FL9

After the demise of their direct route northeast from Oklahoma City, OK to Parsons, KS, the Katy ran southeast on trackage rights over the Rock Island to McAlester for the Oklahoma City traffic to reach home rails.  For the years that this lasted, the normal power for the Katy train was a pair of F-units back to back.  December 2nd in 1977 was no exception as we watch Rock Island SW-1 #535 switch the Rock’s small yard in Shawnee, OK.  The eastbound Katy train led by the 78-C has just gotten orders at the yard office to proceed to Seminole and take the siding to meet a westbound Rock Island train.

Today the through route is still intact but not operated between Shawnee and McAlester.  The Arkansas & Oklahoma Railroad that operates here now would like to open it up again some day, but that is not yet in sight.