Arkansas, Oklahoma and Western Railroad facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Arkansas, Rogers and Siloam Springs |
| Dates of operation | 1908–1911 |
| Successor | Kansas City and Memphis Railway |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Arkansas, Oklahoma and Western Railroad (AO&W) was a small train company in Northwest Arkansas, United States. It played a part in moving goods and people in the early 1900s.
Contents
The AO&W: A Short History
The AO&W started as the Rogers Southwestern. This company began running trains on August 15, 1906. Its tracks reached Springtown, Arkansas, which was about 21 miles southwest of Rogers.
Becoming the AO&W
The company then changed its name to the Arkansas, Oklahoma and Western. It reached Siloam Springs on January 1, 1908. The AO&W used a standard gauge track, meaning the rails were a specific width apart. This line was about 30 miles long. People sometimes called it the "All Off & Walk" because it was a small line.
The "Fruit Belt Line"
The AO&W hoped to do well by helping fruit farmers. These farmers were in south-central Benton County. Because of this, the railroad earned the nickname "Fruit Belt Line." It also aimed to connect with the Kansas City Southern Railway at Siloam Springs. This connection would help move more goods.
Merging with Other Railroads
The "Fruit Belt Line" and the Monte Ne Railway faced problems. The Monte Ne Railway was a 5-mile line built in 1902. It carried tourists to a new resort at Monte Ne. Both companies ran into financial trouble.
Forming the Kansas City and Memphis Railway
In 1911, the AO&W and Monte Ne Railway joined together. They formed a new company called the Kansas City and Memphis Railway (KC&M). This new company had its main office in Rogers, Arkansas.
Challenges and Closure
The KC&M tried to grow. It built a new track to Fayetteville from Cave Springs. However, this new line was not very successful. It ran too close to an existing Frisco line. This meant there wasn't enough new business for the KC&M.
The company grew too fast and didn't have enough traffic. Because of this, the KC&M faced serious financial issues by July 1914. People tried to save the railroad, but it didn't work. The entire 61-mile Kansas City and Memphis system closed down. This happened in different parts between March and October 1918. It was one of the biggest railroad closures in the U.S. that year.
The Lowell Underpass
In the summer of 1910, the AO&W built a special concrete tunnel. This tunnel went under the Frisco train tracks north of Lowell. The goal was to connect the Monte Ne Railroad to the AO&W.
Helping the Monte Ne Railroad
Even though the Monte Ne Railroad didn't carry many passengers, it moved a lot of freight. The Rogers White Lime Company at Limedale used the Monte Ne Railroad to ship its products. Building the underpass allowed the Monte Ne to send its freight through the AO&W (later KC&M). This was better than using the competing Frisco line. The concrete underpass still stands today. Trains of the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad (which took over from Frisco) still cross over it.
