The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-20
DOUBLE TRACK.
Rock Island Announces Plans for
kansas Work.


Kansas Work.
In line with the plans for improve
ment of the properties OF the Rock
Island road in Kansas, as have been
previously outlined in the State Jour
nal. the announcement is now made
that the line of the Rock Island be-
tween Topeka and Harrington, Kas., is
TO be double tracked.
The length of track which will be
added to by the construction of a sec
Ond track is 80 miles. The construc-
ton of the double track to Harrington
will give the Rock Island a double
track line a distance of $50 miles west
from Kansas City.
The work will begin in time to have
1t completed when the 81 miles of sec
ond track of the Union Pacific be-
tween Kansas City and Topeka is
built. The Rock Island has a con-
tract which gives 1t equal rights with
the Union Pacific on the latter's tracks
between Kansas City and Topeka.
The contract for the double track
work on the line between Kansas City
and Topeka has been let and is con-
structing under Union Pacific direc-
ton
It has been recognized for several
years that the track between Kansas
City and Topeka used by the Rock
Island and the Union Pacific is the
most congested piece of track in the
country. In smaller degree the
Rock Island tracks between Topeka
the trains for the Rock Islands Okla
homa and Fort Smith line, the Ell Paso
line and the Colorado line pass over
the single track used by the Union
Pacific and Rock Island between Kan
sas City and Topeka. and from To-
peka over the single track to Herring
ton, save that the Colorado line is di-
verged northward at Mcfarland, 40
miles from Herington-
At Harrington one line continues to
Ell Paso and California, while the
Oklahoma & Fort Worth line is di-
verged southwark. The Rock Island
line from Chicago by way of st. Jo-
seph also joins this part of the system
at Topeka. All of these trains must
use the track between Topeka and
Harrington, except the Colorado trains,
which use it to Mcfarland.
The Rock Island has spent many
thousand dollars putting the 223 miles
of its system between Eldon, Iowa,
and Cameron, Mo, into first class con-
dition. Sharp curves have been elimi-
mated, entertainments cut down, and
the track practically rebuilt. The
Rock Island uses the Chicago. Bur
Ington & Quincy tracks for the 81 miles
between Cameron and Kansas City.
Eventually the tracks used Jointly will
be double tracked unless the Rock Is
land builds an independent line. which
is not proba Bile in view of the fact
that the lease for the Chicago. Bur-
lington & Quincy tracks has been re-
newed for a long period.
A Chicago dispatch says: 1.-THE
cold snap seems to have picked the
Rock Island for a special victim said
B. L. Winchell, president of the sys-
tenn. I'VE had 1000 of the 1900 miles
of the Rock Island system proper I'M
der snow. The storm came out of the
Dakotas and followed our system
through Nebraska barely touching
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, that
runs north of US. 1t followed the Rock
Island through the Missouri valley and
down into Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory. We got it the hardest of
any railroad system in the entire coun-
try"