Several branch lines extend from the first district including the Alma branch which until 1968 extended to Manhattan and the Baldwin district which ran to Ottawa Junciton.
Amtrak's Southwest Chief runs over this entire district today. Oklahoma Gas and Electric's Sooner Power Plant coal train and a local also operate over this line. Other than these two trains the line is fairly quiet. There are still several semaphores on the route. The most impressive location is Pauline where a couple of semaphores rest on cantilever signal posts.
Depot construction on the line was varied. Two modern depots were built during the 1950's in Topeka and Lawrence. De Soto and Pauline recieved strange oversized tall baggage room additions to what were esentially No. 1 standard depots. Burlingame was one of the oldest depots on the railroad.
Timetable from November 29, 1942
Note: From Holliday to Topeka miles are measured from Holliday. From Topeka to Emporia miles are measured from Atchison.
HOLLIDAY 0.0
MP 3.8 WILDER
MP 6.1 FRISBIE
MP 9.9 CORLISS
MP 11.2 DESOTO See Wheat Lines and Super Freights page 16 (small view)
MP 17.0 WEAVER
MP 19.2 EUDORA
MP 23.4 NORIA
MP 26.6 LAWRENCE
MP 31.7 LAKE VIEW
MP 37.5 LECOMPTON
MP 41.4 GROVER
MP 45.2 SPENCER
MP 48.4 TECUMSEH
MP 52.7/ 50.6 TOPEKA
MP 57.8 PAULINE
MP 62.7 WAKARUSA
MP 67.8 CARBONDALE
MP 71.5 SCRANTON
MP 76.8 BURLINGAME
MP 82.2 PETERTON
MP 84.7 MoPac. Crossing
MP 84.7 Tower O.C.
MP 85.0 OSAGE CITY
MP 90.4 BARCLAY
MP 96.6 READING
MP 104.7 LANG
MP 111.0 M.K.T. Crossing
MP 111.0 Emporia Jct.
MP 112.1 EMPORIA