Hello, I'm starting my layout of the KO&G from Baxter Springs, Ks. to Dennison Tx.. I have quite a few photographs and the book that came out a number of years ago on the Midland Valley but i'm stuck on collecting more detailed information. Is there anyone who can give me some direction on collecting information on line, etc, timetables, trains schedules, industries... Any help would be appreciated. I want to do this right and do the KO&G justice. Thanks. larry the mop guy
Welcome aboard! At one time, I had a few train orders linked in a topic here. KO&G, OCA-A, MV. Years ago, I knew a fellow who'd lived there, and railfanned that area. He had some good knowledge, slides, etc. But he's no longer with us. Boxcab E50
I have a copy of a book by LLoyd Stagner entitled "Midland Valley: Rails to Coal, Cotton & Cattle", which covers a little bit of the KO&G- these two roads, along with the Oklahoma City-Ada-Atoka RR, made up the "Muskogee Lines", which was based in Muskogee, OK, on the KO&G. The MP Historical Society also has info on the KO&G, and there are folks on the Railspot group at Yahoo! who can help you out as well. FTR, the southern end was Denison (one N), which KO&G approached from the east after crossing the Red River at Carpenters Bluff (the single-lane bridge still stands,and is used today by folks in the area). On the north end, the line paralleled the Frisco from Baxter Springs to Miami, OK, then went southeasterly toward Fairland, Bernice, Cleora, Ketchum, and Salina to Okay and Muskogee, then took a roundabout route from Muskogee to Durant and on to Carpenters Bluff and Denison. The line north of Okay to Baxter was taken up in 1962, while the line south to Durant was abandoned in the late 1980s after the parallel MKT was acquired by UP thru its MP subsidiary. I can't remember when the Durant-Denison line was removed, but I'm thinking it was after T&P took over. HTH
