The South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad along with the Heart of the Heartlands group ran a special roundtrip on Saturday May 10, 2003 between Winfield and Fredonia, Kansas.  I was on board and heard that there were 150 passengers and about 20 volunteer crew on board. The train left Winfield on time at 9 a.m., arriving in Fredonia 30 minutes early at 1230 p.m. It left Fredonia at 2 p.m., returning to Winfield  5 minutes early at 555 p.m. - good old Santa Fe running!  There were many 'old' Santa Fe hands on board.
   The line used was the former Santa Fe line between the two cities (the Fourth District of the Eastern Division). The train went though the towns of New Salem, Cambridge, over Grand Summit (the highest point in Kansas), Grenola, Moline, Elk Falls, Longton and Fredonia. These were typical of small towns across America....with a lot of abandoned buildings and railyards just outside the towns. Fredonia and Winfield, though, appeared to be prospering.  The trip was 96 miles one way and we had some speed restrictions, highest speed being 30-35 mph.
   The ticket prices were only $30, which included a 'picnic lunch' at a high school gym in Fredonia. This 'picnic lunch' turned out to be a major barbecue buffet! And it all was included in the $30 ticket price! The Chamber of Commerce of Fredonia and others had actually barbecued a hog the night before for the occasion, so we were told.
   Power/consist for the trip was FURX 1167, WAMX 8506, SEKR non-powered RDC 9210 "Kaleigh Ann," SEKR non-powered RDC 9202 "Afton Leigh,"and SEKR non-powered RDC 9203 "Fallyne Marie."- Consist was reversed on the return trip with the engines running around the train north of Fredonia.
   For more information about the Heart of the Heartlands group, go to their website:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/8458

For more current railroad photos from me, Ken Ziegenbein, go to:
http://www.trainweather.com/sunday.html


According to Brad Bourbina and others,  these tracks through the middle of the street are the old MoPac line through Winfield.  They run out to a very large Rubbermaid plant 2-3 miles out of town. According to Mark Springer, it is one of the biggest employers in Winfield and a pretty active shipper for the SKOL.   John Kirk added that it was the line that ran from Dearing (outisde of Coffeyville) to Winfield to Conway Springs.  There was also a branch off of it that ran to Ark City. According to Mark Springer (who worked on the crew in the last car), until a few years ago this track was served by the Union Pacific by a local out of Wichita that ran on ATSF trackage rights. Currently the trackage is operated by the SKOL. The connection track that our excursion train backed out onto the main line (see photo below) is actually the lead to this trackage from the ATSF yard to the west. The main BNSF line is to the west and the Santa Fe Winfield-Fredonia line is to the north. Note the old signal type, protecting I believe 10th or 11th street in Winfield. Mark Springer said that these old wig-wag signals do actually still work.
   Mike Murray added that he once worked at the Crayola factory in Winfield in 1976(?) and the MoPac would come into town from the southeast and spot cars of wax at the factory and continue north on those tracks. At least he thinks they are the same tracks.


Many storefronts had mural painted on them throughout Winfield. RIGHT-Our excursion special backing onto the main line in front of the old Santa Fe depot at 815 a.m. May 10, 2003. According to Mark Springer, who worked on the crew, most of the traffic on the track the excursion ran on to Fredonia is overhead traffic - the UP ships all of its southeast bound loads from Wichita to Winfield, SKOL, and then to Coffeyville back to the UP. The SKOL calls this train "the Haulage."


SKO FURX locomotive 1167 headed our train toward Fredonia. Part of the crowd waiting to board. Many came as early as 8 for the 9 a.m. departure.


The original Santa Fe depot, the only one left standing in Winfield (the one used by the Texas Chief on the Santa Fe's main line to Texas was torn down years ago).  This depot is now Gambino's Pizza Restaurant.


Closeups of a couple of signs on the cars.


825 a.m., 35 minutes until departure.




A few scenes from on board and out the windows. Lots of cattle, deer and wild turkeys were seen. We were asked to remain seated while the train was in motion. Grand Summit was near these views and John Kirk said trackage near Grand Summit held the distinction of being the steepest "mainline" grade in Kansas,  over 1% at times.










We arrived in Fredonia at 1239 p.m. and walked or rode to the high school gym for a barbecue lunch. The old Gold Dust Hotel is still standing, but not used as a hotel anymore. One occupant is the Gold Dust Quilters. The day turned out great, compared to the thunderstorms of the day before. I noticed this milepost (?) number 4266 on a small bridge along the track that ran past the old Missouri Pacific depot in Fredonia (seen above).  According to Mark Springer, the band that played (see above) has a connection to the Heartlands group. The clarinet player is the father of John Chambers who is a member, car attendant and employee of the SKOL.


LEFT-Getting ready to depart Fredonia for Winfield, 145 p.m. RIGHT-We had a runby west of Cambridge at 430 p.m. next to a graveyard on a hill.


View from the graveyard.




The runby. Most of the passengers did not get off.


More of the runby and people getting back on.


Looking out the window as we entered Winfield shortly before 6 p.m. The day went without incident and everyone seemed to have a good time. Thanks SKO, Heart of the Heartlands, and Engine House Hobbies in Wichita for selling me the ticket. It was a well-organized event.