A ticket from the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway for travel between Stearns and Oz is a rare piece of railroadiana representing a specific era of Kentucky’s industrial history.

Historical Significance of the Route

Stearns to Oz Extension: The Kentucky & Tennessee Railway (K&T) was originally established in 1902 to transport coal and timber for the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company. The line was extended to Oz in 1909 after a bridge was built over the Big South Fork River in 1907.

Oz Station: Located on the west side of the Big South Fork River, Oz was the site of Mine 16. While the K&T once hauled nearly 1,000 passengers daily during its peak, service declined as mines closed. The line was systematically cut back, with the segment at Oz closing in 1953. 

The ticket strip measures 19” long - I’ll more than likely have to fold it to ship it / I have several of these so ticket number will vary between A1704 to A1800