TOPEKA, Kan. — Mayor Butch Felker still has hope of retaining the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad locomotive shops in Topeka, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported.
He made that assessment at his weekly news conference Tuesday after spending the morning touring the shops with railroad executives from headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.
The tour also included officials from the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and Go Topeka.
Felker said he was told Tuesday the railroad likely will make a decision “in a few weeks.”
The railroad is considering moving the locomotive repair operation from Topeka to Burlington, Iowa.
Felker said he thinks Topeka has some advantages over Burlington. The two main shop buildings here were built in 1868 and 1870, he said, but added, “They’re as solid today as the day they were built.”
Topeka’s advantage, he said, is that it has room for expansion, but the Burlington shop doesn’t.
Some have argued that Topeka is at a disadvantage because it is no longer on the railroad’s main line.
“We don’t feel that’s a major problem, based on what we learned today, in terms of operating the railroad and getting the equipment in and out ,” Felker said.
Loss of the shops would cost Topeka 300 jobs. Doug Kinsinger, chamber president and chief executive officer, has promised to be “very aggressive” in trying to keep the jobs in Topeka.
“We have a lot to offer here and the biggest thing we have to offer is the people,” Felker said. “The productivity from our folks here is second to none. They’ve stuck through thick and thin.”
Felker said a contingent from Topeka hopes to meet one more time with railroad officials in Fort Worth before the decision is made.