The Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad was a short-line railroad in central Kansas.

History In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado. In 1881, it was extended to Douglass, and later to Arkansas City.Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972. In 1901, the line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which used the name "Florence & Arkansas City Division" for it.Florence & Arkansas City Division in Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History; Standard Publishing Co; 805 pages; 1912.

The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942Railway Abandonment 1942 to reclaim the metal rails for the war effort during World War II because of a shortage of materials during those years.

Currently, the remaining part of the former Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad that still exists is: El Dorado to Arkansas City.

Stations At a high-level, the railroad connected the primary cities of Florence (north end), El Dorado, Augusta, Winfield, Arkansas City (south end).

Marion County Florence (north end) Hampson, station Hampson in Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History; Standard Publishing Co; 805 pages; 1912. Burns

Butler County Alki, station De Graff El Dorado Augusta Douglass

Cowley County Rock Akron, station Akron in Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History; Standard Publishing Co; 805 pages; 1912. Winfield Arkansas City (south end)

See also Marion and McPherson Railroad, a defunct railroad that started in Florence. Southern Transcon, currently uses tracks from El Dorado to Augusta. List of Kansas railroads

References

Further reading Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas; J.W. Stouffer; 1 page; 1915–1918. Standard Atlas of Marion County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 103 pages; 1902. Standard Atlas of Butler County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 69 pages; 1905. Standard Atlas of Cowley County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 54 pages; 1905.

External links Current Kansas Railroad Map