OMAHA, Neb., April 20, 2013 — Osawatomie, Kan., has been awarded membership in Union Pacifics Train Town USA Registry as part of Union Pacifics ongoing efforts to highlight cities with a historical connection to the railroad. The city received an official Train Town USA resolution signed by Union Pacific Chairman Jim Young, in a special presentation during the communitys Railroad Day celebration. Union Pacific launched its Train Town USA Registry as part of the railroads 150th anniversary celebration in 2012.
We are proud to recognize Osawatomie as we celebrate our growing up together, said Ben Jones, Union Pacific director – Public Affairs for Kansas and Missouri. Union Pacific was founded to help connect the nation from east to west. Our shared heritage with Osawatomie is a source of pride as we remember our past while delivering the goods American businesses and families use every day.
The Missouri Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads have played an integral part in building Osawatomies cultural and economic life since engineer John Cook blew the whistle on the first Missouri Pacific locomotive to enter Osawatomie on a rail line from Holden, Mo., in 1879. President Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Osawatomie in a private rail car on a Missouri Pacific train on August 30, 1910 and gave his famous New Nationalism speech.
The Missouri Pacific expanded its operations in Osawatomie, and the railroad played a major part in making the town a vital part of the war effort during World War II. The Missouri Pacific rail yard operated around-the-clock to transport materials and troops during World War II. In 1942, the yard had 17 tracks with the capability of handling 50 -60 freight and passenger trains a day.
Union Pacific serves nearly 7,300 communities in 23 states west of Illinois, covering 32,000 miles.
