Fort Smith and Western Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Fort Smith and Western Railway was a railroad
that operated in the states of Arkansas
and Oklahoma
.
The railroad's main line extended 197 miles (317 km), from Coal Creek, Oklahoma to Guthrie, Oklahoma
, with an additional 20 miles (32.2 km) of trackage rights over the Kansas City Southern Railway
between Fort Smith, Arkansas
and Coal Creek. Guthrie was the territorial capital of Oklahoma, and a junction point with the Santa Fe Railway. The Fort Smith and Western owned a subsidiary, St. Louis, El Reno and Western Railway, which began operating 42 miles (67.6 km) between Guthrie and El Reno, Oklahoma
in June 1904.
in 1899 and began construction westward through Indian Territory
and Oklahoma Territory
. On November 1, 1903, the railroad was opened between Fort Smith
and Guthrie
. The capital of Oklahoma
was moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City
in 1910, and in 1915, the FS&W acquired 32.5 miles (52.3 km) of trackage rights
over the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad
from Fallis, Oklahoma
to Oklahoma City
.
The U.S. District Court in Fort Smith
placed the Fort Smith and Western Railroad in receivership on October 9, 1915, on petition by the Superior Savings & Trust Company of Cleveland, Ohio
. The company emerged from receivership as the Fort Smith and Western Railway on February 1, 1923, only to re-enter receivership on June 1, 1931. The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad withdrew trackage rights between Fallis and Oklahoma City in January 1939 after the FS&W defaulted on rental fees, and the FS&W ceased operations on February 9, 1939.
The route of the FS&W served no major population centers, but did serve major coal mining operations in eastern Oklahoma at Coal Creek, Bokoshe
, and McCurtain
. Other towns served included Crowder
, Weleetka
, Okemah
, Boley
, Paden
, Prague
, and Meridian
. A major portion of the road's freight traffic was metallurgical-grade coal from San Bois Coal Company mines near McCurtain
. As coal traffic declined, an oil discovery near Okemah
brought additional traffic, which postponed the abandonment of the railroad.
After the FS&W ceased operation, the trackage between Coal Creek and McCurtain
was purchased by the Fort Smith and Van Buren Railway, a subsidiary of the Kansas City Southern Railway
.
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
that operated in the states of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
and Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
The railroad's main line extended 197 miles (317 km), from Coal Creek, Oklahoma to Guthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. The population was 9,925 at the 2000 census.Guthrie was the territorial and later the first state capital for Oklahoma...
, with an additional 20 miles (32.2 km) of trackage rights over the Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
between Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
and Coal Creek. Guthrie was the territorial capital of Oklahoma, and a junction point with the Santa Fe Railway. The Fort Smith and Western owned a subsidiary, St. Louis, El Reno and Western Railway, which began operating 42 miles (67.6 km) between Guthrie and El Reno, Oklahoma
El Reno, Oklahoma
El Reno is a city in Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States, in the central part of the state. A part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area, El Reno is west of downtown Oklahoma City...
in June 1904.
History
The Fort Smith and Western Railroad was incorporated in ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
in 1899 and began construction westward through Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
and Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
. On November 1, 1903, the railroad was opened between Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
and Guthrie
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. The population was 9,925 at the 2000 census.Guthrie was the territorial and later the first state capital for Oklahoma...
. The capital of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
was moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
in 1910, and in 1915, the FS&W acquired 32.5 miles (52.3 km) of trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad
The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad was incorporated May 23, 1870. In its earliest days the MKT was commonly referred to as "the K-T", which was its stock exchange symbol; this common designation soon evolved into "the Katy"....
from Fallis, Oklahoma
Fallis, Oklahoma
Fallis is a town in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 28 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fallis is located at...
to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
.
The U.S. District Court in Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
placed the Fort Smith and Western Railroad in receivership on October 9, 1915, on petition by the Superior Savings & Trust Company of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. The company emerged from receivership as the Fort Smith and Western Railway on February 1, 1923, only to re-enter receivership on June 1, 1931. The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad withdrew trackage rights between Fallis and Oklahoma City in January 1939 after the FS&W defaulted on rental fees, and the FS&W ceased operations on February 9, 1939.
The route of the FS&W served no major population centers, but did serve major coal mining operations in eastern Oklahoma at Coal Creek, Bokoshe
Bokoshe, Oklahoma
Bokoshe is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 450 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bokoshe is located at ....
, and McCurtain
McCurtain, Oklahoma
McCurtain is a town in Haskell County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 466 at the 2000 census.According to Frank Leslie's Weekly, 90 miners perished in a coal mine disaster in 1912...
. Other towns served included Crowder
Crowder, Oklahoma
Crowder is a town in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 436 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crowder is located at...
, Weleetka
Weleetka, Oklahoma
Weleetka is a town in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census.-Weleetka Schools:Weleetka Schools is a pre-kindergarden through 12th grade school.The current principal of Weleetka High School is Chris Carter....
, Okemah
Okemah, Oklahoma
Okemah is a city in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Okfuskee County. It is the birthplace of folk music legend Woody Guthrie. Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, a federally recognized Muscogee Indian tribe, is headquartered in Okemah...
, Boley
Boley, Oklahoma
Boley is a town in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,126 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1903.The Boley Public School District is one of the smallest public school districts in the state of Oklahoma. For the most recent data available, it tied with Sweetwater for...
, Paden
Paden, Oklahoma
Paden is a town in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 446 at the 2000 census. It is named for Paden Tolbert, a U.S. Deputy Marshall who served the area in the early 1900s.-History:...
, Prague
Prague, Oklahoma
Prague is a city in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,138 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Prague is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and Meridian
Meridian, Oklahoma
Meridian is the name of two towns in the U.S. state of Oklahoma:*Meridian, Logan County, Oklahoma*Meridian, Stephens County, Oklahoma...
. A major portion of the road's freight traffic was metallurgical-grade coal from San Bois Coal Company mines near McCurtain
McCurtain, Oklahoma
McCurtain is a town in Haskell County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 466 at the 2000 census.According to Frank Leslie's Weekly, 90 miners perished in a coal mine disaster in 1912...
. As coal traffic declined, an oil discovery near Okemah
Okemah, Oklahoma
Okemah is a city in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Okfuskee County. It is the birthplace of folk music legend Woody Guthrie. Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, a federally recognized Muscogee Indian tribe, is headquartered in Okemah...
brought additional traffic, which postponed the abandonment of the railroad.
After the FS&W ceased operation, the trackage between Coal Creek and McCurtain
McCurtain, Oklahoma
McCurtain is a town in Haskell County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 466 at the 2000 census.According to Frank Leslie's Weekly, 90 miners perished in a coal mine disaster in 1912...
was purchased by the Fort Smith and Van Buren Railway, a subsidiary of the Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
.