(The following story by Luciano Battistini appeared on the Katy Times website on May 3, 2009.)
KATY, Texas — The Katy Railroad Historical Society is holding its annual convention in the City of Katy from Thursday to Sunday.
The city is hosting the Katy Railroad Historical Society as the railroad heritage group brings its national meeting and banquet to the city that was named after the former railroad.
The group is meeting at the newly opened Best Western Katy Mils Inn and Suites near Katy Mills Mall.
In conjunction with the national gathering of railroad enthusiasts, Union Pacific is bringing to Katy one of its Heritage Series locomotives – the Katy locomotive.
City of Katy Mayor Don Elder and other dignitaries rode the Katy from Brookshire to Katy on Friday.
“The Katy is an example of the rich heritage that the city of Katy has,” Elder said. “We’re so glad and proud to be having this convention in our city.
The bright red locomotive incorporates historic colors and graphic elements of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad, which was created in 1865 and is affectionately referred to as the Katy.
The Katy locomotive is numbered 1988 to reflect the year its namesake joined the Union Pacific. The locomotive pays tribute to the men and women 0f the Katy who helped build a great nation and the foundation for the country’s future.
The Heritage Series of locomotives, six in number, marks the fifth time in history that the Union Pacific has painted locomotive in colors other than the traditional UP “Armour Yellow.”
Previously, locomotives were custom painted in 1991 to honor UP employees serving in the Persian Gulf War, in 1994 to call attention to the United Way Campaign, in 1996 for the Atlanta Games Olympic Torch Train, and in 2002 for the Salt Lake City Olympic Torch Relay Train.
The Katy Railroad Historical Society, a nonprofit organization, was formed in Parsons, Kansas, on October 1, 1977 with a nucleus of 43 charter members. Membership now numbers several hundred train enthusiasts.
The purpose of the society is to bring together persons who have a common interest in the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, known to most as the “Katy.”
“We have members coming in from across the nation to honor the history of our railroads,” Katy Heritage Society Depot Chairman David Frishman said.
The group holds an annual spring meet at locations on or near former Katy rail lines. The gatherings typically feature photo, slide and video shows from the collection of members and other historians.
Additionally, tables are setup to display Katy Railroad models and artifacts. The annual business meetings and evening banquet features speakers with the railroad or the transportation industry.
According to many historical accounts, the city of Katy, which was originally called Cane Island, took its name from the Katy Railroad.
The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad was incorporated in 1870 and quickly came to be known as the “K-T,” which was the company’s stock exchange symbol. That nickname evolved into the “Katy.”
The railroad operated until December of 1989, when it merged with the Missouri Pacific Railroad.