Texas Railroads 150th Birthday 9-7-03

 

Historical Marker Posted On Railspot


Historical marker, 8111 East Elm St,
between Broadway and Frio St.,
Houston, Texas
***



State Historical Survey Committee, Texas           



SITE OF GENERAL OFFICES
BUFFALO BAYOU, BRAZOS & COLORADO RAILROAD



Building of a railroad from here to the Brazos, to
handle commerce of rich plantations, was attempted unsuccessfully in 1840-41 by early merchant Andrew Briscoe and the Harrisses who founded Harrisburg.



Their holdings, including Harrisburg townsite, were sold in 1847 to a group of Bostonians and Texans -- headed by San Jacinto hero Gen. Sidney Sherman -- whosucceeded in building the first railroad in Texas.



The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railway was chartered Feb. 11, 1850. Construction materials, shipped from Boston to Galveston, came up Buffalo Bayou by barges. Chief Engineer John A. Williams began survey in May 1851, when a few miles of track were laid.



The first passengers ever to ride a train in Texas went to Thomas Point (3 mi. w.), April 21, 1853, to a celebration featuring salutes from "Twin Sisters", cannon used in 1836 Battle of San Jacinto. Four months later tracks reached Stafford's Point, and B. B. B. & C. operations officially began, with Harrisburg as the terminal.


One block north of here were depot, roundhouse and docks; a half block south, site of 1836 Texas Capitol.


The road was sold in 1870, and name was changed to Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio. It eventually became part of the Southern Pacific system.



(1967)

Jimmy Barlow reflects on Sesquicentenial Web Site

Just for funsies, I've summarized below the contents of the Texas Rail
Sesquicentennial web site:


http://www.trainweb.org/southwestshorts/Sesquicentennial/intro.html


Perhaps something will pique your interest, and please let me know of any
errors you find herein.
Jimmy
CONTRIBUTORS
============
There are a total of 265 photographs in the site, contributed by 25
photographers who are named on the Introduction page.
WHO'S MISSING?
At least four others reported having made photos for the event, but never
submitted any to webmaster Wes Carr--thanks for nothing, guys.  (Just
kidding.)  Naturally, it would've been nice to have had more participants.
PAINT SCHEMES IN THE LEAD OR OTHERWISE PROMINENT IN THE SCENE
=============================================================
Amtrak Acela
ATSF blue/yellow (BNSF subletters)
ATSF Warbonnet (yes!)
BN Cascade
BN Grinstein
BNSF Heritage 1
BNSF Heritage 2
BNSF Warbonnet (yes!)
CCT
CEFX (leaser)
CP
CR (PRR)
CRMX (Colorado Railcar)
CSX
DART
DGNO
DRGW (UP patch)
ECRX (Econo Rail)
FURX (leasers, in BN and BNSF paint)
FWD/CBQ (display only)
FWWR
G&W (Corpus Christi Terminal)
GEC Alstom (leaser)
ISRX (leaser)
KCS gray
LIRR/MTA
LLPX (leaser, UP paint)
MKT red (display only)
MPI (HLCX leaser)
MRS (Brazil)
NREX (leaser, IC paint)
NS
Pilgrim's Pride
PTRA
RVSC
SOO
SP
SSW (UP patch)
T&P (display only)
TFM gray
TRE
TSRR
UP wingless & flagless
UP wings, no flags
UP wings & flags
WTJ
There are also distant views of CN, EMD, GWWR gray, and even FedEx--on an
airplane.
WHAT'S MISSING?
McKinney Ave. Trolley
Trinity Railway Express
More short lines and industrials.
ENGINE MODELS IN THE LEAD OR OTHERWISE PROMINENT IN THE SCENE
=============================================================
2-8-0 (both live and on display)
2-10-2 (display only)
2-10-4 (display only)
4-6-0 (live)
AC4400CW
AC4400CW-CTE
AC6000CW
B30-7
B40-8W
C30-7
C40-8W
C40-9W
C44-9W
CF7
DMU
F59PHI
GP7
GP10
GP15D
GP20D
GP30
GP35
GP38-2
GP40 (probably rebuilt)
GP50 (hi nose!)
GP60
LRV
MK1500D
MP15AC
MRS-3
MU car (dead in-transit)
NW2 (display only)
P42DC
SD38-2 (in SD40-2 body)
SD40 (probably rebuilt)
SD40-2
SD40T-2
SD45 (probably rebuilt)
SD60
SD60M
SD70M
SD70M flare
SD70MAC
SW10
SW1500
I didn't have time to look up the model of the MRS and Pilgrim's Pride
units, nor the UP yard slug.
There are also distant glimpses of B23-7, B40-8, C39-8, C40-8, GP15-1,
GP60M, SD60F, SD75I........and DC-10.  :-^
The preceding includes SERVICEABLE motive power from Alco, Baldwin, Cooke,
EMD, GE,  MotivePower (or predecessors Boise Locomotive or Motive Power
International), and Whitcomb, plus a few railroad repair shops (including
our own late, great Cleburne) and passenger equipment manufacturers.  And
uuuuuuuuh McDonnell Douglas.  [snicker]
>>>DON'T MISS:<<<
One close-up of some incredibly rare 0-2+2-0 "Camelbacks," live!  They
appear to be in the BNSF coal fleet, and are the product of the world's
first--and foremost--Creator of motive power, the ageless "Masterbuilder."
;-)
WHAT'S MISSING?
TRE RDC's (inactive on Sundays)
More electrics
Small (<1000 hp) EMD and GE switchers
That Lima Texas-type being serviceable.  :-(
LOCALITIES DEPICTED
===================
Abilene
Amarillo
Arlington
Atlanta
Avinger
Beaumont
Big Sandy
Bishop
Brownsville
Cameron
Cason (Welsh)
Clifton
Coburn (between Glazier and Higgins)
Conrads (between New Braunfels and San Marcos)
Conroe
Corpus Christi
Daingerfield
Dallas
Dayton
Denton
Dickworsham (between Henrietta and Bellevue)
Dumas
Eagle Lake
Flatonia
Fort Worth
Frisco
Galena Park
Garland
Gilmer
Goodwin (between New Braunfels and San Marcos)
Grapevine
Guy (between Dalhart and Texline)
Harlingen
Hearne
Houston (includes Dawes and Harrisburg)
Hoyte (between Cameron and Milano)
Hughes Springs
Hunter (between New Braunfels and San Marcos)
Iowa Park
Jarvis (10 miles east of Palestine)
Jayell (4 miles east of Baird)
Jefferson
Jude (between New Braunfels and San Marcos)
Kildare
Kingsville
Krum
La Feria
Liberty
Lissie (7 miles east of Eagle Lake)
Little River
Manhattan (between Crawford and Valley Mills)
Maydelle
McGregor
Mendota (between Canadian and Miami)
Merkel
Mesquite
Mewshaw (3 miles west of Maydelle)
Miami
Milano
Millican
Missouri City
Moody
Mumford
Navasota
Orange
Palestine
Pittsburg
Preble (10 miles west of Weatherford)
Robstown
Rockdale
Rosenberg
Saginaw
Sheldon
Spring
Stafford
Stratford
Sugar Land
Tatsie (between Hearne and Mumford)
Taylor
Tecific (6 miles east of Sweetwater)
Valley Mills
Vidor
Weatherford
Wichita Falls
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH regarding the above place-names:
Harlingen bears the name of a city in Holland.  The Dutch Harlingen was
home to the Van Harlingen family, one of whose descendants was Texas
railroad magnate Uriah Lott, first president of the St. Louis, Brownsville
& Mexico Railway.  The Texas Harlingen was so named as a tribute to Mr.
Lott.
Both Harrisburg and Harris County (Houston) were named for John Richardson
Harris, whose large and extended family helped finance the embryo of what
eventually grew into the largest rail system of any state in the Union.
Kildare was named in honor of a Texas & Pacific official.
Kingsville was named for Richard King, founder of the world-famous King
Ranch.  But he was also one of the "movers 'n' shakers" behind the SLB&M
and other South Texas railroads, including the Corpus Christi, San Diego &
Rio Grande Narrow Gauge--better known today as the Tex Mex!
Krum was named after A. R. Krum, an employee of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa
Fe.
The name Maydelle honors the daughter of Texas Governor Thomas M. Campbell,
who was instrumental in extending the Texas State Railroad through that
community.  Miss Maydelle Campbell sang at the opening of the townsite.
Moody was named in honor of William Lewis Moody, a director of the GC&SF.
The name Robstown is a reference to Robert Driscoll, Jr., a co-incorporator
of the SLB&M.
Rosenberg is the namesake of Henry Rosenberg, who from 1874 to 1877 was
president of the GC&SF.
Sheldon was named after Henry K. Sheldon, a prominent stockholder in the
Texas & New Orleans.
Taylor was named for Edward Moses Taylor, an official of the International
& Great Northern.
WHO'S MISSING?
Austin (state capital)
El Paso (large city; westernmost area of Texas)
Laredo (over half of NAFTA crosses there)
Lubbock (large city)
Paisano Pass (state's best scenery)
San Antonio (large city; important rail crossroads).





Sesquicentennial Website-- Celebration In Pictures










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