SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2501
As Amended by Senate Committee on
Transportation

Brief*
HB 2501, as amended, would designate the official state
steam locomotive and the official state heritage railroad:
● The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe #3415 Pacific
class 4-6-2, built in 1919, would be designated as
the official steam locomotive for the state; and
● The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad would be
designated as the official state heritage railroad.
The bill would be in effect upon publication in the
Kansas Register.

Background
As amended, the bill contains the contents of HB 2501
and HB 2502.

HB 2501 (Official State Steam locomotive)
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Transportation at the request of Representative Hill.


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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
House Committee on Transportation
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by Representative Hill, the President and
General Manager of the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad,
and the Director of the Abilene Convention and Visitors
Bureau. The proponents described the locomotive and its
significance to the community and to locomotive enthusiasts
nationwide, noting it is used on the Abilene & Smoky Valley
Railroad. Written-only proponent testimony was received from
a representative of American Heritage Railways.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to add the
contents of HB 2502.
Senate Committee on Transportation
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by Representative Hill, two 5th grade students
from St. Andrew’s Elementary School in Abilene, and the
President and General Manager of the Abilene and Smoky
Valley Railroad Association. The proponents stated the
locomotive’s and railroad’s historical significance to the area
and the tourism benefits for the area. The proponents
described the rides and services available. They also stated
these designations would increase the chance for the railroad
association to obtain grant moneys available for preservation.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
Senator Claeys and representatives of the Abilene
Convention and Visitors Bureau, American Heritage
Railways, and the Topeka Chapter of the National Railway
Historical Society.
No other testimony was provided.


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 The Senate Committee amended the bill to be in effect
upon publication in the Kansas Register.

HB 2502 (Official State Heritage Railroad)
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Transportation at the request of Representative Hill.
House Committee on Transportation
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by three 5th grade students from Enterprise
Elementary School, the President and General Manager of
the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, and the Director of the
Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. The proponents
described rides on the train, the visitors drawn to the area
because of the railroad and benefits of the railroad to the
local economy, and people’s enthusiasm for riding trains
drawn by steam-powered locomotives. Written-only
proponent testimony was received from the 5th grade class at
Eisenhower Elementary School in Abilene and the President
of the Topeka Chapter of the National Railway Historical
Society.
No other testimony was provided.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal notes prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bills, as introduced, the Kansas
Department of Transportation and the Kansas State Historical
Society indicate enactment of the bills would have no fiscal
effect.
Locomotive; railroad; heritage railroad; designation


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