<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE, SUBMITTED AS EXHIBIT 27.1 TO FORM 10-Q, CONTAINS
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME OF KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN INDUSTRIES, INC.,
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-4717, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
       
                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                      27,200,000
<SECURITIES>                               149,100,000
<RECEIVABLES>                              208,400,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                 47,000,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           469,500,000
<PP&E>                                   1,833,800,000
<DEPRECIATION>                             567,100,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           2,619,700,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      296,200,000
<BONDS>                                    825,600,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                  6,100,000
<COMMON>                                     1,100,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 924,000,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             2,619,700,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         1,284,300,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              889,800,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          66,100,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            354,400,000
<INCOME-TAX>                               130,800,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        190,200,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               190,200,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.66