Gentlemen:
Going back to the Katy era on former Rock Island track in Oklahoma, does anyone have knowledge of yard ops @ Harter yd in OKC and Enid? Answers being sought are who were the shippers the rr served in these pair of markets? How many yd jobs per day? Around the clock, fewer on wknds? This is only for the Katy era, 1980-1989, and nothing of the UP.
I do belong to KRHS and have contacted them and other assorted groups for any possible assistance on this issue.
Katy served McAlester, Muskogee, Tulsa, Osage, and Oklahoma City. OC and Muskogee probably had a interchange yard there.
ATSFGuy Katy served McAlester, Muskogee, Tulsa, Osage, and Oklahoma City. OC and Muskogee probably had a interchange yard there.
To help answer some questions as to WHERE, the KATY, might have had yards, and to maybe, aid that interest.
See KATY Historical Society map linked @ http://www.katyrailroad.org/map.htm
Do not forget that the KATY had their major division point, and yard/Back Shops at Parsons, Kansas,[named for 1st Katy Pres. Levi Parsons]: as well, as their shop/yard and faclities at Waco,[Bellemeade,Tx].
The Waco/Bellemeade Backshop was named Warden Backshop, and had yard and roundhouse [KATY purchased the Texas Central in 1910-it was about 260 mles(?) from Waco to Rotan,Tx.]
Dennison,Tx was also site of major facilities[named Ray Tard], and at one time, the GHQ for the KATY, after its offices left St.Louis.
After the Rock Island folded its tents in 1980's, The KATY operated its OKT line from Salina, Ks to Ft. Worth,Tx.
Interesting to note that the KATY was a railroad that in the 1970's operated some 2600 (+-) miles of track; unfortunately, the lion's share was laid with a maximum of 90lb rail, which limited KATY's Steam to nothing bigger that 8 coupled, locomotives (0-8-0, 2-8-0, and lighter 6 coupled,) their diesels were sort of a hodge-podge,( everything from GE, EMD, FM, and even some Whitcombs).
Note: To add some POST SCRIPT to ATSFGuy's and my previous comments:
I went back and re-examined the KATY story in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma seems to be unusual in the point of its history, Statehood in Oklahoma was officially not declared until Nov.12, 1907. Followed by AZ and NM('12), then Ak and Hawaii ('59). Prior ti statehood Ok was the 'Indian Territory', and access was supposedly limited as to its resident population.[ Sooner's and Indians ].
Access to the territories by railrioads were also limited.
see linked@https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=RA004
"...Congress had stipulated that the first railroad to reach a certain point on the Kansas border, near Chetopah, was to have the right to cross through Oklahoma, and the MK&T won the competition with the Kansas and Neosho Valley company. The Katy reached Chetopah first. Originally, a land grant in Indian Territory was promised to the railroad in question, and the Katy investors fully believed that they were entitled to this land. However, after protests from the Indian Nations and much legal wrangling, their claim was finally dismissed. The Katy line reached the Red River late in 1872. Meanwhile the Atlantic and Pacific (A&P) had entered Indian Territory with a line from Pierce City, Missouri, to Vinita. Seeing the problems with the land grant claimed by the Katy, the A&P decided to stop there and wait for better times. Most of the traffic on the Katy line was interstate, chiefly Texas cattle transported north and grain transported south to the Gulf ports, as the region it passed through was sparsely populated and did not produce much freight. Only the coal mines around McAlester prospered because of the presence of the railroad, and there the Katy developed a lively coal traffic..."
So from the start the population was limited, and the railroads as built were dependent on mostly Interstate traffic; until a manufacturing and refining base had been established. The KATY was built early on, primarily as a North/South line on the estern side; while the ROCK ISLAND was on the Western side with a division[E/W andN/S points at El Reno, OK (nee: FT.Reno,I/T.) The KATY operations in OKLAHOMA, were mostly yards and support for the local operations, and personnel needed. as previously stated, the major facilities were located outside of Oklahoma, for the reasons stated in the linked information.
In the question, I should have typed OKT instead of Katy. I am only seeking a profile of the OK City and Enid yards during the OKT era--1980-1988. Not looking anything of MKT on this question.
Again, basic info: how many yd jobs per day? Who were clients the yd jobs switched in these pair of markets? Was there a division trainmaster based @ either yd?
Information from the April 24, 1983 employee timetable as OKKT divisional officers listed. The operating officers show the superintendent in Enid. An assisstant superintendent in Chickasha. A trainmaster in Wichita and a Road Foreman of Engines in Enid. That's it for OKKT officers.
Jeff
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