The Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad is posting some strong numbers despite the tough economic conditions and continued drought which has hurt farmers that rely on the short line to move the harvest. The railroad which serves Hutchinson, Nickerson, Haven and Yoder is poised to surpass last year car loads.

According to K and O’s parent company Watco Transportation Systems, the railroad has moved 31,000 car loads to date compared with just under 28-thousand this time last year. Watco officials say the railroad could surpass 50-thousand car loads as they expand services on other parts of the system. The K and O operates 820 miles of track hauling paper products, petroleum and grain serving western and central Kansas.