Midland Railway (Kansas) facts for kids
Ex-MKT #142, an RS3m
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Baldwin City, Kansas |
| Reporting mark | LLG (Reporting mark for Class III subsidiary Baldwin City & Southern Railroad) |
| Locale | Douglas / Franklin counties, Kansas, USA |
| Dates of operation | 1987–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Midland Railway is a special kind of railroad in Kansas. It runs old trains on a 12-mile track. This track goes through Franklin and Douglas counties, connecting the towns of Ottawa, Kansas and Baldwin City, Kansas.
This railway was started in 1982. Its goal was to find an old, unused railroad line to bring back to life. In 1987, the Midland Railway bought a line from Baldwin City to Ottawa. They bought it from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Later that same year, they began running fun train rides on part of the track. The whole line is about 11 miles long.
The Midland Railway wants to teach people about trains. Their main goal is to show how important railroads were. They explain how trains helped with business, social life, and culture in America's Heartland. The railway's main office is in a historic building. This building is the old depot in Baldwin City, built in 1906. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The Midland Railway has received money to fix its tracks. They also get help to repair their old train cars and engines. Since 2004, their special train rides go all the way from Baldwin City to Ottawa.
Riding the Midland Railway
The trains usually run from late May to October 31. This means you can ride from Memorial Day until Halloween. They also have special events and fairs throughout the year.
Boy Scout Adventures
The Midland Railway offers special weekend camps for Boy Scouts. These camps happen in the spring and fall. The railway is one of the few places in the country where Scouts can earn the Railroading merit badge. This badge teaches them all about trains and how they work.
Where the Trains Stop
The Midland Railway makes stops at a few interesting places along its route:
- Baldwin City, Kansas
- Nowhere, Kansas (This is a ghost town, meaning it's an old town with no people living there anymore.)
- Norwood, Kansas (Another ghost town along the line.)
- Ottawa, Kansas
