In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a railroad north-south from Herington through Kechi to Caldwell. It closed in 1891. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway then owned it, but it closed in 1980. It reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad. It merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad. It merged again in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most people still call this railroad the "Rock Island".