(rshsdepot) North Topeka, KS

[James Dent / NYKGN <james.dent_@_itochu.com>]

From the Topeka Capital-Journal

Depot steams toward recognition 

House committee opens possibility for other rail museums to share special
designation 

1:50 a.m. 
4/10/2002 

By Chris Grenz 
The Capital-Journal 

Topeka's Great Overland Station is on track to become an official state
railroad museum.
But a committee may have derailed efforts to make the depot the state
railroad museum of Kansas.

A House committee on Wednesday endorsed a resolution that would bestow a
special designation on North Topeka's restored Union Pacific Railroad depot,
making it "a state railroad museum of Kansas." But the House Federal and
State Affairs Committee voted to send the plan to the full House only after
the resolution, which had already passed the Senate, was changed to allow
other railroad museums to also share the designation.

"There are other railroad museums across the state of Kansas," said Rep.
R.J. Wilson, D-Pittsburg, who offered the amendment. "I'm not saying any
other museums will come forward and want to be a state museum, but I think
we should at least leave the door open and give them that potential."

The resolution, which was sponsored by Shawnee County Sens. Dave Jackson,
R-Topeka, Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, and Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, was
supported by Railroad Heritage Inc., which is the official corporate name of
the station. The group believes the designation can help draw more tourists
to the depot, said Bob St. John, president of the Railroad Heritage Inc.
board of directors.

"We'll create a venue where Kansans and visitors from around the nation can
immerse themselves in our Kansas heritage while savoring today's quality of
life in our state," St. John told the committee. "Together with a new
riverfront park and the development of adjacent Historic North Topeka, this
area will become a prime destination for tourists while promoting pride in
our heritage among Kansans of all ages."

Jackson, who represents the area where the depot is located, also testified
before the committee.

"We think this will be a major tourist destination in North Topeka," he
said.

Topeka is home to the only major railroad founded in Kansas that still
exists today -- Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway. But despite
Topeka's strong rail history, St. John said the Great Overland Station will
be the only train museum in Kansas to focus on the railroad heritage of the
entire state. All of the major railroads that have served Kansas will be
represented -- Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, Katy,
Kansas City Southern, Frisco and others.

The resolution discussed on Wednesday now moves to the full House for
debate. Concurrent resolutions don't carry the weight of law and don't
require the governor's signature. However, if the House passes a different
version than the Senate, the Senate will have the option to accept the lower
chamber's changes or an agreement will have to be worked out.

Rep. Becky Hutchins, R-Holton, opposed changing the wording of the
resolution.

"This would provide a significant marketing tool by being designated the
state railroad museum," Hutchins said.

But Rep. Ethel Peterson, D-Dodge City, said that while the designation would
be positive for the Topeka depot, it could be equally beneficial for other
restored depots across Kansas.

"We wouldn't want for the world to take away from any museums located
somewhere else," she said. "We ought not to shut out anybody."

After the meeting, St. John said he wasn't upset by the change.

"Regardless of the word -- whether it's 'a' or 'the' -- we're very pleased,"
he said. "Being recognized by the Legislature of the state of Kansas is a
significant event. It really lends credence to the work that's gone into the
project."

Chris Grenz can be reached at (785) 296-3005 or cgrenz_@_cjonline.com.

The station

The $200,000 Union Pacific Station opened on Jan. 27, 1927, in North Topeka
with great fanfare. Now, 75 years later, the depot is undergoing a $6
million renovation -- including $4.5 million in federal funds -- to
transform it into a museum and meeting place. 


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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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