Midland Valley Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | June 4, 1903 |
| Founder | C. Jared Ingersoll |
| Defunct | April 1, 1967 |
| Fate | Merged into Texas & Pacific Railroad |
| Headquarters | Muskogee , United States |
Area served | Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas |
| Products | Rail freight and passenger services |
The Midland Valley Railroad (MV), founded on June 4, 1903, was created to construct a rail line extending from Hope, Arkansas through Muskogee and Tulsa, Oklahoma to Wichita, Kansas. This venture was financially supported by Philadelphia industrialist C. Jared Ingersoll, who owned coal mining operations in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). The railroad derived its name from Midland, Arkansas, a coal mining community it served. The MV promoted itself with the tagline "Arkansas River Route," highlighting its alignment alongside the Arkansas River between Wichita and Fort Smith. Access to Fort Smith, Arkansas was gained through trackage rights over the Frisco line from Rock Island, Oklahoma.
In 1967, the Midland Valley Railroad became part of the Texas & Pacific Railroad, which itself was incorporated into the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1983.
History
By 1904, MV had extended its line to Tulsa and finalized its initial network in 1906 upon reaching Arkansas City, Kansas. That same year, a branch line to the Glenn Pool oil field was inaugurated, producing substantial freight traffic and income. The railroad also reached Kiefer, though the segment between Glenn Pool and Kiefer was discontinued in 1936. The connection to Wichita was established in 1911 through leasing the Wichita and Midland Valley Railroad; however, service on this northern route ended in 1966 when it was shortened back to Barnsdall, Oklahoma. Passenger operations were terminated in 1934. The decline of MV was influenced by competitive pressures and the economic downturn during the Great Depression.
As part of the group known as the Muskogee Roads, MV operated from its headquarters in Muskogee, Oklahoma, while ownership remained with the Muskogee Company, whose main office was located in Philadelphia. In 1925, Midland Valley expanded by acquiring the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway, followed by the Muskogee Company’s purchase of the Oklahoma City-Ada-Atoka Railway in 1929.
A significant accident took place on February 1, 1958, when westbound train number 41 collided head-on with eastbound train number 42 near Bokoshe, Oklahoma, resulting in four fatalities among crew members and seven additional injuries.
End of the line
The trio of railroads controlled by the Muskogee Company was sold to the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MoPac) in 1964. Subsequently, on April 1, 1967, Midland Valley was merged into MoPac’s subsidiary, the Texas & Pacific Railroad (T&P). Later on, MoPac itself became part of the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1983. After functioning as branch lines for several years post-merger, most segments of the Midland Valley route have been abandoned.
Certain sections of the former railway corridor have been converted into recreational trails such as the Osage Prairie Trail—a 14.5-mile stretch connecting Tulsa and Skiatook.
External links
- Midland Valley
- Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory
- "Abandoned Midland Valley Depot in Pawhuska, OK." YouTube footage showcasing an abandoned Midland Valley passenger station located in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
- Articles with short description
- Defunct Arkansas railroads
- Defunct Kansas railroads
- Defunct Oklahoma railroads
- Former Class I railroads in the United States
- Predecessors of the Missouri Pacific Railroad
- Railway companies established in 1903
- Railway companies disestablished in 1967
- American companies established in 1903
- American companies disestablished in 1967