The 1890's were a period of financial embarrassment for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company. The company operated under receivership December 23, 1893 to December 31, 1895. The property was sold under foreclosure December 10, 1895 and purchased by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Co. on December 12, 1895.
The 1890's was also the time of the conversion from link and pin couplers to Automatic couplers and from hand breaks to Air brakes. The railroad saftey appliance act of March 1893 made the conversion madatory by law. By December 1, 1897 the Santa Fe had converted 42% (11,354 cars) of its fleet (26,897 cars) to automatic couplers and 80% (23,362 cars) to air brakes. By the end of 1899 the Santa Fe's fleet of (27,349 cars) was 79% (21,753 cars) with automatic couplers and 93% (25,392 cars) air brakes. These conversions set the stage for the explosion in train lengths that was to occure in the following decades.
Established 04/22/96-Updated 08/26/2008
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