ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA

ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA

Passenger Train Schedule November 29, 1942

s2:30am No. 16 Northward Texas Express
s3:59am No. 15 Southward Texas Express
s8:00am No. 311 Southward Mixed from Ardmore to Ringling ex-Sun
s10:14am No. 6 Northward The Ranger
s12:55pm No. 310 Northward Mixed Ringling to Ardmore ex-Sun
s8:02pm No. 5 Southward The Ranger

Ardmore is a fairly large community and industrial hub in southern Oklahoma. A tire manufacturing plant, a refinery are the main shippers in this town. Ardmore was the last open agency in Oklahoma. It lasted until 1992; even longer than Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The Rock Island and Frisco railroads once called Ardmore home. The Rock Island was the first to go followed by the Frisco. Another railroad, the Oklahoma New Mexico and Pacific, was merged into the Santa Fe before it even had a chance to leave the state. This railroad extended from Ringling to Ardmore with a short branch from Cobalt JCT to Healdton. This railroad was constructed by Ringling's brother (of Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey fame.)

This attractive depot closed as a freight agency in 1992 and is now used for maintenance of way use. Hopefully if it is closed for these purposes it will be restored and used for other purposes. Could Amtrak use it in the future? Only time will tell.

The Rock Island shared space in the depot with the Santa Fe. This streetside view shows the Rock Island symbol shape.

This downtown depot is the former Oklahoma New Mexico and Pacific structure. It sits just a few blocks from the joint Rock Island Santa Fe structure. Today it is used as an American Legion Post. The downtown ONM&P trackage connection was moved south and loops back north to serve the Goodrich tire plant west of town. This depot has not seen train service in years.