MKT Railroad History

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Al Baker from Ft. Smith, AR on 2/27/2006 4:58:21 PM:

I'm searching for the full name and history of the N. FS. & N.W. railroad through the Oklahoma panhandle. The railroad was later taken over by MKT.

MLH from Overland Park KS on 3/10/2006 8:38:52 AM:

I could find references to W FS & NW (full name "unknown")that was taken over by the MKT at:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~okgenweb/okprojects/xref/railroads.html

but not N FS & NW. I caught a glimpse of the former on an image of an 1915 OK map but the page would not stay up. Indeed it appeared to be in the panhandle. As you are probably aware, the FS & NW would most likely be Fort Smith and Northwestern. See list of defunct railroads at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_United_States_railroads

If it is a "W" and not a "N" then railroad names that include Fort Smith that I have seen include Wichita, Winfield and Wellington. If it is truly N FS & NW then I came up empty on that one.

If you haven't already done so consider contacting this KATY history reference:

http://www.railserve.com/jump/jump.cgi?ID=6147

Good luck!

MLH from Overland Park KS on 3/10/2006 2:38:33 PM:

Mr Baker, if you are still out there, here is a repost of the 1915 map. Allow a few seconds and a zoom button should appear on the bottom right corner.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~okgenweb/okprojects/xref/map/ok-west.jpg

Matt F. from McAllen, TX on 5/23/2006 11:47:17 AM:

The MKT took over the Wichita Falls & Northwestern in 1922. No doubt this is the railroad in the original question. This line went from Wichita Falls, Texas, to Forgan, Oklahoma. In 1929, the MKT purchased a second panhandle shortline, the Beaver, Meade & Englewood.

There is an excellent book, the last word really, about the two lines. Katy Northwest, The Story of a Branch Line Railroad, by Donovan Hofsommer was published in 1976.

sbikes from Kansas City on 5/24/2006 11:13:50 PM:

I bought a great book on this subject last time I was in St. Louis at the book store at the Arch.
I will look around and see if I can find it. It was fascinating to read about the politics and all
that went into the making of the MKT. I am sure this topic was covered. If I can put my
hands on the book, I will post the information.

Onis Cox from Edmond, OK on 11/19/2006 9:58:36 AM:

In 1931 the MKT bought the Beaver, Meade and Englewood Railroad (B.M. @E) a 105 mile extension from Frogan, OK, the Katy's Northwestern District. Source: The Katy Railroad and the Last Frontier by V. V. MAasterson.

Jason from Huntsville, AL on 11/20/2006 2:51:35 PM:

I read an excellent book entitled "The KATY Railroad and the Last Frontier." It was ALL about the MK&T. It was available at my local library. Good luck!

sharon gerber from Cushing Ok. on 2/28/2008 9:32:43 PM:

My dad Louis Hiatt work on M.K.T. railroad in 1945 and 46 My dad and I got our picture and story in the Forgan Ok. newspaper because I was name after the M.K.T Railroad.My middle name is Kay.

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