Few hrs from now @ midnight will mark 30 yrs when Miss Katy folded into UP. At Wichita, the actual combining of the carriers into one did not take place until 11/1/89--14 months after the fact. That merger was one of the most interesting to take place.Purely overlapping, UP went just about everywhere Katy went. Most of the old Katy has fared well as many lines have become important segments in the bigger system. Here in Wichita, train counts went from 2-4 a day in 1989 to now 25 a day on the former Rock Island/Katy route.
Katy's prime asset was its Kansas City-Dallas main, which was more direct than the RI main. What is interesting is that several earlier merger proposals had Katy being absorbed by CB&Q/BN, which went out the window when BN picked up the Frisco.
CSSHEGEWISCH Katy's prime asset was its Kansas City-Dallas main, which was more direct than the RI main.
Katy's prime asset was its Kansas City-Dallas main, which was more direct than the RI main.
The Katy Bulding at the corner of Commerce and South Market streets in Dallas is intact. It is a beautiful building; it is worth the short walk from Union Station to view it.
The Texas Eagle runs over the former Katy route from Temple to Taylor.
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
PJS1 CSSHEGEWISCH Katy's prime asset was its Kansas City-Dallas main, which was more direct than the RI main. The Katy Bulding at the corner of Commerce and South Market streets in Dallas is intact. It is a beautiful building; it is worth the short walk from Union Station to view it. The Texas Eagle runs over the former Katy route from Temple to Taylor.
Johnny
That whole era of mergers is fascinating (circa 1980). Think about it, BN took Frisco (instead of MoPac). MoPac was then taken by UP.
That set up the present day systems (of course Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, CNW were taken later), but the foundation for both systems, primarily the coal routes were established by those two mergers.
I would say UP got the better deal with MoPac, but that is my thoughts from far away and a long time ago. MoPac was a great railroad with a far reaching system. Frisco, also pretty good with a better KC - Memphis route. MoPac gave UP Chicago and Texas, Frisco gave BN a more direct St. Louis routing to head west.
I still think the MoPac/C&EI merger (takeover) was one of the most brilliant moves made.
Sounds like the Katy line south of KC has done quite well over the years.
Ed
MP173 That whole era of mergers is fascinating (circa 1980). Think about it, BN took Frisco (instead of MoPac). MoPac was then taken by UP. That set up the present day systems (of course Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, CNW were taken later), but the foundation for both systems, primarily the coal routes were established by those two mergers. I would say UP got the better deal with MoPac, but that is my thoughts from far away and a long time ago. MoPac was a great railroad with a far reaching system. Frisco, also pretty good with a better KC - Memphis route. MoPac gave UP Chicago and Texas, Frisco gave BN a more direct St. Louis routing to head west. I still think the MoPac/C&EI merger (takeover) was one of the most brilliant moves made. Sounds like the Katy line south of KC has done quite well over the years. Ed
The line from Wagoner to NLR Ar. , and from Wagoner(nee:(both) MoPac lines) to Coffeyville Ok, and NE towards the KC area runs as one way North (or Northeasterly (?). All these lines are signaled to handle traffic in both directions, if needed.
UPRR took on MoPac in 1982 and MKT in 1988. Parsons, Ks is now a crew change point; and some of the pre-UPRR ownership buildings are still standing, as is part of the large yard that was MKT. Northbound crews change at Independence, Ks. At South Coffeyville,Ok there is a facility for car maintenance and repairs on unit coal trains maintainedf by a div. of Watco for empty returning unit trains.
Recall the purchase of the MoPac by UPRR was started in 1980, but was not incorporated unitl 1982 because of various court actions;MoPac and WPRR were merged as Pacific Rail Sys. under UPRR Corp.finally, in 1989.
It was during this time frame that MoPac had some power repainted in the UP Armor Yellow and Grey scheme, but lettered for Missouri Pacific. 1988/89 saw the MKT merged into UPRR.
Sam:I would suggest that you read, not already, the fine book "Rebirth of the Missouri Pacific, 1956 - 1983 by H. Craig Miner. Not only is it a great recap of the MP in that era, but also provides a good overview of the mergers that were changing the industry.
Downing Jenks was the primary driver of pushing MP into the modern era. There are a couple of photos of him in the book which were taken during floods in Texas. The photos show him as a hands on CEO, up past his ankles in flood water in one photo and in another photo he is sitting on an empty can (upside down) of spikes talking on the dispatch phone....white shirt, blue jeans, well used work boots, and wearing a hat. The photo tells as much about the man as the written word.
Katy photos from days gone by.
How about those Pacifics with Boxpok drivers?
http://ctr.trains.com/galleries/archive/mkt-gallery
I'll never understand how UP was able to get BOTH the MP and then later the MKT. The MKT would have been a nice fit for a combined Grand Trunk-Milwaukee Road had that amalgamation come to pass.
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