St. Louis-San Francisco Railway

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St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
Logo
Reporting marks SLSF
Locale Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas
Dates of operation 1876–1980
Successor line Burlington Northern
Track gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters Springfield, Missouri

The St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (AAR reporting marks SLSF), also known as the Frisco, is a defunct U.S. railroad. It operated in the Midwest and South Central U.S. from 1876 to 1980.

Contents

[edit] History

The St. Louis & San Francisco Railway was incorporated in Missouri on September 7, 1876. It was formed from the Missouri Division and Central Division of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. After bankruptcy, the Frisco emerged as the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, which was incorporated on 29 June 1896. This company, too, went bankrupt; on 24 August 1916, the company was reorganized as the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway. See map [1].

The St. Louis-San Francisco Railway had two main lines: St. Louis - Tulsa - Oklahoma City and Kansas City - Memphis - Birmingham. The junction of the two lines was in Springfield, Missouri, which also played home to the company's headquarters and main shops facility. Other Lines included Springfield - Kansas City (via Clinton, MO); Monett, MO (Pierce City) - Wichita, KS; Monett, MO - Fort Smith, AR; St. Louis - River Jct., AR (Memphis, TN); Tulsa, OK - Dallas, TX; Tulsa, OK to Avard, OK; and Lakeside, OK - Hugo, OK - Hope, AR.

From 1915 through 1959 the Frisco, in a joint venture with the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (aka MKT or the Katy), operated the Texas Special. This luxury passenger liner ran from St. Louis to Dallas, Ft. Worth, and San Antonio. The Texas Special is a popular prototype in Model Railroading.

The Frisco was acquired by the Burlington Northern Railroad on November 21, 1980.

[edit] Former Frisco Lines Today

The core of the former Frisco system continues to be operated by BNSF as high-density mainlines. Other secondary and branchlines have been sold to shortline operators or have been abandoned altogether.

Kansas City-Springfield-Memphis-Birmingham: Operated by BNSF

St. Louis-Springfield-Tulsa-Dallas: Operated by BNSF

Fort Scott, KS to Afton, OK: Operated by BNSF

St. Louis to Memphis, TN: Operated by BNSF

Tulsa, OK to Avard, OK: Operated by BNSF

Monett, MO to Fort Smith, AR: Operated by Arkansas and Missouri Railroad

Lakeside, OK to Hope, AR: Operated by Kiamichi RR (Rail America)

Tulsa, OK (Sapulpa) to Oklahoma City, OK: Operated by Stillwater Central RR

Oklahoma City to Snyder, OK: Operated by Stillwater Central RR

Snyder, OK to Quannah, TX: Owned by BNSF, operated by Grainbelt/Farmrail

Enid, OK to Frederick, TX: Operated by Grainbelt/Farmrail

Amory, MS to Pensacola, FL: Operated by Alabama and Gulf Coast RR (RailAmerica)

Springfield to Kansas City (via Clinton): Abandoned

Monett (Pierce City) to Carthage, MO: Out of service

Carthage, MO to Wichita, KS: Mostly Abandoned

[edit] Predecessors

The following companies were predecessors of the Frisco:

[edit] Acquisitions

SLSF 1522 has been preserved and restored. In this picture the locomotive is sitting in Arkansas City, Kansas.
SLSF 1522 has been preserved and restored. In this picture the locomotive is sitting in Arkansas City, Kansas.

The following railroads were acquired or merged into the Frisco:

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Asset absorptions

St. Louis-San Francisco Railway ("Frisco Lines") #600, a Baldwin VO-660, is seen here in a 1942 builder's photo.
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway ("Frisco Lines") #600, a Baldwin VO-660, is seen here in a 1942 builder's photo.

The following is a list of partial or full asset absorptions, many times through bankruptcy courts or creditors. In some cases the SL&SF was a creditor. Assets can include mineral rights, property, track and right of way, trains, bonds, mortgages, etc.

  • St. Louis, Wichita and Western Railway - 1882
  • St. Louis and Oklahoma City Railroad – 1898
  • Kansas Midland Railroad - 23 October 1900
  • Oklahoma City Terminal Railroad – 1900–1903
  • Fort Smith and Van Buren Bridge Company – 1907
  • Ozark and Cherokee Central Railway - 1907
  • St. Louis, Memphis and Southern Railroad – 1907
  • Sulphur Springs Railway - 1907
  • Joplin Railway - 1910
  • Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway – 1919–1937
  • Fayetteville and Little Rock Railroad - 1926
  • Little Rock and Texas Railway - 1926
  • Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad - 1 September 1928
  • Muscle Shoals, Birmingham and Pensacola Railroad – 1928–1947
  • Miami Mineral Belt Railroad - 1950
  • St. Louis, Kennett and Southeastern Railroad - 1950
  • St. Louis, San Francisco and Texas Railway – 1963–1964
  • Birmingham Belt Railroad – 1967 (liquidation of BB RR and distribution of assets)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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