<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 STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND> 
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                            42,500,000
<SECURITIES>                                     169,800,000
<RECEIVABLES>                                    244,900,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                               0
<INVENTORY>                                       50,500,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 537,100,000
<PP&E>                                         1,854,900,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                   581,800,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,709,200,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            327,000,000
<BONDS>                                          829,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                        6,100,000
<COMMON>                                           1,100,000
<OTHER-SE>                                       977,500,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,709,200,000
<SALES>                                                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 385,200,000
<CGS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    263,600,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                15,000,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  124,700,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                      44,900,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               68,600,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                      68,600,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            .62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            .60