Kansas Pacific Railway facts for kids

The Kansas Pacific Railway (KP) was a very important railroad company in the western United States in the late 1800s. It helped connect the country and move people and goods. In 1880, this railroad joined with the Union Pacific. Today, the main tracks of the Kansas Pacific are still a big part of the Union Pacific's busy network.

Building the Kansas Pacific Railway

The Kansas Pacific Railway was created to build a railroad line west from Kansas City, Missouri (which was then Kansas City, Kansas) to Denver, Colorado. This was part of a bigger plan to connect the eastern and western parts of the United States by rail. Building railroads across the country was a huge project in the 1800s.

Connecting the Country

The United States government wanted to make it easier to travel and trade across the country. They passed laws like the Pacific Railroad Acts. These laws helped railroad companies get land and money to build new lines. The Kansas Pacific was one of these companies. It was meant to be a central route to the Pacific Ocean.

Challenges and Growth

Building the railroad was not easy. Workers faced tough weather, difficult land, and sometimes even conflicts. Despite these challenges, the Kansas Pacific pushed forward. By 1870, its tracks reached Denver, Colorado. This was a big achievement because it linked Denver to the rest of the country by rail.

The Kansas Pacific Joins Union Pacific

In 1880, the Kansas Pacific Railway officially joined with the Union Pacific. This was called a "consolidation." It meant that the two companies became one larger company. This made the Union Pacific even stronger and gave it more control over important rail lines in the West.

Why Was This Important?

Joining the two railroads helped create a more connected and efficient transportation system. It made it easier to ship goods like cattle, crops, and minerals from the West to the East. It also made it simpler for people to travel across the country. The old Kansas Pacific line continues to be a vital part of the Union Pacific's operations today.

Images for kids

• 

  The Kansas Pacific main line shown on an 1869 map. The thickened portion along the line indicates the extent of the land grants available to settlers. At the time of the map, the line extended only as far as western Kansas (section in green). The extension to the Colorado Territory (section in red) was completed the following year

• 

  Roundhouse, Kansas Pacific Railway, 1873.

• 

  A 1878 map showing principal cities and towns along the railroad