Tulsa–Sapulpa Union Railway
 Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway'sEMD SW1200diesel locomotive #108 in 2020 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Sapulpa, Oklahoma |
| Reporting mark | TSU |
| Locale | Oklahoma;United States |
| Dates of operation | 1907–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft8+1⁄2in(1,435 mm)standard gauge |
| Length | 22.9 miles (36.9 km) |
Tulsa–Sapulpa Union Railway Company, L.L.C.(reporting markTSU) is aClass IIIshortlinerail carrier[1]which operates freight service betweenTulsa, OklahomaandSapulpa, Oklahomaover 10 miles of track known as the Sapulpa Lead, and which also leases and operates a 12.9 mile section ofUnion Pacifictrack known as the Jenks Industrial Lead between Tulsa andJenks, Oklahoma.[2][3]The line connects with twoClass I railroads,being the Union Pacific at Tulsa and theBNSFat Sapulpa,[2]and additionally connects to its fellow Class III shortline, theSand Springs Railway,in Tulsa.[4]It is owned by the Collins Family Trust.[5]Major customers on the Sapulpa Lead include Technotherm, Prescor, andArdagh Glass,[5]and on the Jenks Industrial Lead, theHF Sinclair oil refinery,Kentube, Word Industries,Pepsi Cola,andKimberly-Clark.[6]
History
[edit]The company started in 1907 as the Sapulpa & Interurban Railway, running electric trolley cars to carry workers between Sapulpa and various plants along theArkansas River.[5][7]In 1908 it opened a route connecting Sapulpa to the towns ofKiefer,Glenpool,andMoundsin Oklahoma, to transport oil field workers to theGlenn Pooland Sapulpa-area oil fields.[2]Running through sparsely-populated areas and carrying little freight, the line was bankrupt by 1912, but merged with another interurban line, the Oklahoma Union Railway, in an attempt to help both.[7]Oklahoma Union served Tulsa and communities to the southwest, and had unsuccessfully tried to reach Sapulpa.[7]After a second bankruptcy in 1917, the combined company was again reorganized as the Sapulpa Electric Interurban Railway, and in 1918 completed the connection between Sapulpa and Tulsa, giving it a total route of 25 miles of track.[7]The Sapulpa-Mounds line was abandoned in 1928, and the company went bankrupt again in 1929.[2]In 1933, passenger service ended in favor of freight, and by 1934 or 1935 George Collins bought the line to service his glass plant in Sapulpa.[7][5]His line was incorporated as the Sapulpa Union Railway, with the name later changing to the Tulsa–Sapulpa Union Railway around 1943.[2][7]
Freight trains were operated by two electricboxcabsuntil 1955. The railroad purchased twoBaldwin-Westinghouse electric locomotivesfrom theSand Springs Railwayas replacements when that company ended electric operations that year. Electric freight trains continued on the Tulsa–Sapulpa Union Railway until 1960, when the wires were taken down and diesel locomotives took over, including aDavenport Locomotive Worksswitcher and twoEMD SW1s.[8]A third SW1 was purchased later, followed by anEMD SW7and anEMD SW9.These were joined by anEMD SW1200by 2001.[8]
Operations
[edit]About 60% of rail traffic is inbound to customers on the line, while 40% of rail traffic is outbound.[3]
The railway operates 5 days a week, through two locomotives with one shift each,[3]utilizing five employees.[5]Its offices are in Sapulpa, where a preserved interurban trolley, the Maggie M, is on display.[9]
The current lease agreement with Union Pacific on the Jenks Industrial Lead was signed December 21, 2018 for an initial five-year term, which may be extended by TSU for an additional 15 years.[1]
References
[edit]
- ^ab"Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway Company, L.L.C.-Lease Renewal Exemption With Interchange Commitment-Union Pacific Railroad Company".The Federal Register (accessed on v\lex).RetrievedJune 18,2021.
- ^abcde"Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway Company TSU #709".Union Pacific.RetrievedJune 18,2021.
- ^abc"Transportation".City of Sapulpa.RetrievedJune 18,2021.
- ^"Sand Springs Railway".American-Rails.com.RetrievedJune 18,2021.
- ^abcde"Short line railroads keep chugging along".Mike Coppock, Tulsa World, March 18, 2018. March 18, 2018.RetrievedJune 18,2021.
- ^"Sapulpa Interurban Trolley".Sapulpa Historical Society & Museum.RetrievedJune 18,2021.
- ^abcdef"Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway".American-Rails.com.RetrievedJune 18,2021.
- ^abMiller, Hal (April 2001). "Tulsa's Best".Trains.pp. 66–73 – via Ebscohost.
- ^"Sapulpa Trolly Sapulpa Oklahoma".Greg Disch Photography.RetrievedJune 18,2021.