Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad |
| Predecessor | Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad |
| Founded | May 29, 1980 |
| Founder | Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT) |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Fate | Purchased by Missouri Pacific Railroad Company; later merged into Union Pacific |
| Successor | Missouri Pacific Railroad Company |
| Headquarters | Dallas , United States |
Area served | Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Missouri |
Key people | Frank McGarr (U.S. District Judge who approved acquisition) |
| Products | Freight rail services (wheat, corn, sand, gravel, aggregate) |
| Owner | Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT) |
| Parent | Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT) |
The Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad (OKT) operated across its titular states throughout the 1980s.
OKT I
Formed on May 29, 1980, in the wake of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad's collapse that same year, OKT functioned as a subsidiary of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT). It took control of a portion of the former Rock Island’s north-south corridor extending from Herington, Kansas, down to Fort Worth, Texas. Initial funding included a $3 million investment from local shippers. The line ran from St. Joe, Missouri, passing through Topeka, Wichita, Enid, and El Reno before reaching Fort Worth. Additionally, OKT managed several branch lines and a segment of Rock Island’s east-west mainline between El Reno and Oklahoma City.
In 1981, OKT handled 61,891 railcars. The inaugural train departed from Dallas—where OKT was headquartered—on June 6, 1980. Most operational equipment was supplied by MKT; however, additional locomotives and cabooses were leased from Conrail and the Alaska Railroad. Due to unsatisfactory financial results, MKT sought to reduce lease payments with the Rock Island Trustee. This disagreement resulted in MKT terminating OKT operations on December 31, 1981. Following this, with backing from the State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Rail Users' Association, a settlement was reached. On October 20, 1982, U.S. District Judge Frank McGarr approved the acquisition by MKT’s subsidiary OKT of the Herington to Fort Worth rail line for $55 million, covering .
Interim operations between OKT I and OKT II
During the negotiation period spanning 1981 to 1982, several interim operators managed portions of the network: Okarche Central Railway (OCRI) ran services between Enid & El Reno and El Reno to Oklahoma City; North Central Texas Railway (NCTR) oversaw the Dallas to Chico segment; Enid Central Railway (ENIC) operated from Enid to El Reno and Ponca City until early 1983; North Central Oklahoma Railway (NCOK) served routes from Chickasha to El Reno as well as the Chickasha-Anadarko branch. OCRI, NCTR, NCOK, and ENIC were all subsidiaries under a single parent company.
OKT II
After purchasing the line from the Rock Island Trustee, OKT II recommenced operations on November 1, 1982. Its system comprised the mainline between Herington and Dallas; a secondary mainline connecting El Reno and Oklahoma City; branches linking Chickasha-Lawton and Waurika-Walters; plus the Herington-Abilene branch along with trackage rights over Union Pacific between Abilene and Salina. Branches from Enid to Ponca City and Topeka to St. Joe were discontinued. OKT II replaced interim operators NCTR, NCOK, and ENIC—with ENIC ceasing in February 1983 and NCTR ending in October 1982. NCOK continued operating westward from El Reno to Geary and northward through Watonga, Okeene, and Homestead starting March 1983 until its acquisition by AT&L in 1985.
As a valuable component of MKT Lines’ portfolio, OKT generated substantial annual carload volumes largely transporting wheat and corn produced in Kansas and Oklahoma. It also moved sand, gravel, and aggregate materials sourced from facilities located in Chico, Richard's Spur, Waurika, and Dover. While most rolling stock was provided by its parent company MKT, OKT also utilized its own jumbo wheat hoppers branded OKKT along with EMD GP39-2s and GP38 locomotives featuring a unique OKT emblem.
Operations
The core operations consisted of daily freight runs between Wichita and Ft. Worth, designated as Trains 503 (heading south) and 504 (heading north). Occasionally, an additional section, usually a unit grain train, operated under the numbers 603 (southbound) and 604 (northbound). The El Reno Turn service ran five days each week between Oklahoma City and El Reno, identified as Trains 537 (westbound) and 538 (eastbound). Rock trains ran every day of the week from Oklahoma City to Richards Spur, operating as Trains 521 and 531 when traveling south with empty cars, and as Trains 522 and 532 when northbound with loaded cars. These trains also performed local switching duties for customers located in Anadarko, Apache, and Lawton. Extra local trains served the Walters Branch. The Chico Turn rock trains provided daily service between Dallas-Ft. Worth and Chico, operating as Train 550 northbound with empties and Train 551 southbound with loads.
Mergers
In line with the corporate strategy of its parent company MKT, the OKT was purchased by the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company (MPRR) on August 12, 1988. Later, on January 1, 1997, MPRR was merged into Union Pacific, thereby broadening Union Pacific’s market presence and international operations.