Omaha & Republican Valley Railway (Railroad after 1886)

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This page was last updated on March 7, 2010.

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Overview

The Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad (Railway after 1886) was one of Union Pacific's first branchline subsidiaries, meant solely to feed rail traffic to the mainline, and to occupy territory before competitors could build. What was called the Omaha & Republican Valley District after 1887 was built in segments (shown below) between Valley, Nebraska (on the Nebraska mainline), southwest to Valparaiso, then south to Marysville, Kansas by way of Lincoln and Beatrice. There was a branch constructed west from Valparaiso to Stromberg, completed in 1879. (A connection west from Stromberg to Central City on UP's Nebraska Division mainline (21.7 miles) was completed by UP in 1906.)

The branch south of the Kansas/Nebraska line to Marysville, Kansas (13 miles) was owned by Marysville & Blue Valley Railroad, and from Marysville south to Manhattan (54.9 miles) was owned by Blue Valley Railway. The BVRy was completed in 1886 and consolidated with O&RV at the same time. M&BVRR was completed in 1879 and consolidated with O&RV in 1887.

Marysville, Kansas was the connection with the existing St. Joseph & Denver City (later St. Joseph & Grand Island)

Manhattan, Kansas was the connection with the existing Kansas Pacific Railway and with its completion in 1886 the combined BVRy, M&BV, and O&RV lines connected the KP with UP's Nebraska mainline.

There were two groups of branchlines north of the Nebraska mainline. Three branches were built north from Columbus to Norfolk, Albion, and Cedar Rapids in 1880-1886 by the Omaha Niobrara & Black Hills Railroad, which merged with O&RV in 1886.

Two additional branchlines running north from Grand Island to North Loup and Loup City were built in 1880-1886 by the Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad, which merged with O&RV Ry in 1886.

In June and July 1886, the Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad was consolidated with the Omaha Niobrara & Black Hills Railroad and the Blue Valley Railway to form the Omaha & Republican Valley Railway. The Blue Valley Railway was made up of two other lines: the Marysville & Blue Valley Railroad and the Manhattan & Blue Valley Railway.

In early 1887, following the opening up of the Black Hills of southwest South Dakota for mining, Union Pacific made its move to beat its competition, in the form of the CB&Q, which had reached Denver in 1882 as well as building a separate line across Nebraska to the Pacific coast. UP at this time was firmly in the control of Jay Gould and his investor associates, and was pursuing control of western railroads and the Black Hills was yet another opportunity. To beat other UP rivals into the region, Union Pacific had its Omaha & Republican Valley subsidiary begin grading a line into the region, starting at its mainline at Kearney, Nebraska. In May 1889, after reaching Milldale, Nebraska, the 72 miles of finished railroad grade was turned over to a new subsidiary known as the Kearney & Black Hills Railway. By 1890 track was laid 66 miles to Calloway and operations began.

All of the lines of the consolidated O&RV Ry were sold to the reorganized Union Pacific Railroad in October 1898.

Regardless of the corporate ownership, and whatever the locomotives were lettered as, all of the O&RV branches were built and operated by UP, under informal or undocumented lease agreements with the owners, which were all UP officials with a few local businessmen for appearances sake. The Union Pacific corporate history completed for the ICC in 1919 showed that during the 1893-1897 Union Pacific receivership, no documentation other than basic incorporation dates was found concerning these branchlines.

Timeline

Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad

Incorporated in August 1876 to build agricultural branches for UP
Construction began October 1877
Valley to Rising City (part of Stromberg Branch), October 1877
Rising City to Stromberg (part of Stromberg Branch), December 1879
Beatrice to Nebraska/Kansas line (25.3 mi., connection with M&BV), January 1880
Valpariso to Lincoln (21.2 mi.), April 1880
Lincoln to Beatrice (38.2 mi.), January 1884
Grand Island to St. Paul (Ord Branch, 22 mi.), May 1880
St. Paul to North Loup (Ord Branch, 27 mi.), completed October 1882
St. Paul to Loup City (Loup City Branch, 39 mi.), completed May 1886
Final construction completed in May 1886
Consolidated with Omaha, Niobrara & Black Hills Railroad to form Omaha & Republican Railway on June 26, 1886
Operated without lease or agreement by UP from January 1877 to October 4, 1898

Marysville & Blue Valley Railroad

Incorporated in July 1879 to build agricultural branches for UP
Construction began in July 1879
Marysville to Kansas/Nebraska line (13 miles) (connection with O&RV), completed in January 1880
Consolidated with Manhattan & Blue Valley Railroad on July 1, 1886 to form the Blue Valley Railway
Operated without lease or agreement by UP from January 1880 to October 4, 1898

Manhattan & Blue Valley Railway

(no locomotives)
Incorporated on July 28, 1879
Purchased six miles of completed railroad built by Manhattan & Northwestern Railroad on July 28, 1879
From Manhattan, Kansas (on Kansas Pacific Railway), north for six miles to end of track at (old) Randolph, Kansas
Completed construction of line from end of track six miles north of Manhattan to Garrison (16.8 miles) in 1884
- Connected with the narrow gauge Kansas Central at Garrison, Kansas
Completed construction from Garrison to (new) Randolph (33.25 miles) on May 31, 1886
Consolidated with Marysville & Blue Valley Railroad to form Blue Valley Railway on July 1, 1886
Operated without lease or agreement by UP from June 1, 1886 to October 4, 1898

Omaha, Niobrara & Black Hills Railroad

Incorporated in September 1879 to built agricultural branches for UP
Construction began in 1879
Columbus to Norfolk (Norfolk Branch, 50.1 mi.), completed 1881 and 1886
Oconee to Albion (Albion Branch, 33.7 mi.), completed July 1880
Genoa (on Albion Branch) to Cedar Rapids (Cedar Rapids Branch, 30.3 mi.), completed November 1884
Consolidated with Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad to form Omaha & Republican Railway on June 26, 1886
Operated without lease or agreement by UP from December 1879 to June 1886

Blue Valley Railway

(no locomotives)
Manhattan, Kansas to Nebraska-Kansas line, 67.9 miles
Incorporated on July 1, 1886
Consolidation of Manhattan & Blue Valley Railway (Manhattan to Randolph, 21.8 miles) and Marysville & Blue Valley Railway (Marysville to Nebraska-Kansas line, 13 miles)
Construction completed from end of Manhattan & Blue Valley Railroad at Randolph, north to Marysville (33.4 miles) in 1886
Consolidated with Omaha & Republican Valley Railway on January 1, 1887
Became part of Manhattan Branch on UP's Kansas Division in 1898
Manhattan to Bestwall, Kansas (10 miles south of Marysville) (44.9 miles) abandoned in 1958 to allow construction of Tuttle Creek Dam and Reservoir on Blue River
Operated without lease or agreement by UP from July 1, 1886 to October 4, 1898

Omaha & Republican Valley Railway

Consolidation of Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad and Omaha, Niobrara & Black Hills Railroad on June 26, 1886
Consolidated with Blue Valley Railway on July 1, 1886 (Manhattan, Kansas to Nebraska-Kansas line, 67.9 miles)
Operated without lease or agreement by UP from June 26, 1886 to October 4, 1898
Sold to Union Pacific Railroad on October 4, 1898

Maps

Map of O&RV north of Beatrice

Map of O&RV south of Beatrice

Locomotive Roster

O&RV 4-4-0 -- 6 locomotives

O&RV Number	First Number	Second Number	Date To O&RV	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1885 Number	Notes
O&RV 1	UPRR 19 (1st)	UPRR 13	1876	Hinkley & Williams	784	Aug 1866	O&RV 392	1
O&RV 2	UPRR 53 (1st)		1880	Norris	[1205]	May 1867	O&RV 390	2
O&RV 3	UPRR 83		1880	Danforth		1868	O&RV 314	3
O&RV 4	UPRR 1		1880	Danforth, Cooke		Sep 1864	O&RV 315	4
O&RV 5	UPRR 79		1880	Hinkley & Williams	853	Jun 1868	O&RV 502	5
O&RV 36	UPRR 36		1880	Hinkley & Williams	825	Jul 1867	O&RV 393	6

General Notes:

Individual locomotive specifications:

O&RV Number	As Built Specs.	Later Specs.	Date Rebuilt
O&RV 1	63-14x22	64-16x24
O&RV 2	63-16x24	64-16x24	Feb 1885
O&RV 3	56-17x24	64-15x22	Oct 1881
O&RV 4	60-14x22	64-15x22
O&RV 5	56-17x24	57-17x24	Jul 1882
O&RV 36	60-16x24	64-16x24

Notes:

O&RV 1 was built as UP 19 (1st) in 1866; to UPRR 13 in 1867; to Omaha & Republican Valley RR 1 in 1876; to O&RV 392 in 1885; vacated in 1897 (O&RV to UP in 1898)
O&RV 2 was built as UPRR 53 (1st) in 1867; wrecked at Plum Creek, Nebraska on August 7, 1867; removed from roster and replaced by UPRR 53 (2nd); UPRR 53 (1st) was stored until being rebuilt and becoming O&RV number 2 in 1880; to O&RV 390 in 1885; vacated after 1897 (O&RV to UP in 1898)
O&RV 3 was built as UPRR 83 in 1868; to UPRy 83 in 1880; to Omaha & Republican Valley RR 3 in 1880; to O&RV 314 in 1885; vacated after 1894 (O&RV to UP in 1898)
O&RV 4 was built as "Major General Sherman" in 1864; sold to UPRR contractor in December 1864; sold back to UPRR in early 1867 as UPRR 1; to Omaha & Republican Valley 4 in 1880; to O&RV 315 in 1885; vacated after 1897 (new boiler in August 1882) (O&RV to UP in 1898)
O&RV 5 was built as UPRR 79 in 1868; to Omaha & Republican Valley RR 5 in 1880; to O&RV 502 in 1885; vacated after 1898 (O&RV to UP in 1898)
O&RV 36 was built as UPRR 36 in 1867; to Omaha & Republican Valley RR 36 in 1880; to O&RV 393 in 1885; vacated in 1893

ON&BH 4-4-0 -- 2 locomotives

ON&BH Number	First Number	Date To ON&BH	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1885 ON&BH Number	Notes
ON&BH 56	UPRR 56 (2nd)	1880	Rogers			ON&BH 337	1
ON&BH 124	UPRR 124	1880	Schenectady	527	Dec 1868	ON&BH 336	2

General Notes:

Individual locomotive specifications:

ON&BH Number	As Built Specs.	Later Specs.	Date Rebuilt
ON&BH 56	60-13x22	64-16x24
ON&BH 124	54-16x24	58-16x24	Nov 1879 (cylinders only)

Notes:

ON&BH 56 was built in about 1867; secondhand to UPRR 56 (2nd) in about 1870; to Omaha, Niobrara & Black Hills RR 56 in 1880; to O&RV 337 in 1887; vacated in 1890
ON&BH 124 was built as UPRR 124 in 1868; to Omaha, Niobrara & Black Hills RR 124 in 1880; new boiler in May 1883; to ON&BH 336 in 1885; to O&RV 336 in 1887; scrapped

M&BV 4-4-0 -- 1 locomotive

M&BV Number	First Number	Date To M&BV	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1887 O&RV Number	Vacated Date	Notes
M&BV 129	UPRR 129	1880	Taunton	450	Dec 1868	O&RV 501	Aft 1887	1

Description:

Drive Wheel Diameter: 54 inches (rebuilt to 57 inches in June 1882)
Cylinders: 16x24 inches (rebuilt to 17x24 inches in June 1882)

Notes:

M&BV 129 was built as UPRR 129 in 1868; to Marysville & Blue Valley RR 129 in 1880; to O&RV 501 in 1887

UP 1885 Numbers

O&RV 4-4-0 -- 2 locomotives

1885 O&RV Number	First Number	Second Number	Date To O&RV	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Date Vacated	Notes
O&RV 314	UPRR 83	O&RV 3	1880	Danforth		1868	Aft 1894	1
O&RV 315	UPRR 1	O&RV 4	1880	Danforth, Cooke		Sep 1864	Aft 1897	2

General Notes:

Individual locomotive specifications:

1885 O&RV Number	As Built Specs.	Later Specs.	Date Rebuilt
O&RV 314	56-17x24	64-15x22	Oct 1881
O&RV 315	60-14x22	64-15x22

Notes:

O&RV 314 was built as UPRR 83 in 1868; to UPRy 83 in 1880; to Omaha & Republican Valley RR 3 in 1880; to O&RV 314 in 1885; vacated after 1894 (O&RV to UP in 1898)
O&RV 315 was built as UPRR 1 in 1864, named "Major General Sherman"; sold to UPRR contractor in December 1864; sold back to UPRR in early 1867; to Omaha & Republican Valley 4 in 1880; to O&RV 315 in 1885; vacated after 1897 (new boiler in August 1882) (O&RV to UP in 1898)

O&RV 4-4-0 -- 2 locomotives

1885 ON&BH Number	First Number	Second Number	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1887 O&RV Number	Vacated Date	Notes
ON&BH 336	UPRR 124	ON&BH 124	Schenectady	527	Dec 1868	O&RV 336	Aft 1887	1
ON&BH 337	UPRR 56 (2nd)	ON&BH 56	Rogers			O&RV 337	1890	2

General Notes:

Individual locomotive specifications:

1885 ON&BH Number	As Built Specs.	Later Specs.	Date Rebuilt
ON&BH 336	54-16x24	58-16x24	Nov 1879 (cylinders only)
ON&BH 337	60-13x22	64-16x24

Notes:

ON&BH 336 was built as UPRR 124 in 1868; to Omaha, Niobrara & Black Hills RR 124 in 1880; new boiler in May 1883; to ON&BH 336 in 1885; to O&RV 336 in 1887 (ON&BH to O&RV in 1886); scrapped
ON&BH 337 was built in about 1867; secondhand to UPRR 56 (2nd) in about 1870; to Omaha, Niobrara & Black Hills RR 56 in 1880; to O&RV 337 in 1887 (ON&BH to O&RV in 1886); vacated in

O&RV 4-4-0 -- 3 locomotives

1885 O&RV Number	First Number	Second Number	O&RV Number	Date To O&RV	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Date Vacated	Notes
O&RV 390	UPRR 53 (1st)	O&RV 2		1880	Norris	[1205]	May 1867	Aft 1897	1
O&RV 392	UPRR 21 (1st)	UPRR 13	O&RV 1	1876	Hinkley & Williams	788	Oct 1866	1897	2
O&RV 393	UPRR 36	O&RV 36		1880	Hinkley & Williams	825	Jul 1867	Oct 1893	3

General Notes:

Individual locomotive specifications:

1885 O&RV Number	As Built Specs.	Later Specs.	Date Rebuilt
O&RV 390	63-16x24	64-16x24	Feb 1885
O&RV 392	63-14x22	64-16x24
O&RV 393	60-16x24	64-16x24

Notes:

OR&V 390 was built as UPRR 53 (1st); wrecked at Plum Creek, Nebraska on August 7, 1867 and rebuilt; to O&RV number 2 in 1880; to OR&V 390 in 1885; to UP in 1898; vacated after 1897
O&RV 392 was built as UPRR 21 (1st) in 1866; to UP 13 in 1867; to Omaha & Republican Valley RR 1 in 1876; to O&RV 392 in 1885; vacated in 1897 (O&RV to UP in 1898)
O&RV 393 was built as UPRR 36 in 1867; to Omaha & Republican Valley RR 36 in 1880; to O&RV 393 in 1885; vacated in 1893

M&BV 4-4-0 -- 1 locomotive

1885 M&BV Number	First Number	Second Number	Date To M&BV	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1887 O&RV Number	Vacated Date	Notes
M&BV 501	UPRR 129	M&BV 129	1880	Taunton	450	Dec 1868	O&RV 501	Aft 1887	1

Description:

Drive Wheel Diameter: 57 inches (rebuilt from 54 inches in June 1882)
Cylinders: 17x24 inches (rebuilt from 16x24 inches in June 1882)

Notes:

M&BV 501 was built as UPRR 129 in 1868; to Marysville & Blue Valley RR 129 in 1880; to M&BV 501 in 1885; to O&RV 501 in 1887 (M&BV to O&RV in 1887; O&RV to UP in 1898)

O&RV 4-4-0 -- 1 locomotive

1885 O&RV Number	First Number	Second Number	Date To O&RV	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Date Vacated	Notes
O&RV 502	UPRR 79	O&RV 5	1880	Hinkley & Williams	853	Jun 1868	Aft 1898	1

Description:

Drive Wheel Diameter: 57 inches (rebuilt from 56 inches in July 1882)
Cylinders: 17x24 inches

Notes:

O&RV 502 was built as UPRR 79 in 1868; to Omaha & Republican Valley RR 5 in 1880; to O&RV 502 in 1885; vacated after 1898 (O&RV to UP in 1898)

UP Ry 4-4-0 -- 1 locomotive

UP 1885 Number	1885 Operating Division	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1898 UP Number	Vacated Date	Notes
UPRy 631 (1st)	O&RV	Schenectady	2793	Mar 1889	UP 631	Sep 1901	1

Description:

Drive Wheel Diameter: 63 inches
Cylinders: 18x26 inches

Notes:

UPRy 631 (1st) was built in 1889; assigned to Omaha & Republican Valley Division; renumbered to UP 631 in 1898; vacated in 1901; sold to F. M. Hicks Locomotive and Car Company, Chicago, Illinois

UP Ry 4-4-0 -- 10 locomotives

UP 1885 Number	1885 Operating Division	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1898 UP Number	1913 UP Number	1915 UP Number	Vacated Date	Notes
UPRy 736	O&RV	Baldwin	8394	Feb 1887	UP 736			1902	1
UPRy 737	O&RV	Baldwin	8395	Feb 1887	UP 737			Aug 1904	2
UPRy 738	O&RV	Baldwin	8399	Feb 1887	UP 738			Jan 1901	3
UPRy 739	O&RV	Baldwin	8405	Feb 1887	UP 739			1901	4
UPRy 740	O&RV	Baldwin	8406	Feb 1887	UP 740			Nov 1904	5
UPRy 741	O&RV	Baldwin	8401	Feb 1887	UP 741	UP 691	UP 922		6
UPRy 742	O&RV	Baldwin	8402	Feb 1887	UP 742			Aug 1904	7
UPRy 743	O&RV	Baldwin	8403	Feb 1887	UP 743	UP 692	UP 923		8
UPRy 744	O&RV	Baldwin	8404	Feb 1887	UP 744			May 1902	9
UPRy 745	O&RV	Baldwin	8408	Mar 1887	UP 745	UP 693 (2nd)	UP 924		10

Description:

Drive Wheel Diameter: 62 inches
Cylinders: 18x26 inches

General Notes:

UPRy 736-744 are shown on Baldwin builder records as being built in 1887 for Utah & Northern Railway, a UP subsidiary that converted a portion of its line in Idaho and Montana from three-feet narrow gauge to standard gauge in July 1887; these locomotives were apparently not included with other U&N locomotives in the merger that formed the OSL&UN in 1889, and were assigned to UP's O&RV Division in eastern Nebraska (O&RV Ry to UP in 1898).

Notes:

UPRy 736 was vacated in 1902; scrapped
UPRy 737 was vacated in 1904; sold to Southern Pacific, numbered as SP 246; renumbered to SP 216 in 1913; purchased by Steamtown in 1957; donated by Steamtown in August 1995 to the Nevada State Railroad Museum at Boulder City, Nevada; to Double T Agricultural Museum in Stevenson, California
UPRy 738 was vacated in 1901; sold to F. M. Hicks Locomotive and Car Company, Chicago, Illinois
UPRy 739 was vacated in 1901; sold to F. M. Hicks Locomotive and Car Company, Chicago, Illinois
UPRy 740 was vacated in 1904; sold to SP 1476 in 1904
UPRy 741 was renumbered to UP 691 (2nd) in 1913; renumbered to UP 922 in 1915; vacated in 1921
UPRy 742 was vacated in 1904; sold to SP 1469 in 1904
UPRy 743 was renumbered to UP 692 (2nd) in 1913; renumbered to UP 923 in 1915; vacated in 1924
UPRy 744 was vacated in 1902; sold to F. M. Hicks Locomotive and Car Company, Chicago, Illinois
UPRy 745 was renumbered to UP 693 (2nd) in 1913; renumbered to UP 924 in 1915; vacated in 1921

O&RV 4-6-0 -- 1 locomotive

UP 1890 Number	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	As Built Specs.	UP 1898 Number	1915 Number	Notes
UPRy 1816	New York	605	Jun 1890	62-20x24	UP 1816	UP 1316	1

General Notes:

UPRy 1816 was built in 1890; assigned to O&RV Division in 1894 (O&RV Ry to UP in 1898)

Notes:

UPRy 1816 was renumbered to UP 1816 in 1898; renumbered to UP 1316 in 1915; vacated in 1923

Sources

Ehernberger, James L. and Francis G. Gschwind. Union Pacific Steam, Eastern District (E&G Publications, 1975)

Ehernberger, James L. Union Pacific Equipment List & Renumbering, June 1, 1885, Including Subsidiary Lines

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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