Union Pacific Subsidiaries

Kearney Branch, Nebraska Division

This page was last updated on February 27, 2010.

Kearney & Black Hills Railway

Organized in 1889 as Kearney & Black Hills Railway
Owned by Union Pacific by ownership of stock
Originally surveyed and graded in 1887 from Kearney to Milldale (72 miles) by Omaha & Republican Valley Railway
O&RVRy sold completed grade to K&BH in 1890
Completed in 1890 from Kearney (connection with UP Nebraska Division mainline) and Calloway, Nebraska (66 miles)
Constructed and operated by Wood River Improvement Company, 1890 to 1892
Operated by K&BH, 1892-1898
Sold to UP in 1898

Timeline

1887
Railroad line from Kearney to Milldale, Nebraska surveyed and graded by Omaha & Republican Valley Railway.

May 22, 1889
Kearney & Black Hills Railway incorporated in Nebraska

May 1, 1890
Kearney & Black Hills Railway purchased the "almost entirely completed grade" between Kearney and Milldale from Omaha & Republican Valley Railway, 72 miles.

1890
Track laying completed between Kearney and Calloway, 66 miles.

1890
Union Pacific sold its locmotive number 9 to K&BH as their new number 1; UPRy 9 was built in 1862 for the U. S. Military Railroad for service during the Civil War; and came to UPRR second hand in 1866.

August 1890
Kearney & Black Hills Railway's locomotive number 2 was delivered new to K&BH..

October 1, 1890
Operation of K&BH was begun by Wood River Improvement Company, the contractors which had also constructed the railroad.

September 30, 1892
K&BH took over operation of its own railroad from Wood River company.

October 13, 1893
K&BH in receivership along with Union Pacific Railway which owned all of K&BH stock. K&BH was operated by receivers until its sale to UP in 1898.

October 31, 1898
K&BH was "surrendered" to Union Pacific Railroad at foreclosure sale. UP began operation of former K&BH as its Calloway Branch.

1905
UP operated its first McKeen motor car on this branch.

1912
Union Pacific extended former K&BH northwest from Calloway, 37 miles to Stapleton, changing the Calloway Branch to the Kearney Branch (known locally as Stapleton Branch).

Kearney & Black Hills Railway 4-4-0— 1 locomotive

1890 K&BH Number	First Number	Second Number	Date To K&BH	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Date Vacated	Notes
K&BH 1	UPRR 9	UPRy 9	1890	Rogers	1025	Jul 1862	1894	1

Description:

Drive Wheel Diameter: 56 inches (later 57 inches)

Cylinders: 15x22 inches

Notes:

1.	K&BH 1 was built as U.S. Military Railroad "Osceola" in 1862; to UPRR 9 in 1866, named "Osceola"; to UPRy 9 in 1880; to UPRy 300 in 1885; to Kearney & Black Hills RR 1 in 1890; condemned at Kearney in 1894 (K&BH sold to UP in 1898)

Kearney & Black Hills Railway 4-4-0 — 1 locomotive

Road Number	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Date Vacated	Notes
K&BH 2	Baldwin	11117	Aug 1890	Aft 1898	1

Description:

Drive Wheel Diameter: 63 inches

Cylinders: 17x24 inches

Notes:

1.	Built as K&BH 2 in 1890; to UP in 1898 (K&BH sold to UP in 1898); further disposition unknown

Sources

Ehernberger, James L. and Francis G. Gschwind. Union Pacific Steam, Eastern District (E&G Publications, 1975)
Union Pacific Railroad Company. Corporate History of Union Pacific Railroad Company, As of June 30th, 1919
Union Pacific Railroad. Eastern District Condensed Profile

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