One Response to GP35s 705 and 721

  1. Mark Davidson says:
    January 25, 2018 at 10:46 PM

    The train has just passed under Northwest Topeka Boulevard. The locomotives are in pool service with an eastbound train on the Union Pacific Railroad (UP). They are on the UP’s First Subdivision of their Kansas Division. Upon arrival in Kansas City the train will be expedited over the Kansas City Terminal Railroad (KCT) and forwarded south on the Frisco to Springfield, Memphis, Birmingham and points beyond.

    In the far distance above the train is the Cargill Elevator at 1845 Northwest Gordon Street. The elevator’s footprint forms an inverted “T” shape relative to the main line. Just behind the photographer the train will pass by the north side of UP’s large 1925-1927 vintage Classical Revival style Topeka Depot at MP 68.0. Today the depot is known as the Great Overland Station. It was renovated from 2000 to 2002 and is open as a railroad heritage museum. The depot address is 701 North Kansas Avenue.

    The track diverging to the left is the Rock Island (RI) main line connection. Two blocks to the south of this point it will cross the Kansas River and turn west to Herington and points west and south. The RI operated over the UP from Topeka east to Armourdale Yard at Kansas City, KS. Beyond the roadway bridge but just this side of the second signal are the diamonds at CRIP Crossing, MP 68.2, of the RI branch to St. Joseph, Missouri. Today that line stubs out at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber plant for truck and off-the-road (OTR) heavy equipment tires in North Topeka.

    The track next to the bridge pier crossing the RI mainline is an industrial track lead. It services the area south and southeast of the Union Pacific’s depot, north of the Kansas River. Industries in this area included the UP’s freight house and Farmers Union Jobbing Association / Topeka Terminal Elevator and associated feed and flour warehouses.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks!

    Mark

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