Arkansas Valley and Western Railway
Encyclopedia
The Arkansas Valley and Western Railway (AV&W) was built as a short line railroad operating within the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. It was founded in 1902 to link the city of Tulsa
with the main transcontinental line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
(AT&SF) at Avard. The line was built in sections, initially from AV&W Jct. (West Tulsa) to Steen (Enid
) during 1902-03. In 1904 it was extended westward to the junction with AT&SF at Avard
. On July 19, 1907, the railroad was purchased by the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
(the "Frisco"), who operated it until November 21, 1980, when the Frisco was acquired by Burlington Northern Railroad
.
, to Fort Worth, Texas
, Frisco line in West Tulsa. Following the valley of the Arkansas River
, the line enters the Osage Hills and begins climbing the south bank of the river. In the early 1960s, a portion of the line was relocated uphill during the building of Keystone Dam. The reroute took the line out of the Arkansas and Cimarron River valleys. Leaving the Osage Hills the line continues westward along the Cimarron River, crossing it at Oilton
, then angles northwest to Pawnee
, intersecting the north-south former AT&SF (now BNSF Railway
) line at Black Bear Junction near Perry
. Continuing westward through the wheat belt, the line intersects with the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
(now Union Pacific Railroad
), Denver, Enid and Gulf Railroad
, and Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railway
(now Grainbelt) at Enid
, home of the third largest grain storage facilities in the world. The final section continues northwestward until the junction with the BNSF transcontinental line at Avard.
, then the BNSF line to Birmingham, Alabama
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. It was founded in 1902 to link the city of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
with the main transcontinental line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
(AT&SF) at Avard. The line was built in sections, initially from AV&W Jct. (West Tulsa) to Steen (Enid
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
) during 1902-03. In 1904 it was extended westward to the junction with AT&SF at Avard
Avard, Oklahoma
Avard is a town in Woods County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 26 at the 2000 census and is sometimes considered a ghost town. After initial growth Avard began declining in the 1930s...
. On July 19, 1907, the railroad was purchased by the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
The St. Louis – San Francisco Railway , also known as the Frisco, was a railroad that operated in the Midwest and South Central U.S. from 1876 to 1980.-History:...
(the "Frisco"), who operated it until November 21, 1980, when the Frisco was acquired by Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
.
Geography
The AV&W was built westward from Tulsa, leaving the St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, to Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Frisco line in West Tulsa. Following the valley of the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
, the line enters the Osage Hills and begins climbing the south bank of the river. In the early 1960s, a portion of the line was relocated uphill during the building of Keystone Dam. The reroute took the line out of the Arkansas and Cimarron River valleys. Leaving the Osage Hills the line continues westward along the Cimarron River, crossing it at Oilton
Oilton, Oklahoma
Oilton is a city in Creek County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,099 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Oilton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, then angles northwest to Pawnee
Pawnee, Oklahoma
Pawnee is a city in Pawnee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,230 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pawnee County.-Geography:Pawnee is located at...
, intersecting the north-south former AT&SF (now BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
) line at Black Bear Junction near Perry
Perry, Oklahoma
Perry is a city in Noble County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,126. It is the county seat of Noble County.-19th century:...
. Continuing westward through the wheat belt, the line intersects with the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
(now Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
), Denver, Enid and Gulf Railroad
Denver, Enid and Gulf Railroad
The Denver, Enid and Gulf Railroad was built as a short line railroad operating in Kansas, and Oklahoma. Incorporated in Oklahoma as the Denver, Enid and Gulf Railroad Company, March 31, 1902, by the five Frantz Brothers....
, and Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railway
Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railway
The Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railway was built as a short line railroad operating in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.It was founded in March 1900 to link the Frisco Beaumont, Kansas subdivision and Vernon, Texas...
(now Grainbelt) at Enid
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
, home of the third largest grain storage facilities in the world. The final section continues northwestward until the junction with the BNSF transcontinental line at Avard.
Current operations
Intact intrastate line for BNSF, including BNSF-CSX intermodal traffic between the West Coast and the Southeast via the BNSF Cherokee sub from Tulsa to Springfield, MissouriSpringfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, then the BNSF line to Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
.