St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita Railroad Company Stock Certificate.
The St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita Railway, a subsidiary of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, was chartered on February 23, 1880, to operate 158 miles of track between Fort Scott, Kansas, and Wichita, Kansas. The main line opened to Eureka, Kansas, 100 miles from Fort Scott, on July 22, 1881. It was extended 28 miles to Eldorado in 1882 and an additional 30 miles to Wichita in 1883.
The initial route ran from:
Fort Scott, Marmaton, Redfield, Uniontown, and Bronson in Bourbon County,
Morantown, Hendricks, Iola, in Allen County, to,
Piqua, Yates Center, and Toronto in Woodson County, to
Fame, Neal, and Eureka in Greenwood County, to,tooosalia, Pontiac, El Dorado, Towanda, and Benton, in Butler County, to
Thursday, April 23, 1885, freight engine No. 3 of the St. Louis, Ft. Scott, and Wichita Railroad went through the Ninnescah River bridge, a mile southwest of Clearwater, into the floodwaters at 4:00 a.m. On board were John McDaniel, engineer, William Strode, fireman, and James Knightley, brakeman. They moved fearlessly upon the bridge, and when they were about the center, it gave way, and the engine and tank plunged headlong into the foaming stream. The cause of the accident was that the flood had washed away the center bent of the bridge, leaving the stringers in place, which held up the cross ties and track. However, in the darkness, it was impossible to see anything wrong. After sinking to a depth of 20 feet, the cab, with Strode and Knightley aboard, rose to the surface and was whirled down by the raging current. Though they nearly drowned, they were rescued the next morning. However, John McDaniel, the engineer, was never found and was presumed to have drowned.
In the spring of 1886, the St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita Railroad began building a line northwest of El Dorado. By summer, the tracks had reached Newton, and the line was completed to McPherson on November 19, 1886. This 62-mile railroad became a part of the Missouri Pacific Line with stations East of El Dorado and in El Dorado. Additional stations were in Butler County at Oil Hill, Hopkins, Potwin, Brainerd, and Whitewater. In Harvey County, stations were in Annelly, McLain, Newton, Zimmerdale, and Hesston, each having a Missouri Pacific Depot.
In the following years, the Missouri Pacific Railroad absorbed all St. Louis, Ft. Scott, and Wichita Railroad tracks.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, updated July 2026.
Also See:
Sources:
1884 Train Report of the St. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita Railroad, Kansas by J.W. Miller, VP
Abandoned Rails
Harvey County Historical Museum
Lost History
Railway Preservation News
The Topeka Daily Capital, Topeka, Kansas, Friday, April 24, 1885.