Not many Santa Fe branchlines in Kanas and Oklahoma can make the claim that this branch line can. It is one of the last Santa Fe branches to survive the transition between the Santa Fe and the BNSF. This is due to the fact that it is a major bridge to Nebraska and other northern state grain markets. Long grain trains are the norm on this route. The line was fitted with welded rail between 1987 and 1992. During this time a long work crew train could be spotted on the line. The line from Neva to Lost Springs has rarely if ever been used since a trackage rights agreement that was put in place in 1986. At Lost Springs the Santa Fe uses a connection track to run on the ex-Rock Island Twin Star Rocket route to Newton or Wichita.
One gets the feeling of remoteness as you travel further on this route toward Superior, Nebraska. There are no motels, few gasoline stations, and smaller and smaller communities until you reach Concordia. Agriculture is king on this remote Santa Fe branch.
Timetable from August 29, 1942
MP 0.0 Neva
MP 2.6 Rockland
MP 7.6 Hymer
MP 13.4 Diamond Springs
MP 19.2 Burdick
MP 25.5 C.R.I.&P. Crossing, Lost Springs
MP 30.7 Jacobs
MP 30.9 C.R.I.&P. Crossing
MP 36.8 Hope
MP 37.1 Mo. Pac. Crossing
MP 44.4 Navarre
MP 52.1 Enterprise
MP 52.2 C.R.I.&P. Crossing
MP 52.3 A.T.&S.F. Crossing
MP 58.1 Abilene
MP 58.6 C.R.I.&P. JCT.
MP 58.8 S.A. JCT
MP 59.0 U.P. Crossing
MP 67.0 Talmage
MP 72.8 Manchester
MP 78.4 Longford See Wheat Lines and Super Freights by Joe McMillian page 49
MP 83.7 Oak Hill
MP 93.0 Miltonvale
MP 93.2 M.V. JCT.
MP 102.1 Aurora
MP 108.0 Huscher
MP 113.2 Mo. Pac. Crossing, C.B.&Q. Crossing
MP 113.3 C.O. JCT
MP 113.4 U.P. Crossing
MP 113.5 Concordia
MP 116.6 Hannum
MP 120.1 Mo. Pac. Crossing
MP 121.5 Oneonta
MP 127.7 Kackley
MP 133.7 C.R.I.&P. Crossing, Courtland
MP 141.2 Lovewell
MP 147.0 Webber
MP 151.9 State Line (Nebraska)
Chicago and Northwestern trackage
MP 152.6 Mo. Pac. Crossing
MP 153.0 C.B.&.Q Crossing
MP 153.8 Superior, Nebraska