 1:50p Light 3766 4-8-4 Light, standing at roundhouse 2:00p Light 2913 4-8-4 Came into servicing area 2:10p Light 3773 4-8-4 Came into servicing area 3:30p 3162 2-8-2 Westbound freight, 55 cars 3:40p 7 3417 4-6-2 Westbound main, 19 cars, doublehead 3:40p 7 3433 4-6-2 Westbound main, 19 cars, doublehead 3:45p 3766 4-8-4 Eastbound freight past depot 4:10p 2913 4-8-4 Eastbound freight, 83 cars 4:20p 1/4 California Ltd. 3782 4-8-4 Eastbound passenger, 12 cars 4:30p 2/4 California Ltd. 3457 4-8-4 Eastbound passenger, 12 cars 4:40p 95 1014 2-6-2 Mixed from Moline, 6 cars 4:45p 8 Fast Mail 159 FT Eastbound mail 5:00p 52 M-115 Motor Eastbound from Concordia, tied up 5:42p 2 Scout 3779 4-8-4 Eastbound Scout, 12 cars 5:45p 2908 4-8-4 Westbound freight, 97 cars 5:55p 3829 2-10-4 Eastbound freight, 81 cars 6:40p 3171 2-8-2 Eastbound freight, 74 cars 7:15p 2907 4-8-4 Eastbound freight, 82 cars

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

7:40p 6 14 E6 Eastbound passenger, 12 cars 8:50p 3228 2-8-2 Westbound freight, 42 cars 9:10p Yard Engine 2244 VO1000 Switching at depot 9:40p 11 12, 15 E6 Westbound passenger, 10 cars 10:10p 100 FT Eastbound freight, 85 cars 10:20p 3756 4-8-4 Eastbound freight, 73 cars 10:25p Yard Engine 2229 VO1000 Towing the 2908 to NR Jct. 10:25p Light 2908 4-8-4 Towed to turn on wye at NR Jct. 10:50p Yard engine 2229 VO1000 Towing the 2908 back from NR Jct. 10:50p Light 2908 4-8-4 Towed back from wye 11:05p 115 FT Westbound freight, 75 cars 11:25p 2910 4-8-4 Eastbound freight, 88 cars 1:20a 2908 4-8-4 Eastbound freight, 97 cars 1:35a 3418 4-6-2 Eastbound mail, 12 cars, doublehead 1:35a 3452 4-6-4 Eastbound mail, 12 cars, doublehead 1:55a 2909 4-8-4 Westbound freight, 82 cars 2:00a Yard engine 2244 VO1000 Switching at depot 2:10a 23 Grand Canyon 2920 4-8-4 Westbound passenger, 13 cars 2:10a 27 Antelope 3424 4-6-2 Westbound passenger, 6 cars 2:17a 3761 4-8-4 Eastbound freight 2:40a 3770 4-8-4 Westbound freight, 94 cars 3:05a 3768 4-8-4 Westbound freight 3:30a 4006 2-8-2 Westbound freight 3:40a 3766 4-8-4 Westbound freight, 88 cars 4:02a 3194 2-8-2 Westbound freight, 65 cars 4:15a 55 1875 2-6-2 Westbound mixed for Abilene 4:22a 116 FT Eastbound freight, 97 cars 4:25a 18 Super Chief 56 PA1 Eastbound Super Chief 13 cars 4:45a 1/24 Grand Canyon 58 PA1 Eastbound Grand Canyon, 11 cars 4:50a 2/24 Grand Canyon 2923 4-8-4 Eastbound Grand Canyon, 11 cars 5:25a 1/28 Antelope 3447 4-6-2 Eastbound Antelope, 5 cars 5:50a 2/28 Antelope 2921 4-8-4 Eastbound Antelope, 14 cars 5:50a 4041 2-8-2 Eastbound freight 7:45a 96 1014 2-6-2 Mixed to Moline. I rode to Eureka Note 1: Diesel yard goats 2229 and 2244 worked the east end of the yards, including the depot throughout this period.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Emporia: 1928 Engine Facility Construction

The following photos are dated at various dates in 1928 when the new roundhouse and facilities were constructed replacing the original stone roundhouse.

Original stone roundhouse, 1920, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The original stone roundhouse of the 1800s. Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer The new roundhouse as viewed from the top of the coal tower. In the foreground are the ash drops. The camera is pointed east. Walter M. Anderson Collection

Closer, with the camera pointed southeast, Walter M. Anderson Collection.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Both - New Roundhouse under construction, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

New Roundhouse under construction, Walter M. Anderson Collection. The old roundhouse can be seen beyond the new one.

From the roof, looking west. The coaling and sand towers are in the distance.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Roundhouse office as seen from the roof. This is just south of the service tracks, just west of the roundhouse.

The Yard as seen from the roof of the roundhouse, looking west.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

From the turntable pit, looking west to the service tracks and towers under construction.

The west side of the coal (larger) and sand (twin) towers from a distance.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Closer view of the west side of the towers.

The Machinist School

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Looking in a northeasterly direction, the end of the roundhouse with the Machinist School in the background.

Inside an oil tank.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Another inside tank view.

Inside the roundhouse, view #1.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Inside the roundhouse, view #2.

Inside the roundhouse, view #3, looking at the roof.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Inside the roundhouse, view #4.

The rip track building.

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Emporia, KS Roundhouse – 1937 to 1984

1937, Walter M. Anderson Collection

1939, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1939, Walter M. Anderson Collection

1947, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1948, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1962, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1962, Walter M. Anderson Collection

Circa 1962, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Circa 1965, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1973, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1973, Walter M. Anderson Collection

1974, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

Circa 1975, Walter M. Anderson Collection

Circa 1980, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1982, Scott Thomas Photograph

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1982, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1983, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1983, Walter M. Anderson Collection

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1983, Scott Thomas Photographs

The Emporia, KS Roundhouse Compiled by Steve Sandifer

1983, Walter M. Anderson Collection

1984, demolition, Walter M. Anderson Collection