A timeline of the history of the Santa Fe. Construction begins on Washington Street, between 4th and 5th, in Topeka. Most of the predictions eventually come true. First Mennonite immigrants from the Ukraine settle along Santa Fe line. They cultivate the hard red winter wheat that would become the staple crop of Kansas and traffic base of Santa Fe.
Cattle drives from Texas provide new source of traffic.
Line opened between Topeka and Atchison, giving Santa Fe more rail connections to the East. Track laid to Kansas-Colorado border, securing three million acre land grant. Fred Harvey, a Burlington Route employee, begins operating the Topeka lunchroom for Santa Fe. Strong orders chief engineer A.A. Robinson to occupy and hold Raton Pass, the only practical rail route from Colorado to New Mexico. First train enters New Mexico via switchback over Raton Pass.