Arkansas–Oklahoma Railroad

The Arkansas–Oklahoma Railroad (reporting mark AOK) is a Class III carrier headquartered in Wilburton, OK that operates two segments of the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRIP) Choctaw Route that originally ran between Memphis and Tucumcari. AOK started operations on March 3, 1996 on 73 miles of track then owned by the U.S. state of Oklahoma between Howe and McAlester by assuming the existing lease of the Missouri Pacific (then wholly owned by Union Pacific).[1] This lease included a purchase option which was exercised by AOK in April 2016.

Arkansas–Oklahoma Railroad
AOK 2402 and 2411, both EMD GP30s, sit in the AOK railyard at Shawnee, Oklahoma, September 9, 2017.
Overview
Reporting markAOK
LocaleOklahoma
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

AOK also leases Union Pacific owned trackage in McAlester (ex-Katy branch industrial branch lead) and additional Choctaw Route trackage west of McAlester to milepost 385 for service to the McAlester Industrial Park and for car storage.

AOK has also leased the 36-mile Shawnee Branch from Union Pacific running from Shawnee, OK to a connection with UP near Oklahoma City, OK. The bridge over the Canadian River was restored in 2014 for service to the CPN Iron Horse Industrial Park with the line open to milepost 445. AOK switches the Midwest City, OK Automobile Logistics Facility. The Choctaw Route remains out of service between milepost 445 and 385.

References
  1. aokrr.com


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