Checks can be sent to:  R. Donald Ross, 3821 Crater Lake Ct, Irving, TX 75062-4015

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This was the first Kansas City interurban, completed in January 1900 as the Kansas City-Leavenworth Ry. The line was 26 miles long and entered Kansas City over the local streetcar lines and Leavenworth over street trackage operated by the local street railway which was owned by the KC-L. In 1905 it was sold to the Fisk-Robinson group and renamed Kansas City Western. Frequent passenger service provided revenues which made the line profitable and little freight was hauled. The interest burden, however, brought the line into bankruptcy in 1920, and it was reorganized as the KCL&W. Net earnings covered the reduced debt charges, and the line even survived the worst of the depression. In 1938 the building of a dam would have flooded a portion of the line and funds were not available for track location, and this ended operation.

Construction Car.

4 "Delaware".

The Strang line was built in 1906 by W. B. Strang using gas-electric cars built by Brill and powered by six cylinder gas engines driving a generator which powered two 50 HP traction motors on each car. The cars were lavish and the entire railroad was built to promote home sites out of the Kaw River flood plain. Operation began in 1907 and a total of 4 cars was built to operate the 17 mile line between Overland Park and Olathe. Each car was named rather than numbered since this was a first class operation.

By 1908 it was apparent that these cars were totally inadequate for the grades on the line and the line went into receivership. Two of the cars were sold tot the Dan Patch line in Minnesota where they were quickly rebuilt with more power. The other two remained on the property and were electrified along with the rest of the railroad by January 1909. This also allowed entry into downtown Kansas City over the local car lines.

Passenger service was hourly for many years. There was also carload freight handled. In 1925 the line was modernized with lightweight passenger cars. The road was reorganized in 1929 and managed to earn a small profit until 1938. All service was abandoned on July 24, 1940.

107 was built by Brill in November 1906 under order #14877. It was rebuilt as an electric car in 1908 and rebuilt as a freight motor shortly after the lightweights arrived.

115 was built by American Car in August 1925, #1402.

If you ate only one meal a week would you survive?  It is the same for your soul.  Nourish it with the Blessed Sacrament.

---St. Andre Bessette