THE CHICAGO, KANSAS, AND NEBRASKA RY
PART II: DISTINCTIVE "DESIGN NO. 3" DEPOTS
by John Matrow
DIGEST Volume 2, covered the history of the Chicago, Kansas &
Nebraska Railway which built 1,388 miles of track, almost all in
Kansas, for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific RR. That article
also covered the locomotive roster.
In this issue, we are going to describe the famous two-story
CK&N depot, "Design NO. 3", also known as the "one and a half
story" since the freight section was only one story.
At locations in which no towns were established, and thus no
housing was available, the railroad provided quarters for the
agent in the second story of this particular type of depot. As
seen by the list, more than seventy locations were confirmed
through the list and with photographs.
M.C. Parker's research reveals that those early depots were
often the largest building in town and were used for social
functions. The baggage room was used for dancing. The waiting
room was even used for church services and Sunday School.
Being built of wood, many burned early. Others were dismantled
by World War II. The one that remained online the longest was
probably at Okarche, Oklahoma, because it was rebuilt twice -
losing major sections each time.
We are fortunate in that one mostly intact structure has been
found. The Perth depot was moved off the property in the 1930's.
It was moved once or twice more and ended up on a farm just
northeast of Caldwell, Kansas. Many windows and doors have
changed, but the basic structure still exists with changed
details. A part of a former church was also added to one side.
Photos of the rear of these depots have been rare so it is
fortunate that this one survived.
One of the most well known depots of this type, since it
lasted so long intact, was at Fairview, KS. A color picture
appeared in Don Ball's book, Railroads. That building lasted at
least through 1965.
Six of the CK&N Ry. buildings appeared in Colorado Rail Annual
No. 17, in Doty and McFarland's "Rocketing to the Rockies"
section.
Two buildings had their freight sections moved to farms. The
depot building at Kechi, Kansas stayed in the area but Harbine,
Nebraska was moved to south of Fairbury, where it still stands.
The basic buildings were 22 by 45 feet, but several were 55-
feet long and a few were extra long (and are listed in our
inventory table as extended).
The plans were prepared from the best available photographs.
Much of the rear configuration was an educated guess. We are
looking for additional photos of these distinctive depots at any
location.
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The following people and organizations assisted with the data
in this article: John Baskin Harper, H. D. Conner, Bob Dickerson,
Bill Flood, Warren Chambers, Howard Killiam, M. C. Parker, Jim
Reisdorff, Michael Bartels, Jim Fuhrmann, Alan Winkler, Mel
McFarland, L. A. Reed, Ed Galbraith, Bill Clarke, Bob Riebe, Bill
Riebe, the Kansas State Historical Society, the Nebraska State
Historical Society and 15 county historical societies.
TABLE:
INVENTORY OF CK&N "No. 3" STATIONS
"As Built" Data from: CHICAGO KANSAS and NEBRASKA Ry document,
Cost of Construction to January 31st, 1890. Compiled in Engrs.
Office, Topeka, Courtesy John Baskin Harper. Comments and other
data is from author's research.
Location Waiting Rm
State & Town Location Construction notes and misc. comments
St.Joseph, MO to El Reno, IT (15 depots)
Denton, KS R
Pierce, KS
Hoyt, KS L
Valencia, KS
McFarland, KS R Lt. & rt. ends extended after 1-31-1890
Bay window on second story. Torn down
1949.
Alta Vista, KS L Rear gable. Burned 1919.
Whitewater, KS R Rear gable.
Kechi, KS R Spelled "Ketchi" in 1-31-1890 CK&N
table.
Peck, KS R 10 feet added to freight room.1
Zyba, KS
Perth, KS L Rear gable. Moved to near Caldwell.
Enid, IT Now North Enid, KS
Hennessey, IT L 12 feet added to freight room.
Okarche, IT R Rear gable. Building shortened '11. One
story.
Herington, KS to Liberal, KS (11 depots)
Durham, KS 10 feet added to freight room
Medora, KS
Langdon, KS R
Preston, KS R
Natrona, KS R
Brenham, KS
Bucklin, KS R 16 feet added to freight room. No rear
gable.
Kingsdown, KS
Mineola, KS 22 feet added to freight room.
Jasper, KS Station name changed to "Missler".
Arkalon, KS R 10 feet added to freight room.
Herington, KS to Salina, KS (1 depot)
New Cambria, KS R
McFarland, KS to Belleville, KS (2 depots)
Bala, KS R Also known as "Bala City".
Agenda, KS Also known as "Neva". Torn down 1961.
Horton, KS to Colorado Springs, CO via Beatrice & Jansen NE (42
depots)
Fairview, KS R
DuBois, NE L Rear gable.
Lewiston, NE
Harbine, NE R Freight section moved to Fairbury.
Gilead, NE (On Ruskin, nee Nelson, branch).
Ruskin, NE R (On Ruskin, nee Nelson, branch).
Mahaska, KS R
Courtland, KS
Formoso, KS L Rear gable. Spelled "Formosa" in
1-31-1890 CK&N table.
Montrose, KS L Rear gable. Burned 1949.
Otego, KS L
Esbon, KS L Rear gable. Spelled "Ezbon" in CK&N
table.
Kensington, KS L Rear gable.
Gretna, KS R Rear gable.
Stuttgart, KS L
Prairie View KS R No rear gable.
Calvert, KS
Dellvale, KS L
Clayton, KS
Jennings, KS
Dresden, KS
Selden, KS R Rear gable.
Rexford, KS R
Gem, KS R
Levant, KS R
Brewster, KS Burned 1905.
Edson, KS Also known as "Edison".
Ruleton, KS R
Kanorado, KS L Rear gable.
Burlinton, CO 34 feet added to length.
Claremont, CO Station name changed to "Stratton" in
1906.
Seibert, CO R 10 feet added to length.
Flagler, CO
Arriba, CO R
Limon, CO 10 feet added to length.
Resolis, CO 30 feet added to length.
Mattison, CO Station name changed to "Matheson"
about 1920.
Ramah, CO 21 feet added to length.
Peyton, CO L Rear gable. 10 feet added to length.
Falcon, CO L Rear gable.
Note 1. The phrase "XX feet added to freight room" is believed to
mean the design was changed when building was erected; not a
later addition.
Please send additional data, corrections and photos to the author.
DRAWINGS:
All four sides of building.
Passenger End and Trackside
Freight End and Rear
PHOTOS:
#1: Alta Vista, KS. "No. 3" depot. Photo from Kansas State
Historical Society.
#2: Langdon, KS, as it looked in 1890. Photo from Kansas State
Historical Society.
#3: Preston, KS. Photographed in 1915. Photo from Kansas State
Historical Society.
Also in this issue:
McFarland depot bout the turn of the century.
Rear cover color photo: CK&N station at Fairview, KS in November
1965. Barney Murray photo from John Matrow collection.
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Article contributed by John Matrow, Rock Island Technical Society
Newsletter Editor & Director, February, 1994.
Additions & Corrections:
North Enid is in Oklahoma, not Kansas.
Burlington was misspelled in table.
Okarche had ends removed in 1955.
Dellvale was also known as South Oronouque.
Stratton was also known as Mathias.
Bala burned July, 1934.
Peyton had freight doot on end.
Dresdon had waiting room on left.
Perth burned August 30, 1993.
At least four were rebuilt to one story designs with hip roofs
and are still standing: Kensington, Selden, Dresden & Bucklin.