RAILROADS

The Railroad line through Norway, Kansas, was originally built as part of the Atchinson, Republican Valley and Pacific Railway, which was incorporated under the General Railroad Laws of Kansas in 1878, completing the line from Yuma to Scandia in the spring of 1879 and from Scandia to Warwick on June 21st, 1880.

However, by the time the Achison, Republican Valley and Pacific Railroad had constructed its right of way, it had been consolidated into a new Railroad called the Atchison, Colorado and Pacific Railroad.  Several other changes were made and lines added.  These lines at the time of consolidation formed a continuous line of railroads from the western Terminus of the Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad from Waterville to Lenora, with branches from Greenleaf to Washington, Yuma to Warwick and Downs to Alton.

This company leased all the Railroad lines constructed and to be constructed, to the Central Branch Union Pacific Company, for a period of twenty-five years.  The latter company then on Sept. 30, 1885 leased to the Missouri Pacific Railway Company.

The Missouri Pacific absorbed all the subdivisions on Aug. 9, 1909.

The present Company informed Mrs. M. Clagett, agent in Norway in 1961, that it has no record of depots at Norway except the present one which they think was built in 1905 or thereabouts, but they also say there must have been other depots since the time this railroad was built in 1879.--------C. L. Cristy, Falls City, Neb.

The first depot was a box car beside the railroad track when the first train arrived on Dec. 24, 1879.  Willie Shaw was the first agent.  The present depot was built a long while before 1905.  Other agents are Mr. Taber, Alfred Carmichael, 1899; Clarence Brewer, 1905 to 1943; Mrs. A. Z. Cyr, 1943 to 1960; Mrs. M. Clagett from 1960 to the present time (1961).

The application by the Mo. Pac. R. R. for authority to discontinue its station at Norway, Kan. in 1959 was denied.  The Company again applied for authority to discontinue its station at Norway except for two months of the year during harvest.  This was denied Sept. 14, 1961, by the Kansas Corporation Commission.  Testimony and exhibits were taken in support of and in opposition to, at a public hearing in Norway on Aug. 22, 1961.  The decision of the Commission assures that services in the Norway community will be continued at the present basis.

The Santa Fe Railroad was built across the southwestern corner of Norway Township in 1888.  It runs diagonally across the S. W. quarter in Sec. 31.

The Missouri Pacific has 6.01 miles of railroad in Norway Township and the Santa Fe has 1.12 miles.