 The H&E line was originally constructed by the Altus, Wichita Falls & Hollis Railway and the Wichita Falls & Northwestern Railway in 1912.Both of these predecessor railroads were part of the "Wichita Falls Route" and were soon purchased by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT).The Hollis & Eastern was incorporated on October 15, 1958, beginning operations on the former MKT Wellington branch between Altus and Hollis on May 15, 1959.