The Fort Worth and Denver City Railway Company was chartered on May 26, 1873. Railroad
service between Fort Worth and Denver City began on April 1, 1888. It would later be
acquired by the Colorado and Southern Railroad.

The Fort Worth and Denver Railroad was the first rail line to penetrate the northwest
part of Texas, which influenced the growth of Texas cities such as Wichita Falls, Childress,
and Amarillo.

Burlington Northern Railroad acquired Fort Worth and Denver Railway after the merger
between it and Colorado and Southern Railroad on December 31, 1981. The Fort Worth and
Denver Railroad's rail lines were merged into Burlington Northern Railroad in 1982.