FS&W

A Southwest Regional Railroad - 1930's - 1940's
Fort Smith & Western Railway

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The Fort Smith & Western Railway (FS&W) was a short line railway running from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Guthrie, Oklahoma, a distance of 217 mile. It was incorporated in 1899 and reached Guthrie in 1903. When the state capitol of Oklahoma moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City in 1910 the FS&W gained trackage rights over the M-K-T from the main line at Fallis to Oklahoma City. In the early 30's the FS&W was operating a passenger train daily between Fort Smith and Oklahoma City, 227 miles, which included 12 section drawing room sleeping cars and coaches. It also operated a mixed train between Fallis and Guthrie, Oklahoma, 22 miles. When trackage rights, to Oklahoma City were discontinued in 1939 the FS&W closed down. Parts of it were operated by the Fort Smith & Van Buren, a subsidiary of the KCS until abandoned in 1994.

Fort Smith & Western - May 3, 1931

History of the Fort Smith & Western Railway
1899 - Incorporated January 25, in Arkansas, as the Fort Smith and Western Railroad, to build from Fort Smith to Guthrie, then the state capitol of Oklahoma, 217 miles..
1901 - First 20 miles completed between Coal Creek and McCurtain Oklahoma.
1903 - The entire line opened to Guthrie Oklahoma, 217 miles.
1910 - Oklahoma state capitol moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City.
1915 - FS&W acquired trackage rights on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) from Fallis, Oklahoma to Oklahoma City.
1918-1922 - FS&W under USRA control.
1921 - On January 21 the FS&W incorporated as the Fort Smith & Western Railway.
1931 - In May, the FS&W was operating one passenger train daily between Fort Smith and Oklahoma City, 227 miles, which included 12 section drawing room sleeping cars and coaches. It also operated a mixed train from the mail line at Fallis to Guthrie, Oklahoma, 22 miles.
1931 - The FS&W went into receivership.
1939 - FS&W lost trackage rights on the MKT and on January 19th ceased operations,
1939 - On September 30 the MP began operations on former FS&W trackage in Fort Smith.
1939 - The KCS forms the Fort Smith & Van Buren Railway Company to operate the former FS&W branch from Coal Creek tp McCurtain., 17 miles and , Fort Smith trackage.
1943 - KCS abandons Spiro to Fort Smith portion of FS&W, 17 miles.
1992 - FS&VB formally merges into KCS.
1994 - KCS files to abandon former FS&W trackage from Coal Creek to McCurtain, 20 miles.

Fort Smith & Western - 1931

Our Sources
Private Collection of Richard R. Parks(rp)
Wikipedia the free Encyclopedia [web](wik)
Official Guide- Various editions
http://fortsmithandwesternrr.blogspot.com
Fort Smith Area Railroads-Historical Timeline, Mike Sypult, Fayetteville, Arkansas

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