Thanks for the Quinion link Insel.

The possible connection with the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad is fascinating and had me hunting for more information. I knew it was a big company, but hadn’t realised how big, nor that under the name Santa Fe it had owned some of my employer’s subcontractors and competitors! There is a road haulage company in the UK carrying the name Atchison Topeka on the side of its trucks, but that company is based in the UK, in Worcester, and there doesn’t seem to be a connection, they’ve just ripped off the name I guess.