Incorporated in Kansas as the Manhattan, Alma and Burlingame Railway Company, September 3rd, 1872. Sold April 18, 1898, under foreclosure and line Burlingame to Alma, 34.30 miles long, acquired August 1st, 1898 by the Burlingame & North Western Railway Company.
From Alma to Manhattan (22.32 Miles) the track was pulled up Sunday August 14th, 1898. Mr. H. P. Dillon, an Attorney of Topeka was the receiver in 1898 of the M. A. & B. Ry. Co. and Howell Jones an Attorney of Topeka, was Vice-President of the Burlingame & NorthWestern Railway Company in 1889. Sold to the A. T. & S. F. Ry. Co. April 1st, 1899.
The Union Pacific owned one-half interest in the line. They sold out to the Santa Fe when the line was pulled up Alma to Manhattan. The A. T. & S. F. RY. Co. took possession when the name was changed to B. & N. W. RY. Co., April 18th, 1898.
The line was built in 1879-80 and opened in August 1st, 1880 Mr. T. J. Seely was the Chief Engineer working under Mr. A. A. Robinson, D. J. Chase, Divn. Superintendent. The Kaw River bridge at Manhattan was a howe truss on stone piers with pile approaches. Rebuilt in 1894. The details of the bridge were as follows:
East span 149'6". Center span 126'. West span 126'. East approach 45' pile trestle bridge. West approach 90' pile trestle bridge. Total length 759'6"
The Santa Fe took down the old bridge in the fall of 1898. All the old material was loaded up on cars and shipped to Alma, via the Rock Island and then sent to Harveyville where it was stored in the yard. In taking down the old spans at Manhattan falsework was put up on the old stubs of piles, still standing, under the original bridge.
In the fall of 1899 the Santa Fe used the old spans again as follows: The 150' span was cut off to a 124' span and erected at old bridge 18 now 7C over Dragon Creek. One of the 126' spans was cut off to 104' and erected at old bridge 21, now 8F, Dragoon Creek and the other 126' span was cut to 104' and erected at old 32, now 13-A, Dragoon Creek. These old bridges gave service until 1911, when they were all taken down and replaced by steel bridges. In the fall of 1899, the Santa Fe used their own work trains over the Rock Island, Alma to Manhattan and took up all the old bridges and cast iron pipes.
The telegraph line was bult in 1880. John W. Wright of Junction City, Kansas was the Contractor for the grading.
About 3 miles west of Eskridge, north side of track, there is a good stome quarry. Stone of excellant quality, owned by Harry Hedderman of Topeka. Only building stone has been shipped. Some of it in use on the Kansas City Belt Ry. in bridge abutments. No ballast has been crused. Stripping rather heavy to make the quarry profitable.
A portion of page 66
This portion of the Meade's Manual transcribed in altered form by Russell L. Crump