The Motley County Railroad
Matador, Motley County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Pioneer carrier for cattle and farm goods. Chartered June 20, 1913 by 92 people of Motley and nearby counties. One man is said to have invested $50,000. Matador Land & Cattle Company also provided bonus funds. Original directors were J. C. Burleson, A. B. Echols, J. N. Gaines, T. E. Leckie, I. E. Martin, R. P. Moore, J. D. Morriss, J. E. Russell, and A. C. Traweek. Trains used cattle sweepers, as 8-mile track ran through unfenced ranches. Line joined Quanah, Acme & Pacific tracks near Roaring Springs. The Motley County Railroad ceased to operate in 1936. (1970)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Chartered in 1913 by 92 investors from Motley and nearby counties, with backing from the Matador Land & Cattle Company, this short line hauled cattle and farm goods across the West Texas plains. Its eight-mile track ran through unfenced ranches — trains carried cattle sweepers — before joining the Quanah, Acme & Pacific near Roaring Springs, and it ceased operating in 1936.
Why it matters
It shows how even the smallest frontier railroads were the lifelines that connected remote ranching country to national markets.
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Related events
- · Chartering of the Motley County Railroad
Themes & tags
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