The Heart of the Santa Fe: The Middle Division

This is another wonderful book about the Santa Fe Railway published by the Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society.

There are historical photographs in black & white, color photographs of the more recent times, extensive text, track diagrams of important yards and junctions for both the historian and model railroader. Includes lists of passenger trains operated, passenger cars to be switched in and out, lists of freight trains operated for various eras, steam and diesel locomotive assignments, water service and dimensions and many maps.

This book tells the story of the aptly named Santa Fe's Middle Division. Because of frequent boundary changes, it is difficult to define precisely what was included in the Middle Division, so the author included all the territory covered by the Middle Division of the Santa Fe at some point in its history. This division covered the middle part of Kansas, and, until it merged with much of the Oklahoma Division, was all in Kansas (except for a mere 1.9 miles in Nebraska). It was also the heart of America's "Wheat Belt," and the revenue from its traffic furnished much of the capital for the expansion of the Santa Fe.

In addition to freight traffic, the Middle Division saw all the main line through passenger trains, including those between the eastern end of the system and the West Coast, between the eastern end of the system and Colorado, and between the eastern end of the system and Texas. The Middle Division also had an extensive network of branch lines. The author covers all this and more.

This book continues the history of Santa Fe divisions published by the Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society. Prior to this volume there were four division histories covering: the Colorado Division, the Denver District (The Joint Line), the Los Angeles Division and the Illinois Division.

Contents:
Introduction, pp. 6-8,
The Beginnings and Growth: 1870-1905, pp. 9-42,
Consolidation Through the Roaring Twenties: 1905-1930, pp. 43-86,
The Depression and WWII: 1930-1946, pp. 87-118,
Post-War to Amtrak: 1946-1971, pp. 119-154,
The Latter Day Santa Fe: 1971-1995, pp. 155-182,
Appendices, pp. 183-189,
Bibliography, pp. 190-192.

Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society, softcover, 192 Pages with 231 photographs and Illustrations. Detailed map of the Middle Division at its peak in 1965.