Frisco and MKT

Discussion in 'General' started by tim gungoll, Aug 30, 2008.

  1. tim gungoll

    tim gungoll Member

    Can someone give me a brief history of the relationship between Frisco and MKT to fill in some large gaps I have in regard to railroad history? Is the Texas Special technically a Frisco train or was it an acquisition or merger at some point and when? For instance if you collect Frisco can you put a Frisco train on the same shelf as an MKT without offending anyone's delicate sensibilities? This is probably a very basic question, and I am sure there will be no debate on this topic whatsoever once I have received an answer.
     
  2. frisco4301

    frisco4301 Member

    The Texas Special was originally a Katy train with sevice from St. Louis to San Antonio. Service began December (I have found reference to December 6 and 15th), 1915 with No. 1 South and No. 2 North. These assigned train numbers would remain until the trains demise. On March 4, 1917 a service agreement was reached between SLSF and MKT for joint operation with SLSF operation of the Texas Special from St. Louis to Vinita, OK and MKT operation from Vinita, OK to San Antonio, TX. This shortend the original Katy route by 78 miles. Joint operations would continue until January 4th, 1959. After this date, Trains 1 and 2 would become a MKT operation between Kansas City, MO and San Antonio, TX. This route was cut back to a Kansas City-Dallas turn on July 26, 1964 and remained as such until the train was cut off with the last run of No. 1 South arriving in Dallas, TX on July 1, 1965. Jeff Cooney
     
  3. tim gungoll

    tim gungoll Member

    Thanks for the info. Was it a seamless transition at Vinita, or did they change equipment or crews? I also wonder how they divided out the expense and profits. I think I read somewhere that there were 3 trains operating. Were one or two of them solely operated by MKT and the other Frisco? Also did any of the trains have both slsf and mkt markings?
     
  4. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    After a short time, the RR's found that the schedule was too tight for only two trainsets, so they each painted some heavyweight cars to "match" the streamline lightweight cars (using the shadowline paint technique). They added the few reserve lightweight cars to the heavyweights to make up the third trainset and after a only a short time the equipment of all three sets was thoroughly mixed. There was no "all Katy" or "all Frisco" trainset. The motive power was also shared as both RR's engines appeared over most of the route. There were occaisions where Frisco and Katy units were lashed up together in the same consist. I don't believe the Frisco units ran further south than Waco. Other "non-Texas Special" equipment from both roads appeared from time to time in the train consists. The southbound Texas Special (Tr. #1) turned on to the Katy from the Frisco at Vinita on a connecting interchange track without stopping--the next southbound stop was at Muskogee. Train#2 did the reverse at Vinita northbound changing from Katy tracks to the Frisco.
    The Texas Special passenger cars were marked with a "neon script" style lettering. "The Texas Special" was in the large center letter board and at the car ends, each RR's car had a small ownership letterboard in a smaller font, but related to the "Neon Script" which read: "Frisco," "Katy" or "Pullman" in the case of the Frisco Meteor sleeping cars.

    Tom
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 25, 2012
  5. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Tim -

    If you can find copies of these ..... there were a couple of great articles on the Frisco/Katy "Texas Special" published in the 1980's:

    o Passenger Train Journal, February, 1984, p24 - "The Texas Special"

    o Mainline Modeler, November, 1983, p75 - "The Texas Special Painting Guide"

    Obviously, much of the history and details of the train, its operation, and its equipment were documented in these articles.

    And, keep on the lookout over the next year - Larry Thomas of the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Historical & Technical Society is working up an annual volume of his excellent TRRA H&TS Bulletin dealing in detail with the "Texas Special" - train no's 1&2 on both the SLSF and MKT.

    Ken
     
  6. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    A couple of books with Texas Special information:

    --"Twilight Of The Great Trains" by Fred Frailey (Kalmbach, 1998) has a chapter about Katy passenger service and the Texas Special, including consists and routes in the 1950's and 1960's.

    --"Miss Katy In The Lone Star State" ; Volume One 1942-1960 by Steve Goen (Four Ways West, 2007) 130 page all COLOR volume LOADED with pictures on Katy operations in Texas and heavy on Texas Special information, car names (including each car name's historical connection), photos, locomotives and repainted heavyweight equipment. There is some incorrect information on a 1953 wreck--The author was given some unreliable information on which cars were destroyed (actually Frisco's RPO #250 instead of M-K-T's #1000). There are some photos showing Frisco equipment on the Texas Special. Great color photography! Recommended!

    Tom
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 31, 2008

Share This Page