Kansas, U.S., Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Prior Service Records, 1859-1935

This database contains index cards documenting service of some employees of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway prior to 29 August 1935.

Historical Background

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway was chartered in 1859, though the railway did not begin construction until 1868. It was originally planned to connect Atchison, Kansas, with Topeka and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Track reached the Colorado state line in 1873 and eventually expanded to reach the West Coast. The company continued to grow through construction, mergers, and acquisitions until it merged with Burlington Northern Railroad in the 1990s.

The cards in this database serve as an index to “prior service” record files for employees of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Prior service refers to employment with the railroad before 29 August 1935, when the Railroad Retirement Board took control of most railway employee pensions. Employees who retired before 29 August 1935 will not be included in the records, unless they were rehired again sometime after 29 August 1935.

What You Can Find in the Records

Cards vary in the details they list. Some may include only a name and a department, while others may record a birth date, retirement date, years of service, and other details.

For more information on abbreviations on the cards and how to locate the prior service files themselves, please consult this Brief Guide to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company’s Prior Service Records at the Kansas State Historical Society.