St. Louis Southwestern Railway

Defunct American railway St. Louis Southwestern Railway CompanyCotton Belt system as of 1918OverviewHeadquartersSt. LouisReporting markSSWLocaleArkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and TexasDates of operation1891–1992SuccessorSouthern Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific RailroadTechnicalTrack gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge The St. Louis Southwestern Railway Company (reporting mark SSW), known by its nickname of "The Cotton Belt Route" or simply "Cotton Belt", was a Class I railroad that operated between St. Louis, Missouri, and various points in the U.S. states of Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Texas from 1891 to 1980, when the system added the Rock Island's Golden State Route and operations in Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. The Cotton Belt operated as a Southern Pacific subsidiary from 1932 until 1992, when its operation was assumed by Southern Pacific Transportation Company. Corporate history Bond of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway Company, issued 12. February 1891 The Cotton Belt was part of the railroad empire acquired by financier Jay Gould in the last quarter of the 19th century. "By 1890 Gould owned the Misso