The impact of the coming of the railroad into Barber County was no less
  than in other areas which it served. So great was the change that it caused
  one eintire town to relocate.
     From the writings of many of the early settlers, the end of the railroad
  at Harper and later at Attica, made it necessary to transport their belong-
  ings by wagon freight to their destination. The sturdy people who had
  chosen this land were, none the less, making progress and establishing
  villages, post offices, churches and school throughout the county.
     Congress granted right-of-way through Indian Territory in 1884 for rail-
  roads to build and rumor were rampant. Southern Kansas Railway served
  Wichita to Harper. Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe, the Southern Kansas and the 
  Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern were supposedly recipient of the grant,
  and by July, grading was begun to Attica. Kiowa, on the cattle trail route, 
  was the logical location, however, disagreement between land owners and rail
  officials over donation of 80 acres for track and depot facilities, forced
  the railroad to choose the route south and east of Old Kiowa. By August, the
  town company incorporated and by the time the railroad line arrived, the New
  Kiowa town was established in its present location.
     The first Barber County line was built by Harper and Western Railroad
  Company which consolidated with Southern Kansas Railroad Company in 1885.
     Early passengers had difficulty getting "directional bearings" when they
  stepped from the train which had come into town "backward", until late 
  August when a turntable was completed.
     Kiowa became a major cattle shipping point. Lumber, lath, shingles, lime
  and coal were made accessable to the builders. The line was extended to
  Woodward by April 1887.
     A branch of Southern Kansas was built from Harper and Attica to Medicine
  Lodge, and was in use by January 1886. It was constructed by Harper and 
  Western Railroad Company. From 1886 until 1906, Medicine Lodge was "the
  end of the line."
     In 1906, the line from Kiowa to Medicine Lodge, known as the Gerlane
  Branch, was constructed. That same year, the line from Medicine Lodge to
  Lake City, Sun City and on to Belvidere was constructed. This was done by
  the Denver, Kansas and Gulf Railway Company.
     Santa Fe assumed ownership of Southern Kansas Company and its branches
  south of Wellington in October, 1887. Wellington was one end of the division
  and Kiowa the next. Kiowa became one of the principal water and fuel stations
  on that section of the line.
     By 1913, fast trains to California were rerouted south through Kiowa to
  miss Colorado's severe winter travel problems.
     Immigration excursions were made up to bring possible settlers to the
  county. Extensive advertising was used in the east to paint rosy pictures
  of Barber County. Weather cooperated and settlers poured into the county. 
  In 1888, Mr. Osius left for Germany, promising hired help to any who would
  pay expenses for immigrants who wished to come to America. Russian immigrants
  also came, securing land.
     In December 1903, Santa Fe offered Special Colonist rates for homeseekers.
     In 1887 the "Sunflower Road" was begun. The St. Louis, Ft. Scott and
  Wichita Railroad via Anthony extended to Kiowa. This was taken over by the 
  Missouri Pacific. Naturally, the Missouri Pacific and Santa Fe were rivals
  and competed for business, however, by 1911, Missouri Pacific dropped its
  passenger service.
     The Denver, Enid and gulf, which was known as the "Dirty, Easy and 
  Greasy" reached Kiowa in 1906, connecting service to Enid.
     The Kiowa, Hardtner, and Pacific from Kiowa to Hardtner was organized in
  1908 by a number of Hardtner residents. Jacob Achenbach, Ira Blockstock, son-
  in-law of Dr. Hardtner and a resident of Springfield, Illinois, organized it.
  Blackstock was elected president, Achenbach, vice-president; Peter Ballet,
  St. Louis, secretary and W.J. Sterling, treasurer. Principal stockholders
  were Achenbach, Sterling, J.W. Blunk and A.B. Jarvis of Hardtner, W.H.
  Brouwnback of Edenburg, Illinois, J.H. Decker of Eldred and H. Morgan of
  Capron, Oklahoma. "Uncle Jake" realized an ambition with its building. The
  Beaver, Meade and Englewood opened the route into the panhandle, but in
  July 1931 was turned over to M.K.&T.
     Passenger service on the railroad is a thing of the past in Barber County,
  with the discontinuance of the Santa Fe "San Francisco Chief" and "Grand
  Canyon Limited. The "Chief" in 1971. This was a change from the two trains
  each way every 24 hours.
     Steam engines were replaced by diesel engines in 1947. Freight traffice
  on the "main line" continues heavy.
     If you happen to dine at Master's Cafe by the side of the Santa Fe track,
  you may hear the signal light-bell for the "Lunch-time Special" of employees
  of the railroad crew. It is often referred to as the only cafe offering 
  special rail service.
     With the coming of superhighways, trucking and various means of transport
  tation for freight and automobile for personal travel, the railroad has lost
  its battle to survive, but we must by no means, forget the important part it
  played in the progress of our county. We must also remember that tendencies 
  are to replace the older with the new, however, the service which was extended
  in earlier days of county settlement, may again be very necessary, and we 
  must continue to use it if we expect it to continue as an essential part of 
  "Chosen Land."
     
                      
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 13 
     Submitted by: Mary Gaunt with assistance from Roy Crow, Santa Fe agent.