Katy Northwest : The Story of a Branch Line Railroad

by Hofsommer, Don L.

• ISBN13: 9780253336361
• ISBN10: 0253336368
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-10-01
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr

Summary

"Katy Northwest will be of interest to scholars who are concerned with the economic, social, and political ramifications... of all light railroad branch lines... Will be warmly received by rail buffs and by loyal friends of the Katy." -- from the Foreword by John W. Barriger, Special Assistant, Federal Railroad Administration, and former president of the Katy"If you are coming to this book for the first time, dive in! If you're picking it up again after an absence, welcome back. The Northwest District may be gone, but it lives forever here." -- Fred FinleyMore than just a history of a branch line railroad, this is a premiere book, with not only facts and figures, but also excellent historical writing. It details Katy Northwest's birth, maturation, and decline as well as the devastating effect of its death on the communities it served.

Author Biography

Donovan L. Hofsommer, President of the prestigious Lexington Group, was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Northern Iowa, and his Ph. D. from Oklahoma State University. He currently teaches history at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
Introduction to the 1999 Edition	ix
Introduction	xi
Farewell to Cow Country	1	(2)
The Energizer	3	(4)
Joseph A. Kemp
Enter Frank Kell	7	(2)
The Kemp and Kell Roads	9	(8)
Truly Northwestern	17	(6)
To the Panhandle ... and Beyond?	23	(12)
Settling and Civilizing: The Railroad and the Filling-In Process	35	(6)
The Wichita Falls & Northwestern Railway	41	(8)
KATY and Hard Times	49	(6)
Bottles of Bourbon, Barrels of Oil: The Burkburnett Boom	55	(6)
The Beaver, Meade & Englewood Railroad: The Home Road: 1912--1923	61	(10)
BM&E West: 1924--1927	71	(8)
Panhandle Odyssey: The BM&E: 1928--1931	79	(8)
The ``Orphan'' No More: Sale of the BM&E	87	(6)
The Belle Epoque: KATY Northwest: 1923--1949	93	(14)
For Better or for Worse: The BM&E: 1931--1949	107	(22)
Men and Events: The Northwestern District	129	(16)
Deramus and Damnation	145	(28)
From Branch Line to Short Line: The Hollis & Eastern Railroad	173	(14)
An Early Autumn: The BM&E: 1950--1969	187	(16)
Decision for Euthanasia: The Death Warrant	203	(10)
Muddy Tires and Broken Rails	213	(42)
Denouement?	255	(16)
Endnotes	271	(28)
Index	299