By Dawn Phelps
I have lived in Miltonvale or nearby for many years—my first husband and I moved here in 1971. A few years ago, my husband Tom pointed out some things to me that I never noticed before, things that I had driven by time after time, things Tom had known about since he was a little boy.
What Tom pointed out to me lies parallel to 24 Highway on the left side if you are driving from Clay Center or the right side if you are driving toward Clay Center. The same “thing” can be seen from the gravel road that turns east right at the big curve by Tootleville Park, cutting diagonally through the field.
Once Tom pointed these “things” out to me, they were obvious. It was like lights came on! And from now on, I will watch for the signs of these “things” in the future as I drive east on Highway 24.
What I am referring to is the old railroad bed for the Union Pacific railroad track that ran from Miltonvale to Clay Center. At one time in history, Miltonvale was the end point of the railroad track.
Miltonvale, which was almost named Tootleville for its founder Milton Tootle, was the east end of the track—the terminus—where the track ended in 1881. That is where the trains turned around.
The first railroad line was the Kansas Central which was a narrow-gauge railroad. The narrow tracks were later taken up and replaced with wider tracks. The railroad was also extended westward to Concordia and beyond.
Dick, Tom’s brother, used to hop the train with his friend Bill when they were little boys. They took train rides to Concordia and back until the conductor became wise about what they were doing. That ended their train-riding fun!
The Santa Fe railroad also began a route through Miltonvale, and today it is the only train that runs through the town. Another thing Tom showed me was where the old Union Pacific railroad depot used to sit in years past, not far from the Coop building downtown. The Santa Fe line also had its own railroad depot close to the Coop as well.
Later, the old Union Pacific depot was moved about three miles east of town by Paul Walker to 345 N. 280th Road. That is where my first husband Ralph and I lived for many years. The depot still has the old ticket counter in it, and the depot is listed on the historical railroad register even though lean-to sheds were added to the sides of the depot.
So, for years, I lived with a piece of Miltonvale history, the old depot, in my backyard while I lived in the country. And for years, I have driven past the old railroad bed. I just needed someone (Tom) to point out what I had been looking at but had not really seen.
The old Union Pacific railroad bed was always there—a train story–right under my nose.
