TOPEKA — Kansas lawmakers are moving to formally recognize the state’s deep ties to the railroad industry with proposed legislation that would create an official Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame.
Two measures — Senate Bill 353 and House Bill 2607 — would establish the hall of fame and create a selection committee made up of individuals connected to the railroad industry. Supporters say the goal is to preserve Kansas’ rail heritage while honoring the people who helped shape it.
If approved, the Kansas Railroad Hall of Fame would be housed at the Great Plains Transportation Museum in Wichita, a site already dedicated to showcasing historic locomotives, railcars and transportation artifacts.
Lawmakers backing the bills say the hall of fame would celebrate both historic and modern contributions from Kansans who have played leadership roles in rail transportation — from engineers and conductors to executives and innovators.
Railroads have long been central to Kansas’ development. Rail lines connected early settlements, opened markets for farmers and ranchers, and helped fuel the state’s cattle, grain and manufacturing economies. Communities across Kansas grew up alongside depots and main lines that became lifelines for commerce and travel.
Today, major freight carriers such as Union Pacific and BNSF Railway and short line railroad K & O and Cimarron Valley continue to move agricultural products, energy resources and consumer goods across the state, maintaining some routes that date back more than a century.
Supporters say the proposed hall of fame would serve both educational and tourism purposes, offering a centralized place to tell those stories and recognize the industry’s ongoing impact.
Under the legislation, a committee of railroad stakeholders would oversee nominations and selections for induction, ensuring honorees reflect the breadth of Kansas’ rail history.
Backers say the effort is about more than nostalgia.
“It’s about recognizing how railroads built Kansas and continue to drive our economy today,” one supporter said. “This gives us a way to honor the people behind that work and preserve those stories for future generations.”
The bills are currently under consideration in the Kansas Legislature. If passed, the hall of fame could begin organizing inductees and exhibits in the coming years.