TOPEKA

CLASSIC PASSENGER STATIONS

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Topeka, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Santa Fe Station
Opened in 1950, replacing earlier station on same site
Location: 500 SE Holliday Pl.
Railroad: Santa Fe
Continues in use by Amtrak.

Union Pacific Station
Opened in 1927
Location: 701 N. Kansas Ave.
Railroads: Rock Island, Union Pacific
Building still stands.

Missouri Pacific Station
Location: 501 Adams St.
Railroad: Missouri Pacific
Demolished.

SANTA FE

Departures-Westbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 23  Grand Canyon Limited  Los Angeles    (bypass)   (bypass)    7:15 pm
 15  Texas Chief           Galveston                 (bypass)    2:25 am
  5  Ranger                Galveston       9:25 am    9:50 am
  1  Scout                 Los Angeles    10:35 am   12:50 am    7:35 am
  3  California Limited    Los Angeles     3:45 pm   (bypass)
 11  Kansas Cityan         Oklahoma City   6:24 pm    6:40 pm
 25  (Motor Train)         Emporia         8:27 pm
 27  Antelope              Oklahoma City  11:30 pm
123  Grand Canyon Limited  Ash Fork                  11:00 pm
Arrivals-Westbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 23  Grand Canyon Limited  Chicago        (bypass)   (bypass)    7:15 pm
 15  Texas Chief           Chicago                   (bypass)    2:25 am
  5  Ranger                Chicago         9:18 am    9:50 am
  1  Scout                 Chicago        10:30 am   12:50 am    7:35 am
 57  (Motor Train)         St. Joseph     10:30  55   5:40 pm
  3  California Limited    Chicago         3:35 pm   (bypass)
 11  Kansas Cityan         Chicago         6:24 pm    6:40 pm
 25  (Motor Train)         Kansas City     8:22 pm
 27  Antelope              Kansas City    11:20 pm
123  Grand Canyon Limited  Kansas City               11:00 pm
Departures-Eastbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

124  Grand Canyon Limited  Kansas City                5:00 am
 28  Antelope              Kansas City     5:55 am
 24  Grand Canyon Limited  Chicago        (bypass)    6:45 am   10:40 am
 26  (Motor Train)         Kansas City     7:50 am
 12  Chicagoan             Chicago        12:33 pm   10:50 am
  4  California Limited    Chicago         2:35 pm   (bypass)
 58  (Motor Train)         St. Joseph      3:40  56  11:25 am
  2  Scout                 Chicago         7:25 pm    2:45 am   10:15 am
  6  Ranger                Chicago         8:55 pm    7:30 pm
 16  Texas Chief           Chicago                   (bypass)   12:15 am
Arrivals-Eastbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

124  Grand Canyon Limited  Ash Fork                   5:00 am
 28  Antelope              Oklahoma City   5:50 am
 24  Grand Canyon Limited  Los Angeles    (bypass)    6:40 am   10:40 am
 26  (Motor Train)         Emporia         7:40 am
 12  Chicagoan             Oklahoma City  12:33 pm   10:50 am
  4  California Limited    Los Angeles     2:30 pm   (bypass)
  2  Scout                 Los Angeles     7:20 pm    2:45 am   10:15 am
  6  Ranger                Galveston       8:50 pm    7:30 pm
 16  Texas Chief           Galveston                 (bypass)   12:15 am
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

UNION PACIFIC

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 37  Pony Express          Cheyenne        1:30  69  12:45 am
187  (mixed train)         Marysville      4:00 am
 38  Pony Express          Kansas City     6:10  70   5:10 pm
100  Kansan                Kansas City    10:30  40  10:05 am
355  Portland Rose         Denver         11:20  17   9:08 117   9:35 am
537  (Motor Train)         Marysville     11:30 am
 99  Kansan                Salina          6:55  39  11:05 am
370                        Kansas City     7:15  18   9:00 118   9:12 pm
 24  Pacific Limited       Kansas City     9:20  10   5:43 am    7:02 am
 23  Pacific Limited       Los Angeles     9:25   9  10:47 pm    9:12 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

ROCK ISLAND

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  3  Golden State Ltd.     Los Angeles    12:35 am   11:55 pm
 32                        Kansas City     6:05 am
508  Twin Star Rocket      Minneapolis                7:26 am
509  Texas Rocket          Dallas         10:23 am    9:50 am
 43  Californian           Los Angeles    11:10 am    1:20 am
 17                        Dallas          2:40 pm
 44  Californian           Chicago         5:35 pm    9:05 pm
  4  Golden State Ltd.     Chicago         6:37 pm   11:43 pm
510  Texas Rocket          Kansas City     7:07 pm    6:25 pm
107  Rocky Mtn. Rocket     Belleville      9:48 pm
507  Twin Star Rocket      Houston                   10:52 pm
108  Rocky Mtn. Rocket     Kansas City    11:45 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1968, last train was the Golden State.

Until the late 1930's, also operating into Topeka was Missouri Pacific, using its own separate station.

Links/Additional Information
Great Overland Station

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.

Rock Island had trackage rights over Union Pacific to Kansas City, 68 miles east.