It was a federally chartered railroad, backed with government land grants. An environmental history and the awardwinning railroad empire across the. Abilene, first of the kansas cow towns kansas historical. Also visible are a train drawn by a steam locomotive, people on foot and on horseback, a telegraph wire, a horsedrawn carriage, and buildings. The kansas historical society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the states history. Its exterior was restored in 1994 to its 1920s appearance. Bnsfs locals to and from superior, nebraska, are the main trains using this line. Construction begins with a firm from canada ross and steele in 1863. However, its sleepy little existence changed when a livestock dealer from illinois, named joseph g. Abilene, first of kansas railroad cow towns, was typical of these frontier communities in its beginning, civic development, and transition.
She has a bfa from the school of the art institute of chicago and an mfa from washington university in st. The santa fe railroad ran trains from abilene to hope for 85 cents per round trip. Old abilene town 2020 all you need to know before you go. History in a pecan shell buffalo gap had been the county seat when taylor county was organized in 1878. The city of abilene provided demand responsive transport. Texas to abilene, the western terminus of the first railroad through kansas.
The train had 21 loaded a nd 35 empty cars for a total tonnage of 2830. Abilene is a city in and the county seat of dickinson county, kansas, united states. An illustration, titled abilene in its glory, of crowds of people at the railroad depot in abilene, kansas. Railroads in kansas kansapedia kansas historical society. Full runs are from abilene to enterprise and return and take about 1. The history of kansas railroads kansas department of. Many of the photos deliver a glimpse of the community in an. Sherow covers the stockmen and traildriving cowboys, of course, but also everyone and everything else connected to the tradee. Where others saw in prairies around abilene a flat, monotonous landscape much like. Abilene, city, seat 1861 of dickinson county, eastcentral kansas, u.
Professor rondas recent publications include the west the railroads made. Union pacific foundation, humanities kansas, and the abilene public library. The area was ripe for settlement, and as the texas and pacific railroad pushed west from fort worth, towns began springing up along the tracks. In ogden they picked up 18 loaded, 20 empty cars for 2247 tons between 7. The railroad had just arrived along the union pacific eastern division, abilenes fortunes would grow because of their place along the railroad. Illinois, bet their fortunes on abilene, kansas, then just a slapdash way station. With the railroad completed, a town lot auction was held on march 15, 1881, and abilene was born. Abilene, first of the kansas cow towns kansas historical society. It intersects a bnsf railway line which enters the city from the east and then turns north.
At mile post 888 there was an air hose problem on the 49th head car rbcs 2666 x box car for golden. Bomar, who had been one of the promoters of the wichita valley railway. Kansas railroads are extremely rich in history albeit one may not think or realize it when they see that flat open farm country that defines the state. Many of the legends and the traditions of the cowboy days had their origin in the abilene of nearly a century ago. It is reported that, appropriately, one of the books that fell off the shelves was called living with ghosts. She graduated from kansas state university and is the author of nine published books. A decade later, the union pacific railroad barreled across the kansas plains passing through abilene. Steam locomotive train ride in abilene, ks book online. The colorful history of abilene dates from the pioneer cattle days when great herds of. Bnsf depot abilene, kansas train stationsdepots on. At a time when the first transcontinental railroad was being constructed by the central pacific and the union pacific, it tried and failed to join the transcontinental ranks. On february 5, 1906, they obtained a charter to build from hamlin southeastward to brady, with a branch from a point near anson to stamford, the terminus of the wichita valley line.
See more ideas about kansas, abilene kansas and kansas usa. The kansas pacific kp line of the union pacific railroad runs eastwest through the city. Abilene, first of kansas railroad cow towns, was typical of these frontier. Mccoy saw abilene as the perfect place for a railhead from which to ship cattle from. The bnsf depot is located near the intersection of 3rd and buckeye streets in the former cattle town of abilene, kansas. The kansas pacific railway kp was a historic railroad company that operated in the western united states in the late 19th century. Abilene, kansas images of america series by stephanie. We cover a wide variety of topics, including freight. Visit abilene and smoky valley railroad on your trip to. Over three million head of texas longhorn cattle were driven to the kansas pacific railroad for shipment at the center of abilene.
Part of that history 150 years ago, the central pacific and union pacific hired two photographers to take pictures of the people building the railroad so they could show investors and other people out east that the world was going to change with the completion of the transcontinental railroad, jones said in presenting the abilene public. Herington successfully got the chicago, kansas and nebraska railway to build through herington. Legends of america photo prints railroads abilene, ks. Abilene tx history, attractions, landmarks, photos. Abilene and northern railway the handbook of texas. Abilene and smoky valley railroad 2020 all you need to know. Kansas historical marker historic abilene, on south sixth street. Around the same time, large stockyards were established north and east of the city. Come along, boys, and listen to my tale, and ill tell. The trail was first marked by jesse chisholm in 1864 when he blazed the path for his wagons hauling supplies to his trading posts one southwest of presentday oklahoma city, and the other in wichita, kansas. Stephanie mowry bearce grew up on the plains of kansas, near abilene, and has always loved kansas history. Feel free to add any photos of abilene that you may have via the fan photo link below. Abilene has one daily newspaper, the abilene reflectorchronicle. A branch of the santa fe railroad arrived at wichita and the town bustedwideopen.
Ranchers coming to the area took advantage of the vast grasslands, and the new arrival of settlers was the beginning of a town named abilene. This is one or more of the class i railroads that the railroad became part of, if any. Abilene and smoky valley railroad 2020 all you need to. In the late 19th century, the chisholm trail became the main route of driving cattle northward from texas to the railheads in kansas. In the fall of 1887, the central kansas free fair association held a fair in hope. Her selfpublished book of railroad graffiti photographs is available for purchase. The last passenger train left the depot in march 1967 with only 39 passengers aboard. It is the principal city of the abilene metropolitan statistical area, which had a 2017 estimated population of 170,219. See more ideas about abilene kansas, abilene, kansas.
During world war ii, less popular routes were reclaimed by the war effort for the metal rails, because of a shortage of materials during those years. Regular passenger trains steam trains dinner trains school charters special trainsevents charter your own train. During the 1870s, there was wondrous change in west texas. Our dinner train schedule is now posted for this coming season. Many of the legends and the traditions of the cowboy days had their. In north salt lake they picked up 17 cattle cars at 952 tons at 6. Abilene came into being as the texas and pacific railway rapidly built its way from fort worth across west texas.
Eventually, cultivated farmlands, fencing, and the extension of the railroads sealed. The kansas pacific railway reaches the kansascolorado border with its tracks. Abilene, first of the kansas cow towns, by george l. The worlds largest spur, according to the guinness book of world records. This railroad is constantly referred to as the chicago northwestern by the author, when in reality it was the chicago and northwestern.
It began as a station on the overland stage lines and reached its zenith as one of a succession of northern railroad terminals and shipping points on texas cattle trails, over which millions of longhorn. Thank you for your patience while we retrieve your images. The missourikansastexas railroad was incorporated in 1870, spurred by the promise of federal land grant money if it could be the first railroad to reach the kansas. Established in 1857, abilene became an early stagecoach stop on the kansas frontier. He was not the hero of the burlesque stage nor was he the drunken fighting terror of the dime novel.
The first railroad in dickinson county was built through that territory in 1866. Posts about abilene kansas written by oldgravelroad. The colorful history of abilene dates from the pioneer cattle days when great herds of longhorns were driven overland from texas to abilene, the western terminus of the first railroad through kansas. A pictorial history of abilene, kansas home facebook. The person talking during the ride offered a tremendous amount of information about things to do and see in abilene as well as the history of the railroad. He gave the land and rightofway for herington to become a division point with shops, two round houses, freight house, bridge yards, telegraph office and many. The abilene and smoky valley railroad is a heritage railway located in abilene, kansas. Bookstore owners have reported shadowy figures, the unexplained sound of jingle bells at christmastime, and books that seemed to be pushed off of shelves by unseen hands. Center for the study of the american west book award, outstanding western.
At the time the region was virtually devoid of settlement and as a result no funding could be secured for its construction. View all hotels near abilene and smoky valley railroad on tripadvisor. This page has been prepared and maintained through a cooperative effort of the city council and the downs historical society. Abilene queen of the kansas cowtowns legends of america. The city of abilene holds a colorful position in the annuals of the old west.
First train tracks being surveyed across kansas from east to west was the kansas pacific railroad. The growth of the town was rather slow until after the kansas pacific railroad was completed to abilene in 1867. February 2017 the author of this article is solely responsible for its content. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census, making it the 27thmost populous city in the state of texas. We had a chance to ride on the train to enterprise pulled by the steam locomotive. Our plan is to present historic photos from the societys archives. As railroads were built further south, the end of the chisholm trail was slowly moved south towards. View all attractions near old abilene town on tripadvisor. The abilene and northern railway company was fostered by edward s. In 1864, the train is opened for traveling from kansas city to lawrence. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you.
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