Watco's Kansas Eastern RR: What businesses/customers?

[caboose63]

i am curious about a short lived railroad of Watco's in kansas that did not last long. the Railroad was the Kansas Eastern Railroad which ran from Augusta to Fredonia, kansas 71 miles. does anyone perhaps living or lived in the area of the shortline know businesses it served? what the names of some of the customers served by the KERR was?

[samfp1943]

caboose63

i am curious about a short lived railroad of Watco's in kansas that did not last long. the Railroad was the Kansas Eastern Railroad which ran from Augusta to Fredonia, kansas 71 miles. does anyone perhaps living or lived in the area of the shortline know businesses it served? what the names of some of the customers served by the KERR was?

 

Here is a map and linked site to the KER abandonment @ http://www.abandonedrails.com/Wichita_to_Fredonia

This was a StL& SF (Frisco route). Currently under construction and approaching Augusta,Ks is an 'improved trail' on the old ROW.  On the Wichita end, WATCO has a 'yard' [near the jct of I35& K-96 ]. It ties in with some UPR Trackage in the same area, but its ROW to the East is abandoned( Is apparently included in the 'new' trail being built(?). 

See linked map for particular URL linked to that abandonment.

From Fredonia, Ks. the route of Frisco was apparently taken into WATCO's operations(?).     Businesses in Fredonia are still served by SK&O, the LaFarge Cement Plant has apparently ceased operations(?). There is still a large grain elevator that  ships, and the line between Fredonia and Neodasha still sees traffic, irregularly(?).

 The SK&O line from Neodasha, southeasterly towards Cherryvale,Ks. has traffic,  the line goes easterly towards Mound Valley, Altamont, and Oswego is utilized by SK&O, to go eastward; Oswego, Sherwin,site of large Feed MIll, to Cherokee, and Pittsburg,Ks. It (SK&O) serves as a connection from Cherryvale, via Liberty, to Independence, then west towards Longton, Moline, Winfield and (via BNSF) to Wichita. IIRC. 

 

[caboose63]

Thank you, for the info on the Kansas Eastern and South Kansas & Oklahoma. Have plans to add KERR for kansas eastern to some accurail 50' exterior post boxcars and 3 bay grain covered hoppers.

 

[samfp1943]

[quote user="caboose63"]

Thank you, for the info on the Kansas Eastern and South Kansas & Oklahoma. Have plans to add KERR for kansas eastern to some accurail 50' exterior post boxcars and 3 bay grain covered hoppers.

 

 

 Caboose63: Just saw this about your 'modeling'  KERR.

  Freight on line from Fredonia,east is primarily covered hopper cars. Elevators at Fredonia load back east to Neodesha,( a transfer point on the UPRR ) and then SE to Cherryvale,  to the east or south, towards Liberty, Coffeeville,Ks, and South Coffeeville,Ok. ( site of WATCO car Shop (mostly off of UPRR) to service unit coal trains, some manufacturing and a refinery). From Cherryvale, east to Mound Valley, and Altamont, to a big turkey feed mill at Sherwin Jct. northeast to Cherokee,Ks. and Pittsburg. From Sherwin Jct that line continues east on to Columbus, Ks and Jct with BNSF.

Most of the traffic is heavy with covered hopper cars ( grains, feed ingredients and sand from Wichita). From Cherryvale the line west via Independence, to a former Martin Marietta Quarry and from there several times a week, a unit train runs to Wichita and returns back, mostly open, high side hopper cars, and a few tankers from Moline,Ks. area.  Hope this will help.