Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Co. - The Katy - 1870's-80's dated Railroad Stock Certificate

Railroad Stock. Center vignette of cattle at watering hole & small angelic figures at top corners. A classic! Now becoming scarce!!! Available in Purple or Green. Please specify color.

The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railway, famously known as “The Katy,” originated in 1865 as the Union Pacific Railway, Southern Branch. In 1870, it was renamed to reflect its expanding strategic objectives. Notably, it was the first railroad to enter Texas from the north, reaching Denison on Christmas Day in 1872. This expansion was fueled by a competitive race to reach the southern Kansas border, a victory that granted the company the exclusive right to build southward through Indian Territory. Over the ensuing decades, the Katy established a vast network connecting major hubs like St. Louis, Kansas City, and San Antonio. It also operated prestigious passenger services such as the Texas Special and the Katy Flyer.

However, after World War II, the railroad encountered significant financial difficulties due to the rise of automobile travel and deteriorating infrastructure. Consequently, passenger service was discontinued in 1965. Despite attempts at modernization and a brief return to profitability, the Katy was eventually acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1988 and formally merged in 1989. Nevertheless, its legacy endures through the Katy Trail State Park, which transformed over 200 miles of its abandoned Missouri railbeds into one of the longest rail-trails in the United States.