Santa Fe’s Colorado Division Speedway

By Robert D. Walz

On May 17, 1937, the Santa Fe Railway inaugurated a new high-speed diesel-powered luxury train—The Super Chief. It was scheduled to cover the 202 miles between Dodge City, Kansas, and La Junta, Colorado, at an average speed of 87.2 miles per hour. On February 20, 1938, the schedules of virtually all of the passenger trains were speeded up on this stretch of track on the northern passenger mainline, which quickly became known as the “Speedway.”  The Speedway was, at various times, a major part of a division and at times a division in itself. Author Walz explores the history of how the Santa Fe built through this country, how it served the towns and industries along its lines and how it operated the railroad from the 1870s through 1995.  160 pages, 150 photos, 18 in color, maps, timetable reproductions, and bibliography. Perfect bound.