The Katy Railroad and the Last Frontier

The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway—commonly known as the MK&T, or the Katy—began in 1865 as the Southern Branch of the Union Pacific Railway Company. As the American nation turned westward following the Civil War, the Katy was the first railroad to enter the Indian Territory, linking St. Louis and lands to the east with the developing areas of southern Texas and the Gulf. For many years, the Katy was the main means of transportation for the millions of pioneers settling in the vast areas that became Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.This account of the Katy traces the railroad from its beginnings, depicting the problems involved in constructing a line through new territory, the growth of towns and cities along the railway’s route, and the development of an entirely new civilization as a consequence of rail transportation.The new forward by Donovan L. Hofsommer brings the story of the Katy up to date, examining the fate of the railroad since the original publication of The Katy Railroad and the Last Frontier.