Second track between Dodge City and Sears, was constructed during the year 1916, a part of this work being on the Western Division and part of it on the Arkansas River Division. Work on each division was handled by the respective Divisions. The second track commenced at M.P. 353.1 and extended to M.P. 376.6 or 5.1 miles west of Dodge City. The Engineering work constructing the second track and yard changes in connection, therewith at Dodge City and Sears was taken care of by Division Engineer, L.M. Townsend at Dodge City, and Division Engineer L.G. Harris at La Junta.
The grading work was taken care of by the Contractor W.E. Stephens, of La Junta, Colorado, with teams for a portion of it and the Railway Company placed about two-thirds of the embankment with dirt secured with steam shovel from a pit between Howell and Wettick on the Arkansas River Division and a small portion of the dirt secured with steam shovel from a cut along our track east of Dodge City. The work of grading was commenced in May and completed in September.
All track, bridge and building work was taken care of by company force. A #1 main line depot was built at Sears, in which interlocking plant was placed to handle end of the second track.
As soon as track and grading was completed for the new second track, it was used to handle freight trains over the same as a single track. On November 28, 1916, the interlocking plant at Sears was placed in service, at which time both freight and passenger trains used the two tracks as double track.
On the double track between Dodge City and Sears train movements are controlled by automatic block signals. These signals were completed and place in service January 10, 1917. In connection with this second work the west end of Dodge City yard was remodeled and a double track freight line was constructed for heading in and heading out freight trains west of Dodge City yard, the tracks made long enough so that one of our longest trains could be handled out of Dodge City yard onto the double track freight lead and not interfere with the passenger business, or with the Dodge City yard.
A portion of page 91 transcribed in altered form for the web by Larry Green.