Photos: Roy Inman

New Historic Model Locomotive
on Display at Union Station

Union Station is pleased to announce it has received a new permanent addition to its collection that has historic significance to Union Station and the region. The item is a unique locomotive model donated by the family of John Shedd Reed. Reed was a former chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The model locomotive is now on display under the clock at Union Station. It is free and open to the public daily.

Reed’s family donated the model to Union Station after his death in 2008. Mr. Reed’s son, at his father’s request, had contacted Michael Haverty, chairman of Union Station’s board and chairman and chief executive officer of Kansas City Southern, to inquire about the donation. At one time, Haverty and John S. Reed worked together at the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

“We are honored and humbled that Mr. Reed and his family chose Union Station Kansas City to be the recipient of this historic model steam locomotive shortly before his passing,” said Michael R. Haverty, chairman and chief executive officer of Kansas City Southern, a former president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and current chairman of the board of Union Station Kansas City.

“Mr. Reed was a model of integrity during his tenure as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Santa Fe, and I had the privilege of working under his leadership for over a decade. Union Station will display the locomotive with pride, and we will also preserve Mr. Reed’s legacy. It is appropriate that Union Station becomes the home of the Reed locomotive as Santa Fe was the dominant passenger rail carrier during the station’s peak.”

The locomotive is a model of a full-size Santa Fe locomotive built in 1909. When it was built, the original locomotive was among the latest in fast passenger power. With excellent steaming capacity and tall driving wheels, it pulled Santa Fe’s finest trains at speeds exceeding 100 mph – a marvel in its day. At one time, more than one-third of all passenger trains running in and out of Union Station Kansas City were Santa Fe. The model was built in 1915 by apprentices at Santa Fe’s shops in San Bernardino, Calif., and was presented to Reed upon his retirement in 1983. It is a fully-functioning 1:8 scale model, capable of steaming under its own power.

“Union Station is pleased to receive this gracious gift from the Reed family,” said George M. Guastello, II, president and CEO of Union Station Kansas City, Inc. “What a treasure for the Kansas City community and all our visitors to enjoy. Collecting and preserving the region’s history is our mission, and we are pleased to add this artifact to our collection. We are grateful to the family for selecting Union Station as the beneficiary of this gift.”

Kansas City Southern’s Charitable Fund generously donated funds to construct a special display case for this model so it can be exhibited for public viewing. The case is made with cherry wood and LED lights powered by three solar panels mounted on top of the case provide lighting for the locomotive.

Reed’s love of trains started at an early age. He decided at age four he wanted to become a locomotive engineer. He fulfilled his dream of working for the railroad and worked his way up to president of the Santa Fe in 1967. He held that position for 16 years.

Reed’s family has ties to Chicago and Kansas City. His grandfather was John G. Shedd, benefactor of Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium and president of retailer Marshall Field & Co. Kersey Coates was a great-grandfather; he owned the Coates House hotel, once Kansas City’s finest, which still stands at 10th and Broadway.

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