Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway

Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway

Company type	Railway company
Industry	Rail transport
Predecessor	Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway
Founded	July 31, 1919 (1919-07-31) in Oklahoma
Defunct	1970 (1970)
Successor	Texas and Pacific Railway
Headquarters	Muskogee , United States
Area served	Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas
Products	Rail transport services

The Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway (“KO&G”) managed 310.5 miles of rail stretching from Denison, Texas through Oklahoma to Baxter Springs, Kansas. Constructed by various predecessor entities between 1904 and 1913, the line was merged into the Texas and Pacific Railway, a subsidiary of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, in 1963.

Muskogee Union Railway

Established in Oklahoma Territory on May 26, 1903, the Muskogee Union Railway completed two sections of track during 1903-1904: an 8.3-mile stretch from Wagoner, Oklahoma to Okay, Oklahoma, and a further 1.4-mile segment from Okay to Muskogee Junction near Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Muskogee Bridge Company

Formed on June 16, 1903, the Muskogee Bridge Company was responsible for constructing vital bridges over the Verdigris River and Arkansas River between Okay and Muskogee. Ownership transferred to the Muskogee Union Railway on July 20, 1904.

Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway

Incorporated on October 24, 1904, this company acquired the Muskogee Union Railway just five days later and completed the railway line extending from the Red River at the Texas border to Wagoner.

Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway Company of Texas

Chartered under Texas law on March 28, 1910, this entity constructed the Texas portion of the line, including nearly nine miles from the Red River near Carpenter's Bluff to Denison, along with terminal trackage. It was renamed The Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway Company of Texas on April 2, 1921.

Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad

Incorporated in Oklahoma on July 28, 1910, this company built the bridge across the Red River in 1910 that connected the Oklahoma and Texas segments. It changed its name to the Oklahoma Union Railway on December 11, 1911. Subsequently, on February 15, 1912, it was sold to another corporation with the same name incorporated December 12, 1911. This latter company finished the last section north of Wagoner by 1913 and leased the entire route for 99 years to the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway on September 21, 1912. The Carpenter’s Bluff bridge still exists as a roadway bridge but no longer supports rail traffic.

Reorganization as the KO&G

The Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway was incorporated in Oklahoma on July 31, 1919. That year it acquired the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway and operated the complete Denison-to-Baxter Springs line spanning a total of 310.5 miles. Additionally, KO&G extended its reach to Joplin, Missouri through trackage rights over the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway.

The Muskogee Roads

Following KO&G's entry into receivership on June 7, 1924, control passed to the Muskogee Company in 1925. The railway became part of the Muskogee Roads network—a group that included other lines such as the Midland Valley Railroad under unified management. In 1926, KO&G and Midland Valley agreed to jointly operate facilities; KO&G also secured trackage rights covering 5.8 miles between Midland Valley Junction and Muskogee over Midland Valley tracks.

Sale

Functioning as a crucial connecting route linking Missouri Pacific at Okay, Oklahoma with its subsidiary Texas and Pacific at Denison, Texas, KO&G was acquired by Texas and Pacific in 1963. Its assets were then integrated into their system.

References

• Stagner, Lloyd E. Midland Valley: Rails For Coal, Cattle, & Crude. David City, Nebraska: South Platte Press, 1996.