Western Railroad Discussion > Watco wants to reopen abandoned line in Oklahoma

I understand Watco is very interested in reopening an abandoned ex-Santa Fe branch line in central Oklahoma. The now trackless line extends from the Stillwater Central connection at Davenport to Cushing and would be rebuilt to allow unit oil trains direct access to Cushing. Watco has said that it will negotiate with landowners who extended their property lines across the abandoned right-of-way but using eminent domain to obtain the necessary property is not out of the question.



Allen

Imagine that - oil in Cushing, OK... === === = === JLH

Reestablishing a connection to Cushing was a condition of the sale of the Sooner sub (ex-Frisco line between Sapulpa and Midwest City, OK). Stillwater Central, a WATCO property, was the successful bidder and is therefore in the process of meeting that obligation. See the FINAL SALE AGREEMENT at http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/SoonerSub/. This contingency is on page 16.

Bill Gillfillan
Tulsa, OK



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/14 19:39 by TTownTrains.

How long has the track been gone from that old ATSF segment? Looks like it was in place when the interstate was built so there's already a bridge over the right of way so they won't have to interfere with the interstate traffic. In reviewing it on Google Earth it just looks like a couple of places where someone has used the r-o-w as a roadway, and one bridge over a river that will need to be replaced. Also, how many miles long is the branch, and when do they expect to start re-laying it?

Always great to see an old right of way put back into service, doesn't happen that often....

Thanks,

Dan in Wichita, on the ATSF Ark City Subdivision

Rail into / out of Cushing could be very interesting. Cushing, as many observers know, is a junction point and storage facility for crude oil. It occasionally suffers from gluts of oil which will inflect the price of some grades of oil.

Being able to deliver or remove more oil could have some capacity benefits

As one who lived in Cushing in the 1970s, I was suprised to see the line gone when I visited there in 2002. It will be good to see it return. Both the Katy and the Santa Fe served the community when I lived there. F units were still use on the Katy.

>>Enbridge Energy Partners is considering building a 120,000-barrel-per-day rail terminal at the oil storage hub at Cushing, Oklahoma, a company official said Friday, the latest sign that rail is being integrated into key oil infrastructure.

The company is gauging shipper interest and will move forward if it gets enough commitments, said Bryan Boaz, who helps oversee the company’s rail portfolio.<<

Savage would run the terminal, WATCO would provide connecting services

http://business.financialpost.com/2014/11/21/enbridge-mulls-building-120000-barrel-per-day-rail-terminal-in-oklahoma-to-handle-canadian-crude-shipments/?__lsa=2fbd-f2a4

Davenport to Cushing is about 20 miles long. When the line was abandoned, a 66 highway bridge over the line was removed. I have not heard if the bridge will be replaced or a grade crossing established.