Missouri Pacific Northwest

A History of the Kansas City Northwestern Railroad

The Kansas City Northwestern is a railroad that should never have been built. The 160-mile line from Kansas City to Beatrice, Neb., with a branch to Leavenworth, Kan., was built during the late 1880s, a time of tremendous optimism about railroads. The railroad went into receivership shortly after its completion and drew the attention of financier Jay Gould. Ownership transferred to officers of the Gould-controlled Missouri Pacific, though it continued to operate separately but with its northern terminus moved from Beatrice to tiny nearby Virginia, Neb. The MP spun off the rarely profitable Kansas City Northwestern to its bondholders in 1917. Its financial situation deteriorated, and the line ceased operations in 1919.

ISBN: 0942305-30-5