UP (Rock island) abandonment, Shawnee-McAlester, OK

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

The April 2012 Trains noted that UP applied to abandon this segment of the former Rock Island mainline in January 2012, and that the route had gone unused for at least two years. That ‘two year’ statement is evidently standard wording for these notices.

I visited some of this area in June 2011 as part of the Railroad Station Historical Society Convention (bus tour). The tour stopped at the towns of Seminole and Wewoka. The rails were still in place (in tall grass) at Seminole, but had been removed at Wewoka. Grade crossing signals were still in place at Wewoka. It looked like it had been several years since any trains had operated through here. There is a Missouri Pacific transfer caboose on display at Wewoka.

2

I visited McAlester last June 2014 and drove west to Calvin, OK (about 30 miles) which parallels the old RI. (At Calvin the RI crossed the South Canadian River and headed WNW about 25 miles to Holdenville.) All the rails to Calvin appeared to still be there (in tall weeds) and the bridge is in place. I seem to remember that the State of Okla owns the line and from time to time there is talk about reviving it. I personally doubt this will ever happen. I am surprised that the rails are taken up at Wewoka.

Northtowne