Welcome to Kansas!
Originally constructed in the late 19th century as a key part of the Union Pacific’s expansion westward, it has long served as an important artery for agricultural shipments, particularly wheat and corn, as well as manufactured goods.Â
While the line is mostly single track, it has passing sidings to accommodate train meets and overtakes. Along its length, numerous small towns and grain elevators dot the route, echoing the region’s deep-rooted ties to farming and railroading.
The subdivision begins just west of Topeka, the state capital, at MP 73. For the first 18 miles, the line is governed by Centralized Traffic Control (CTC), offering higher operational efficiency and safety, until it reaches St. Marys, Kansas (MP 91). Beyond St. Marys to Salina and farther west, operations revert to Automatic Block Signaling (ABS). Railroad crews will be notified via radio with instructions when one of the trains will need to take the siding to let the other one pass. Â The line is known for its varied traffic, often handling long grain unit trains during the summer harvest, and manifest freights year-round. Several historic depots, some dating to the early 20th century, still stand along the route, reflecting the enduring legacy of railroading in Kansas.
Between the towns of Ogden and Junction City (MP 131 to MP 137), the line passes through the grounds of Fort Riley, a major U.S. Army installation established in 1853 and renowned as the home of the 1st Infantry Division. The track here serves both military logistics and occasional civilian freight, with Union Pacific handling the interchange at the fort’s exchange yard. The military switch crews handle the internal movement of freight cars within the fort itself.Â
At Abilene, the line crosses over the former ATSF lines (now BNSF), making the city a small but significant rail junction. Abilene is steeped in history—not only was it an early terminus of the Chisholm Trail, famous for cattle drives in the late 1800s, but its Union Pacific depot stands as a testament to the golden age of American rail travel. Today, both the UP and BNSF depots remain. The city also known as the boyhood home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and has a museum where you can learn more.
Between the towns of Abilene and Salina, the track is shared with the Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (KO). The K&O operates a yard in Salina adjacent to the UP yard, where both railroads regularly exchange freight cars to facilitate the movement of goods throughout the region.
At Salina, the 112-mile subdivision terminates, and a new section commences as the line proceeds westward through the Kansas prairies toward Denver, Colorado.
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Route Facts:
- The UP Boy Boy 4014 traveled on the Salina Sub during the 2024 Heartland of America Tour on its return trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
- The Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (K&O) runs between Salina and Abilene via trackage rights.
- The Kyle Railroad (KYLE) runs between Solomon and Salina via trackage rights. Kyle Railroad will take its own tracks at the wye west of Solomon.
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