Maps of 1975 and 1903. Click for a larger view.

The first Santa Fe passenger train arrived in Madison on June 19, 1879, with 120 people aboard. By 1900, there were two freight and two passenger trains each day. The fare to Emporia was 42 cents. Also in the early days, the Missouri Pacific came through Madison in 1887 and served Madison until 1942.

Madison had a spur going into Emch Elevator, a passing track across from the depot, a stock track, and a track called National Supply Spur. There also may have been another track, possibly serving Sauder Tank Co. That company originally built wooden and then steel oil storage tanks. At some point Sauder moved to Emporia.

National Supply was an oil field supply company and received pipe, pump rod, pumps, and other oil field equipment. Their warehouse is all that remains of a yard which must have been filled with metal goods. Click here for more photos.

From the Kansas State Historical Society. Note the Emch elevator in the background. Notice the depot is located at the switch for the house track.

The Madison depot was constructed in 1879. When it was built, the front faced in a southwesterly direction. This location was southeast of the town, and debate arose over whether to move the depot to the town, or the town to the depot. Eventually, the town moved to the depot, across from the front of the depot.

The depot was similar to but not Santa Fe Branchline Standard #3. The original building was 20'x60'. In 1915, the building was extended 8' to increase the waiting room. In 1920, an additional 32' were added to the freight room. It still stands today and has been restored as a museum and community center. It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Click here for more photos.

The Emch elevator is adjacent to the depot. Click here for more photos.

Madison was one of two locations between Moline and Emporia with water for the steam engines. After the close of the steam age, the water tank was moved from the railroad to the top of a hill where it served the city of Madison for many years. Click here for more photos.

McCurry Oil was a bulk dealer just off the house track. It later became R. Noil Oil, but I don't have a date on when that took place. Click here for more photos.

The original Madison stock pens were located in town. They were moved south of town in 1926. The newer Madison stock pens measured 147'x160' and had a 29 car capacity, 10 pens, hydrant, shed, 7 car hog pen, 6 car holding pen, 10 ton scale.

In 1894, 500 cars of cattle and hogs, 75 cars of hay, 13 cars of fescue and flax, and 18 cars of apples were shipped from Madison. The population of Madison was 749 in 1920, 1439 in 1925 because of the oil boom, and 1647 in 1930.

There was also a passing track south of town. Near the bend that connects Township Road 204 with 205 was housing for the local section crew.

The Madison Historical Society has an informative website.

Madison Jct.

The Branch split south of Madison at Madison Junction with the easterly leg heading to Hilltop and Virgil. Originally it went all the way to the line at Benedict. In the 50s, Virgil was the end of the line. By the 70s it was gone. The Terraserver view of 1996 still shows the wye.