Roby and Northern Railroad

There was a need to move agricultural products (such as cotton)[1] passengers, and livestock the 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north to the Waco-Rotan branch of the MKT.

[citation needed] The original railroad was equipped with steam locomotives, but in 1922 the owners made the decision to abandon the line.

[2] The electric locomotive was shipped in parts to Memphis Tennessee from back east and assembled from its various component parts before being transferred to Roby, where on November 22, 1923, the new electrified Roby and Northern Railroad resumed operations.

This made the Roby and Northern the only electrified interurban in West Texas.

[citation needed] The railroad continued operations until 1941 when a shortage of business, a lack of employees due to World War II, and the more pressing need for scrap iron all contributed to the abandonment of the railroad.