Santa Fe's No. 1, with two diesel units heading "The Ranger" train No. 6, northbound, with a consist of ten cars, in Big Canyon near Dougherty, Oklahoma, close to the Arbuckle mountain range in April of 1937. The image has been attributed to photographer Preston George. Click to enlarge.
(["The Ranger" near Dougherty, Oklahoma], photograph, April 1937; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth28803/m1/1/?q=The%20Ranger: accessed April 8, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Museum of the American Railroad.)
RANGER
The Ranger, trains Nos. 5 and 6, was an intercity passenger train operated by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway from 1916 until 1949. It was the Santa Fe's premium offering in the Chicago-Texas market up until the debut of the Texas Chief in 1948. Throughout the years, the train had many endpoints, including Chicago, Illinois–Galveston, Texas and Kansas City, Missouri – Chicago, Illinois. The train connected with the California Special and other trains of the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway, an AT&SF subsidiary.
Timetable Schedule
The Ranger
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
May, 1944
5 Train Number 6
Daily Miles (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe) Services Daily
8 15P Dp 0.0 Chicago, IL (Dearborn Station) (CT) T C Ar 10 00A
F 12.7 McCook, IL T
F 17.4 Willow Springs, IL T
F 25.1 Lemont, IL T C
F 29.3 Romeo, IL T
F 32.7 Lockport, IL T C
9 10P 37.5 Joliet, IL T C 8 50A
F 46.1 Millsdale, IL T
F 48.2 Drummond, IL
F 52.8 Lorenzo, IL T
9 37P 58.2 Coal City, IL T C 8 16A
F 61.9 Gorman, IL
F 66.1 Mazon, IL T C
F 70.8 Verona, IL T
F 74.8 Kinsman, IL T
F 79.7 Ransom, IL T C
F 84.4 Kernan, IL T
10 18P 89.6 Streator, IL T C 7 40A
F 93.9 Moon, IL T
F 95.8 Ancona, IL T
F 102.1 Leeds, IL T
10 47P 109.9 Toluca, IL T C
F 116.0 La Rose, IL T
F 120.9 Wilbern, IL T
11 10P Ar 130.1 Chillicothe, IL T C Dp 6 45A
11 15P Dp Ar 6 40A
F 138.1 Edelstein, IL T
F 144.7 Princeville, IL T C
F 148.3 Monica, IL T
F 153.4 Laura, IL T
F 158.3 Williamsfield, IL T C
F 163.3 Dahinda, IL T
F 165.9 Appleton, IL T
F 171.2 Knox, IL T
F 174.1 East Galesburg, IL
12 20A 177.5 Galesburg, IL C 5 45A
F 183.3 Surrey, IL T
F 186.0 Cameron, IL T
F 190.2 Nemo, IL T
F 191.9 Ormonde, IL T
F 197.1 Ponemah, IL T
F 201.5 Smithshire, IL T
F 204.6 Media, IL T
F 208.9 Stronghurst, IL T C
F 218.9 Lomax, IL T
F 224.8 Dallas City, IL T C
F 226.6 Pontoosuc, IL T
F 231.0 East Ft. Madison, IL T
1 40A 232.9 Ft. Madison, IA T C 4 45A
1 50A 234.6 Shopton, IA T 4 35A
F 2 28A 263.1 Medill, MO T C
3 28A 312.7 La Plata, MO T C F 2 45A
341.5 Bucklin, MO T C F 2 08A
4 10A Ar 347.3 Marceline, MO T C Dp 2 00A
4 15A Dp Ar 1 55A
5 05A 386.4 Carrollton, MO T C
5 45A 411.3 Henrietta, MO T C
7 00A Ar 451.1 Kansas City, MO (Union Station) T C Dp 11 45P
8 00A Dp Ar 11 00P
8 48A 490.8 Lawrence, KS T C 9 58P
9 18A Ar 516.9 Topeka, KS C Dp 9 25P
9 25A Dp Ar 9 20P
F10 07A 551.1 Osage City, KS T C
10 40A Ar 578.2 Emporia, KS T C Dp 8 05P
10 45A Dp Ar 8 00P
12 05P Ar 651.2 Newton, KS T C Dp 6 30P
12 20P Dp Ar 6 20P
1 00P Ar 678.4 Wichita, KS T C Dp 5 40P
1 10P Dp Ar 5 30P
2 00P 716.9 Winfield, KS T C 4 38P
2 20P 729.5 Arkansas City, KS T C 4 15P
2 38P 741.9 Newkirk, OK T C 3 50P
3 00P 755.0 Ponca City, OK T C 3 24P
3 45P 787.7 Perry, OK T C 2 35P
4 20P 818.7 Guthrie, OK T C 1 55P
F 4 45P 836.2 Edmond, OK T C F 1 21P
5 10P Ar 850.1 Oklahoma City, OK T C Dp 1 00P
5 20P Dp Ar 12 51P
5 45P 867.9 Norman, OK T C 12 26P
6 10P Ar 883.4 Purcell, OK T C Dp 12 06P
(Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe)
6 15P Dp 883.4 Purcell, OK T C Ar 12 01P
F 890.7 Wayne, OK T C F
6 51P 905.4 Pauls Valley, OK T C 11 22A
F 912.9 Wynnewood, OK T C F
F 922.9 Davis, OK T C F
F 931.3 Dougherty, OK T C F
F 940.6 Gene Autry, OK T F
8 02P 950.3 Ardmore, OK T C 10 18A
8 31P 967.8 Marietta, OK T C 9 48A
F 977.9 Thackerville, OK T F
F 986.5 Windsor, TX F
9 06P 990.2 Gainesville, TX T C 9 16A
F 1000.1 Valley View, TX T F
F 1008.7 Sanger, TX T F
F 1017.3 Krum, TX T F
F 1030.3 Justin, TX T F
10 25P Ar 1054.7 Fort Worth, TX (Dallas via bus) T C Dp 8 00A
66-77 Connecting Train Number (Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe) 78-65
9 30P Dp 0.0 Dallas, TX (Union Station) (CT) T C Ar 7 55A
10 20P Ar 31.0 Fort Worth, TX (Union [Santa Fe] Station) T C Dp 7 10A
11 25P Dp Ar 6 10A
4 35A Ar 173.2 Brownwood, TX T C Dp 12 50A
Connects at Brownwood with Trains 75 and 76 for Clovis and California
7 30A Ar 270.3 San Angelo, TX (CT) T C Dp 9 30P
11 00P Dp 1054.7 Fort Worth, TX T C Ar 6 20A
F 1067.2 Crowley, TX T F
F 1075.6 Joshua, TX T F
11 50P 1083.4 Cleburne, TX T C 5 30A
F 1091.4 Rio Vista, TX T F
F 1097.8 Blum, TX T F
F 1105.9 Kopperl, TX T F
F 1113.1 Morgan, TX T C F
F12 34A 1120.5 Meridian, TX T C 4 16A
12 52A 1130.8 Clifton, TX T C 3 56A
F 1141.9 Valley Mills, TX T C F
F 1150.9 Crawford, TX T C F
1 27A 1157.6 McGregor, TX T C 2 59A
F 1167.6 Moody, TX T C F
F 1175.6 Pendleton, TX F
2 00A Ar 1182.9 Temple, TX T C Dp 2 10A
Through Cars Houston-Brownwood/California
24 Connecting Train Number (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe) 23
2 00P Dp 1898.6 San Francisco, CA (44 Fourth St.) (Via Bus) (PT) T C Ar 8 25A
2 30P Dp 1891.6 Oakland, CA (40th & San Pablo) (PT) T C Ar 7 55A
4 55A Ar 1437.8 Barstow, CA T C Dp 6 10P
24 Connecting Train Number (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe) 23
11 55P Dp 1578.7 Los Angeles, CA (Union Psgr. Tml) (PT) T C Ar 10 30P
5 40A Dp 1437.8 Barstow, CA T C Ar 5 35P
5 25P Dp 1070.8 Williams, AZ (MT) T C Ar 8 00A
3 00A Dp 706.5 Belen, NM T C Ar 10 10P
9 00A Ar 466.7 Clovis, NM (MT) T C Dp 3 30P
91 Connecting Train Number (Panhandle & Santa Fe) 92
10 40A Dp 466.7 Clovis, NM (CT) T C Ar 4 10P
1 35P Dp 367.9 Lubbock, TX T C Ar 1 25P
5 10P Ar 246.6 Sweetwater, TX T C Dp 10 20A
76 Connecting Train Number (Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe) 75
5 20P Dp 246.6 Sweetwater, TX T C Ar 10 10A
9 00P Dp 132.2 Brownwood, TX T C Ar 6 30A
1 00A Ar 0.0 Temple, TX (CT) T C Dp 2 20A
2 25A Dp 1182.9 Temple, TX T C Ar 1 45A
F 1188.7 Heidenheimer, TX T F
F 1196.3 Rogers, TX T C F
F 1203.7 Buckholts, TX F
3 07A 1213.0 Cameron, TX T C 12 55A
3 30A 1226.6 Milano, TX T C 12 35A
F 1236.2 Chriesman, TX F
3 54A 1243.1 Caldwell, TX T 12 01A
F 1256.0 Lyons, TX T F
4 20A 1259.4 Somerville, TX T C 11 35P
F 1265.1 Gay Hill, TX F
4 45A 1274.7 Brenham, TX T C 11 06P
F 1284.5 Kenney, TX F
5 11A 1293.1 Bellville, TX T C 10 40P
5 45A 1306.2 Sealy, TX T C 10 08P
F 1318.5 Wallis, TX T C F
F 1324.5 Orchard, TX F
6 21A 1334.9 Rosenberg, TX T C 9 31P
F 6 25A 1337.4 Richmond, TX T F 9 24P
M 7 30A Ar 1370.8 Houston, TX (Union Station) T C M Dp 8 30P
7 55A Dp Ar 7 55P
F 1380.9 Mykawa, TX F
F 1384.9 Pearland, TX T F
8 33A 1394.8 Alvin, TX T C Dp 7 14P
Ar 7 12P
F 1399.0 Algoa, TX T F
F 1402.7 Arcadia, TX T F
8 55A 1409.2 Hitchcock, TX T C 6 55P
9 25A Ar 1423.8 Galveston, TX (CT) C Dp 6 30P
Equipment
(Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Notes)
Santa Fe
CHICAGO, KANSAS CITY, OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS
A C—Indicates Air-Conditioned Equipment
EQUIPMENT
No. 5—Daily (The Ranger).
A C Dormitory Parlor Lounge Car (Radio equipped)...Chicago to Fort Worth.
Sleeping Car...A C Chicago to Galveston—10-Section, Lounge.
A C Chicago to Kansas City—6 Roomettes, 6-Section, 4 Double Bedrooms.
A C Chicago to Galveston—6-Section, Drawing-room, 4 Double Bedrooms.
A C Chicago to Wichita—8-Section, Drawing-room, 2 Compartments.
A C Fort Worth to Galveston—10-Section, Drawing-room, 2 Compartments.
A C Brownwood to Houston—10-Section, 2 Drawing-room (on No. 76 to Temple).
A C Dining Car...Chicago to Fort Worth. Tray service (sandwiches, coffee, milk, etc.) from Dining Car Chicago to Fort Worth.
A C Chair Car...Chicago to Galveston. (Ladies' Lounge and Men's Dressing-room.)
(NOTE: The equipment listing for the California Special also shows the following Sleeping Car operating in this train between Houston and Temple: A C Houston to Oakland—10-Section, Drawing-Room, 2 Compartments.)
(NOTE: The equipment listing for the California Special also shows the following Chair Car operating in this train between Houston and Temple: A C Houston to Clovis.)
No. 6—Daily (The Ranger).
A C Dormitory Parlor Lounge Car (Radio Equipped)...Fort Worth to Chicago.
Sleeping Car...A C Galveston to Chicago—6-Section, Drawing-room, 4 Double Bedrooms.
A C Galveston to Fort Worth—10-Section, Drawing-room, 2 Compartments.
A C Galveston to Chicago—10-Section, Lounge.
A C Houston to Brownwood—10-Section, 2 Drawing-room (on No. 75 from Temple)
A C Wichita to Chicago—8-Section, Drawing-room, 2 Compartments.
A C Kansas City to Chicago—14-Section.
A C Dining Car...Fort Worth to Chicago (Fred Harvey service).
A C Chair Car...Galveston to Chicago. (Ladies' Lounge and Men's Dressing-room.) Tray Service (sandwiches, coffee, milk, etc.) from Dining Car Fort Worth to Chicago.
(NOTE: The equipment listing for the California Special also shows the following Sleeping Car operating in this train between Temple and Houston: A C Oakland to Houston—10-Section, Drawing-Room, 2 Compartments.)
(NOTE: The equipment listing for the California Special also shows the following Chair Car operating in this train between Temple and Houston: A C Clovis to Houston.)
(Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Notes)
Santa Fe
EQUIPMENT—TEXAS-OKLAHOMA-KANSAS CITY-CHICAGO-COLORADO-CALIFORNIA
No. 6—Daily (The Ranger).
A C Santa Fe Dormitory Parlor-Lounge Car (Radio)...Fort Worth to Kansas City.
Sleeping Car...A C Galveston to Chicago—6-Section, 1 Drawing-room, 4 Double Bedrooms.
A C Galveston to Chicago—10-Section, Observation.
A C Galveston to Fort Worth—10-Section, 1 Drawing-room, 2 Compartments.
A C Houston to Brownwood—10-Section, 2 Drawing-room.
A C Dining Car...Fort Worth to Chicago (Fred Harvey service).
A C Chair Car...Galveston to Chicago. (Ladies' Lounge and Men's Dressing-room.) Chair Car attendant Galveston to Chicago.
A C Chair Car...Houston to Oakland.
N A C Chair Car...Houston to Los Angeles. (Tray service from Dining Car.)
No. 5—Daily (The Ranger).
A C Santa Fe Dormitory Parlor-Lounge Car (Radio)...Chicago to Fort Worth.
Sleeping Car...A C Chicago to Galveston—10-Section, Observation.
A C Chicago to Galveston—6-Section, 1 Drawing-room, 4 Double Bedrooms.
A C Fort Worth to Galveston—10-Section, 1 Drawing-room, 2 Compartments.
A C Brownwood to Houston—10-Section, 2 Drawing-room.
A C Dining Car...Chicago to Fort Worth (Fred Harvey service).
A C Chair Car...Chicago to Galveston. (Ladies' Lounge and Men's Dressing-Room.) Chair Car attendant Chicago to Galveston.
A C Chair Car...Oakland to Houston.
N A C Chair Car...Los Angeles to Houston. (Tray service from Dining Car.)
A C—Indicates Air-Conditioned Equipment.
Santa Fe Railway's train No. 6 "The Ranger" northbound, departing from the Ardmore, Oklahoma depot. The city of Ardmore is in the background.
Taken in June of 1916 - the Ranger was a brand new train at this time. Click to enlarge.
(["The Ranger" in Ardmore, Oklahoma], photograph, June 1916; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth28920/m1/1/?q=The%20Ranger: accessed April 8, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Museum of the American Railroad.)