Working Men of the Railroads Statue

to be dedicated 11 a.m. May 10, 2008

The statue depicts one of the men who worked to actually built the railroads out of Atchison, Kansas. The working men, many of Irish origin, supplied the physical labor to build one of the railroads that opened the West and changed the American landscape forever. The figure is modeled after the great-grandfather of Michael Haverty, now Chairman & CEO of the Kansas City Southern, who began his own railroad career with the Missouri Pacific Railroad to make four generations. Haverty's great-grandfather worked as a gandy dancer, a railroad laborer, building the rail lines and as a tribute to his rich family railroad history and the fantastic rise from working man to Chairman & CEO of one of the USA's largest railroads the history of the Haverty Family is a true tale of railroad and American history. The greater than life-size bronze will be dedicated May 10, 2008 in front of the last remaining building of the original AT&SF Railroad left in Atchison, Kansas. The Santa Fe Freight Depot was built in 1880 and was a working freight depot for more than 100 years.

Get your tickets for an Evening on the Belle

The evening reception and fundraiser on the Southern Belle will begin at 6 p.m. - the Depot and the Atchison County Historical Society Museum will be open special hours for those attending the reception on board the Belle. The evening will include access to the wonderfully restored Belle and the many cars in the train. Special food, drinks and entertainment through the evening along with a chance to acquire your own minuture version of the "Working Men of the Railroads" statue.

Come out and join Mick Haverty, the Santa Fe Depot Trustees and artist Kwan Wu for an evening to remember.

For tickets : Contact the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce at 913-367-2427

or pay online with your credit card via PayPal (no special account required)

or pay via mail: Santa Fe Depot Trustees, P.O. Box 126, Atchison, KS 66002 - Make checks payable to the Santa Fe Depot Trustees

Tickets are $75 per person. Tickets will be held at Will Call in the Visitor's Center to pick up May 10.

click here to pay online - you will be taken to the PayPal website -

payment will go to the Amelia Earhart Festival - they have graciously allowed the Santa Fe Depot Trustees to use their online payment system

for this May 10, 2008 event. Please call the Chamber if you have any questions.

A part of your $75/person donation may be tax deductible depending on your individual tax situation. The Santa Fe Depot Trustees are a 501c3 organization. Funds raised from the reception/fundraiser will be used for long-term upkeep on the National Register Listed Atchison Santa Fe Depot and to build an Endowment for future needed upgrades and improvements.