Marion depot is a classic
By MATT NEWHOUSE
News Editor
Converting a depot into a library is a great way to save it, railroad expert and author Robert Collins said July 17 at Marion City Library.
"This is a beautiful depot rededication," Collins told the 40 people who attended. "You in Marion can consider yourselves proud."
Most of Collins' presentation consisted of taking questions instead of a lecture, so the topic ranged wide.
Marion has an Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company standard county seat-style depot, Collins said. Depots followed specific styles, right down to the paint and trim.
It is probably larger than was ever necessary, particularly for passenger traffic, but that wasn't the point. County seats were important places, and consequently they had important-looking depots, Collins said.
"Santa Fe wasn't the only railroad in town, they had a rivalry with Rock Island," Collins said. "They wanted to say 'Don't go to the dumpy little wood depot, come to our great big brick one.'"
Steam locomotives, which required turntables to change direction, gave way to diesels, which were more easily maintained and had longer lifespans.
"Change the parts on a diesel when needed, and it will run forever," Collins said.
The only steam engine water tower left in Kansas is at Beaumont, Collins said.
Passenger service along branch lines was often provided by rail diesel cars, popularly known as doodlebugs. By definition, doodlebugs served marginal operations, but some stayed in service until the 1950s, Collins said. The one in Marion ended its run in 1955.
Some doodlebugs were shop-built while others were standard models. As for the name, Collins said there are too many stories of where it came from to find a definitive version.
Rail lines were being built in Kansas even during the Civil War. A wide mix of ethnic groups and nationalities participated; Canadian labor was vital during the Civil War. One line was known as "the Irish Brigade" due to its influx of immigrants. To this day, Hispanics remain an important part of the rail labor force, Collins said.
"That's why Lost Springs has a fantastic Mexican restaurant," he said.
While land grants were provided to a few of the major lines in the 1860s, the government ceased such grants in the 1870s. Instead, rail lines sold bonds. If a community bought a certain number of bonds, the railroad would go through the town, Collins said.
The Kansas Pacific moved across the state in the 1870s.
"Past Salina, you were in Indian territory," Collins said.
Kansas has 200 to 300 standing depots, mostly in county seats, Collins said. This isn't many when one considers that in the late 19th century, 12 or more towns in each of the state's 105 counties would have a depot.
Many were torn down due to urban renewal, rail lines' impatience with paying taxes, and lack of local groups with the finances and clout to take over the depot.
Chanute and Pawnee Rock both have converted depots to libraries, Collins said.
Trains today
Riding the rails in Kansas is difficult. Midland Railway, Baldwin City, and Abilene-Smoky Valley Railway offer interesting but brief tourist rides. Amtrak provides customer service at several communities in Kansas, including Newton.
"It's a crying shame what's been done to Amtrak since it was created," Collins said. The line started when the private railroads shifted their attention exclusively to freight. Amtrak was formed with the promise of government assistance because passenger rail service was seen as good fur the nation's transportation infrastructure. However, it has never been funded adequately, Collins said.
Terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 opened some eyes, he said. Amtrak ran full for several days while the airline fleet was grounded. Nevertheless, maintaining routes west of Chicago may be a challenge in the long run.
As to how to retain Amtrak in Kansas, Collins suggested people write their members of Congress, "and ride the train. Call the Newton office, get a schedule, and make arrangements, because the more people who ride, the more important it will be."
Collins said anyone who wants his two books still in print, "The Electric Way" and "Kansas Pacific," should contact an independent bookseller.
