Trolley/Traction Heritage
Commonly known as street trolleys and interurbans, but also known as Tractions.
Through-out America, the name of such railroads were a necessity to provide passenger and goods service.
Topeka so rich in history and still making it today. We cannot believe the changes that this city has made. Most noteworthy, Brown vs the Board of Education. The June 8, 1966 tornado that ripped through the center of the city. The floods of 1903 and the big one of 1951. It had it’s vary own airplane manufacture (Lundgren) and automobile maker (The Great Smith). The original swimming pool at Gage Park was considered the largest pool, west of the Mississippi River (my uncle Robert Wikkerink was a lifeguard there in the 1950’s.) Forbes Air Force base was just a few miles south of the city. Throughout it’s history, it was home to various types of planes. One of my favorite subject was the beautiful Amusement park, Vinewood. It had the lagoon for rowing around, the
Olde Mill Auction
Center
Auctions on Saturday Night, 4:30pm.
715 NE Hwy 24 Topeka, Ks. 66608
Monday – Friday 10am to 5pm
785-608-4795
See Susan Metzger, Wayne and the rest of the gang and enjoy the excitement of a action- packed auction.
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Along with railroads, this page will not be limited to just Kansas trolley, interurbans and tractions.
Having very little knowledge of the interurbans and tractions, I recently have found numerous railroads of this type, very interesting. Not only did they have commuter coaches and traction motors (electric locomotives), a couple of them only had automobile with rail wheel sets, Several Kansas interurbans have gain a special spot in my heart such as; Arkansas Valley and Union Electric, just to name a few. There are a few obscured interurbans, that most people of their communities don’t even knew of their existence.
Kansas City, Kaw Valley and Western coach #27.
Arkansas Valley Interurban Railway, car #3.
Union Electric traction motor #60.
Outside Kansas interurbans.
Researching Kansas interurbans, I came across so many lines outside of Kansas.
1953 Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern, motor #209.
Des Moines & Central Iowa RR #1708
Rock Island Southern, from Illinois.
Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern.
Topeka was a spot of many sports.
Let’s head over to Shawnee lake and watch the boat races. That guy that wipes out, I hope he’s alright!
Topeka, the capital city of Kansas.
Living in Topeka most of my life, with the exception of my Naval service, it’s interesting to me of the past life Topeka had. Being young and dumb, never realizing the treasures of people who lived in that period of time. Now, so many times that I regret never asking my grandparents or elderly people I knew, about the time before me.