Since the Cotton Belt was mentioned here recently, Cotton Belt 1943 in original
livery still plies the UP (ex-C&NW/KR&RI) KD Line in Kenosha WI and is
occasionally seen in Waukegan IL.

I wanted to share this site I found, very nice.


http://www.brian894x4.com/AbandonedRRmainpage.html

--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Larry" <hornfroglooking@...>
wrote:
>
> I wanted to share this site I found, very nice.
>
>
> http://www.brian894x4.com/AbandonedRRmainpage.html
>

I found that site a while ago. Brian is a lucky dude to be able to go poking
around like that and its great that he records everything.

As part of the 100 Year celebration of the Mountain Quarries Railroad, there is
an art contest being held in Auburn,CA. For more details visit here,
http://www.trainweb.org/foothill/mqartcontest.html

Does anyone l=know for sure if the if the track is still in place on the long
idle Rock Island line between Kansas City and St. Louis? I have heard the trails
group are taking control to the Pleasant Hill to Windsor, MO. section on the
Kansas City end. I have heard it is owned by a power company and the state
worked a settlement because of a failed reservoir and got possession of the
section being converted to a trail. I spotted these links about that:
http://www.abandonedrails.com/Kansas_City_to_Windsor
http://www.bikekatytrail.com/kansas-city.aspx
http://www.kansascyclist.com/news/2012/01/kansas-trail-news-january-18-2012/
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/13/3369277/construction-delayed-on-rock-island\
.html
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/13/3369277/construction-delayed-on-rock-island\
.html#storylink=cpy

This link shows the Eldon, MO station and in the 2009 shot, If track are there,
they must be buried.Google maps satellite views show tracks in some places, but
hard to tell, especially with all the tree and brush growth. The line has thee
tunnels and two or three huge bridges. This is truly a horrible waist of
beautiful railroad.
http://www.missouridepots.com/eldon.htm

"...waist..."?


________________________________
  From: sangredechristo2000 <jriley01@...>
To: abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 4:15 PM
Subject: [Abandoned Railroads of the US] Old Rock Island Kansas City to St Louis
line


 
Does anyone l=know for sure if the if the track is still in place on the long
idle Rock Island line between Kansas City and St. Louis? I have heard the trails
group are taking control to the Pleasant Hill to Windsor, MO. section on the
Kansas City end. I have heard it is owned by a power company and the state
worked a settlement because of a failed reservoir and got possession of the
section being converted to a trail. I spotted these links about that:
http://www.abandonedrails.com/Kansas_City_to_Windsor
http://www.bikekatytrail.com/kansas-city.aspx
http://www.kansascyclist.com/news/2012/01/kansas-trail-news-january-18-2012/
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/13/3369277/construction-delayed-on-rock-island\
.html
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/13/3369277/construction-delayed-on-rock-island\
.html#storylink=cpy

This link shows the Eldon, MO station and in the 2009 shot, If track are there,
they must be buried.Google maps satellite views show tracks in some places, but
hard to tell, especially with all the tree and brush growth. The line has thee
tunnels and two or three huge bridges. This is truly a horrible waist of
beautiful railroad.
http://www.missouridepots.com/eldon.htm




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Grammar is not my strong point, OK I will use the work waste?

--- On Mon, 1/30/12, Thaddeus Danziger <danzigert@...> wrote:

From: Thaddeus Danziger <danzigert@...>
Subject: Re: [Abandoned Railroads of the US] Old Rock Island Kansas City to St
Louis line
To: abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, January 30, 2012, 2:32 PM
















 









       "...waist..."?



________________________________

  From: sangredechristo2000 <jriley01@...>

To: abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 4:15 PM

Subject: [Abandoned Railroads of the US] Old Rock Island Kansas City to St Louis
line





 

Does anyone l=know for sure if the if the track is still in place on the long
idle Rock Island line between Kansas City and St. Louis? I have heard the trails
group are taking control to the Pleasant Hill to Windsor, MO. section on the
Kansas City end. I have heard it is owned by a power company and the state
worked a settlement because of a failed reservoir and got possession of the
section being converted to a trail. I spotted these links about that:

http://www.abandonedrails.com/Kansas_City_to_Windsor

http://www.bikekatytrail.com/kansas-city.aspx

http://www.kansascyclist.com/news/2012/01/kansas-trail-news-january-18-2012/

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/13/3369277/construction-delayed-on-rock-island\
.html

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/13/3369277/construction-delayed-on-rock-island\
.html#storylink=cpy



This link shows the Eldon, MO station and in the 2009 shot, If track are there,
they must be buried.Google maps satellite views show tracks in some places, but
hard to tell, especially with all the tree and brush growth. The line has thee
tunnels and two or three huge bridges. This is truly a horrible waist of
beautiful railroad.

http://www.missouridepots.com/eldon.htm



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Group,

    I have come to another brick wall in my quest to find the owners.
It appears after I contacted the Coryell county Sheriff's Department,
they acted like I was nuts, and referred me to the

http://www.coryellcad.org/

    The guy I went to see was nice, but apparently, there is no real
information. There is a re-evaluation of the cities in Coryell county
that started with the bigger cities and dwindling to the smaller
towns. Ireland, is the 'last' on the totem pole and no information
will be available until 2014. Since I'm an outsider, most won't just
give me any information unless I was a multi-millionaire wanting to
buy some land. :) Since I'm a poor synagogue mouse, correctional
officer, I know my limits. Don't want to offend or cause a ruckus,
Texans are territorial when it comes to property.

     I did get some leads to some of the land owners, and a 1911 town
plat of the city of Ireland. I'll take some pics and upload later. I
am tired.. :P Got some days off. :P Yet the owner of the property does not want
to be indentified. :(  Or those refuse to let me know
who to talk to. I got a guy coming over Friday to work on my car, and
may not get to snoop around, but I'll try when I can. I might try
tomorrow. I dunno.. I feel so weird about this. :P

Shalom,

Michael D. Lucas
76531

--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Michael L"
<lawnmowermantx@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Group,
>
>    That's some great places to start! The Chamber Of Commerce if I
> understand it correctly is to 'sell' the local area for 'commerce' and
> business? This being private property, on private land, in a town that
> almost became a town (The town of Ireland, TX had a Platte but never
> was developed for 'unknown' and 'unofficial' reasons. :(  The churches
> there in Ireland, TX are now converted to private homes, and what would have
been streets and cross roads are now empty lots of land.
>
>     Although, I'm half way through my vacation, and got to prepare for my
upcoming qualifications and physical agility test. I got to practice target
shooting, and working out. I hope the pics I sent will suffice, yet I hope to
find the owner of the Depot. That person is sure is lucky because the wild-grass
fires of last year was threatening the depot!
>
> Thanks Everyone,
>
> Shalom,
>
> Michael D. Lucas
> 76531
>

I’m just joining this thread, but wundering if you’ve tried such traditional
resources as Sanborn insurance maps, county tax assessor, historical newspapers
such as Proquest or Library of Congress?

From: Michael L
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 6:12 PM
To: abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Abandoned Railroads of the US] Re: Tracking Down Owners..


Dear Group,

I have come to another brick wall in my quest to find the owners.
It appears after I contacted the Coryell county Sheriff's Department,
they acted like I was nuts, and referred me to the

http://www.coryellcad.org/

The guy I went to see was nice, but apparently, there is no real
information. There is a re-evaluation of the cities in Coryell county
that started with the bigger cities and dwindling to the smaller
towns. Ireland, is the 'last' on the totem pole and no information
will be available until 2014. Since I'm an outsider, most won't just
give me any information unless I was a multi-millionaire wanting to
buy some land. :) Since I'm a poor synagogue mouse, correctional
officer, I know my limits. Don't want to offend or cause a ruckus,
Texans are territorial when it comes to property.

I did get some leads to some of the land owners, and a 1911 town
plat of the city of Ireland. I'll take some pics and upload later. I
am tired.. :P Got some days off. :P Yet the owner of the property does not want
to be indentified. :( Or those refuse to let me know
who to talk to. I got a guy coming over Friday to work on my car, and
may not get to snoop around, but I'll try when I can. I might try
tomorrow. I dunno.. I feel so weird about this. :P

Shalom,

Michael D. Lucas
76531

--- In mailto:abandonedrailroadsoftheus%40yahoogroups.com, "Michael L"
<lawnmowermantx@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Group,
>
> That's some great places to start! The Chamber Of Commerce if I
> understand it correctly is to 'sell' the local area for 'commerce' and
> business? This being private property, on private land, in a town that
> almost became a town (The town of Ireland, TX had a Platte but never
> was developed for 'unknown' and 'unofficial' reasons. :( The churches
> there in Ireland, TX are now converted to private homes, and what would have
been streets and cross roads are now empty lots of land.
>
> Although, I'm half way through my vacation, and got to prepare for my upcoming
qualifications and physical agility test. I got to practice target shooting, and
working out. I hope the pics I sent will suffice, yet I hope to find the owner
of the Depot. That person is sure is lucky because the wild-grass fires of last
year was threatening the depot!
>
> Thanks Everyone,
>
> Shalom,
>
> Michael D. Lucas
> 76531
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Steve,

    It would appear, if there are any records on current ownership
of the Depot, it would appear in public records. Also, the property
has no mailing address, and it is fenced up with no trespassing sign.
I am concerned, word has gone out, and the owner has gone into
hiding. If the County Appraisal District has no records, who else
would I contact? On my next 4 days off, go to Ireland, and ask
around, Most gates are locked unless I am fortunate to find the
owner. One thing about Texas they keep to themselves. It was a fools
errand to try to find the owner of a historic depot, and to seek
permission to enter and photograph the interior. I seriously doubt
the owner wants his property and depot photographed. Lot of times if
a person wants to be found he/she will be available.. if not, so be
it. I respect that.

    In all fairness, snooping, digging and investigating the owner of
the property might drive the owner away.. There's no restoring the
railroad or making a museum of the place. It would be nice to have a
section of track and R.O.W. made where the original track once was,
with a vintage 1911-1939 steam locomotive as a scale reference where
the track, platform and depot stood in respect.. I am neither rich,
no wealthy enough to afford such luxury.

     If the owner of the Depot wishes to remain hidden and refuses me
permission to photograph and record the interior then so be it. The
law is on their side.

I don't have the time on my books to take off, and due to short of
staff at my work place, I may not ever see a vacation for a very long
time, unless I am retire in about 17 years. :P


    Shalom,

Michael D. Lucas
76531


--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, <stevedonaldson@...> wrote:
>
> I’m just joining this thread, but wundering if you’ve tried such
traditional resources as Sanborn insurance maps, county tax assessor, historical
newspapers such as Proquest or Library of Congress?
>
> From: Michael L
> Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 6:12 PM
> To: abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Abandoned Railroads of the US] Re: Tracking Down Owners..
>
>
> Dear Group,
>
> I have come to another brick wall in my quest to find the owners.
> It appears after I contacted the Coryell county Sheriff's Department,
> they acted like I was nuts, and referred me to the
>
> http://www.coryellcad.org/
>
> The guy I went to see was nice, but apparently, there is no real
> information. There is a re-evaluation of the cities in Coryell county
> that started with the bigger cities and dwindling to the smaller
> towns. Ireland, is the 'last' on the totem pole and no information
> will be available until 2014. Since I'm an outsider, most won't just
> give me any information unless I was a multi-millionaire wanting to
> buy some land. :) Since I'm a poor synagogue mouse, correctional
> officer, I know my limits. Don't want to offend or cause a ruckus,
> Texans are territorial when it comes to property.
>
> I did get some leads to some of the land owners, and a 1911 town
> plat of the city of Ireland. I'll take some pics and upload later. I
> am tired.. :P Got some days off. :P Yet the owner of the property does not
want to be indentified. :( Or those refuse to let me know
> who to talk to. I got a guy coming over Friday to work on my car, and
> may not get to snoop around, but I'll try when I can. I might try
> tomorrow. I dunno.. I feel so weird about this. :P
>
> Shalom,
>
> Michael D. Lucas
> 76531
>
> --- In mailto:abandonedrailroadsoftheus%40yahoogroups.com, "Michael L"
<lawnmowermantx@> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Group,
> >
> > That's some great places to start! The Chamber Of Commerce if I
> > understand it correctly is to 'sell' the local area for 'commerce' and
> > business? This being private property, on private land, in a town that
> > almost became a town (The town of Ireland, TX had a Platte but never
> > was developed for 'unknown' and 'unofficial' reasons. :( The churches
> > there in Ireland, TX are now converted to private homes, and what would have
been streets and cross roads are now empty lots of land.
> >
> > Although, I'm half way through my vacation, and got to prepare for my
upcoming qualifications and physical agility test. I got to practice target
shooting, and working out. I hope the pics I sent will suffice, yet I hope to
find the owner of the Depot. That person is sure is lucky because the wild-grass
fires of last year was threatening the depot!
> >
> > Thanks Everyone,
> >
> > Shalom,
> >
> > Michael D. Lucas
> > 76531
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

http://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=213270298552370336255.0004a1336dc9eafd4\
165d

Hello everyone.

This is a google map that I've drawn of "the crookedest railroad in the world",
a railroad built by the Southern California Edison company in the early part of
the 20th century to help construct a series of dams and power generators in the
Sierras. Built in a few months and abandoned in 1933.

Lessee, Cotton Belt was last railroad thru there, which was S.P., now U.P.,
wonder if they'd be any help?I'm only seeing trail of your efforts here, mostly
dialogue OTHER than opening quest.

--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Michael L"
<lawnmowermantx@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Group,
>
>    That's some great places to start! The Chamber Of Commerce if I
> understand it correctly is to 'sell' the local area for 'commerce' and
> business? This being private property, on private land, in a town that
> almost became a town (The town of Ireland, TX had a Platte but never
> was developed for 'unknown' and 'unofficial' reasons. :(  The churches
> there in Ireland, TX are now converted to private homes, and what would have
been streets and cross roads are now empty lots of land.
>
>     Although, I'm half way through my vacation, and got to prepare for my
upcoming qualifications and physical agility test. I got to practice target
shooting, and working out. I hope the pics I sent will suffice, yet I hope to
find the owner of the Depot. That person is sure is lucky because the wild-grass
fires of last year was threatening the depot!
>
> Thanks Everyone,
>
> Shalom,
>
> Michael D. Lucas
> 76531
>

http://treasuredigger.net/pages/How-to-Use-the-Assessor%E2%80%99s-Office-to-Loca\
te-Property-Ownership.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5017025_determine-property-ownership.html

David K. Wheeler

On 2/10/2012 6:23 PM, xocboy2001 wrote:
> Lessee, Cotton Belt was last railroad thru there, which was S.P., now U.P.,
wonder if they'd be any help?I'm only seeing trail of your efforts here, mostly
dialogue OTHER than opening quest.
>
> --- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Michael
L"<lawnmowermantx@...>  wrote:
>> Dear Group,
>>
>>     That's some great places to start! The Chamber Of Commerce if I
>> understand it correctly is to 'sell' the local area for 'commerce' and
>> business? This being private property, on private land, in a town that
>> almost became a town (The town of Ireland, TX had a Platte but never
>> was developed for 'unknown' and 'unofficial' reasons. :(  The churches
>> there in Ireland, TX are now converted to private homes, and what would have
been streets and cross roads are now empty lots of land.
>>
>>      Although, I'm half way through my vacation, and got to prepare for my
upcoming qualifications and physical agility test. I got to practice target
shooting, and working out. I hope the pics I sent will suffice, yet I hope to
find the owner of the Depot. That person is sure is lucky because the wild-grass
fires of last year was threatening the depot!
>>
>> Thanks Everyone,
>>
>> Shalom,
>>
>> Michael D. Lucas
>> 76531
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'd like to see that and any other 1940's aerial photos of railroads, and if
possible some showing early connections to airfields, then photos of what those
connections and airfields look like today, and including closed old military
airfields

--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, Eric Fleet <fleet_eric@...>
wrote:
>
> Anyone wants to see 1940 aerial photo of NC&STL Mullins Station?  I have an
image file of large black & white aerial photo showing Mullins freight depot,
passenger shelter, section houses, track spur and train cars sitting on the
track siding between Shelby County Health/Hospital and Correction Center.
>
> Greetings!
>
> Eric F...
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Dear Steve,

    It would also appear, when I drove by the Depot, there was no mail
box or any form of residence at all. All in all, the current owner of
the property is using the Depot for a Storage Barn. A very Historic
Storage barn. One thing for sure, the Town Plat shows in 1911, both
railroads at the time. The Stephenville North and South Texas railroad
and the Temple Northwestern. The S.N.S.T. Railroad was already an
established line, and the T.N.W. was a proposed but not built railroad
that reached Ireland, TX when Temple, TX was being ambitious in its
railroad plans.

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/eqt02

  Rival railroads of the time were fierce competitors and the S.N.S.T.
railroad was well established all the way to Gatesville at the time
of the Plat was made. To this day, the crumbling remains of Ireland
show at least a Methodist church converted to a private home, and a
Baptist church also converted to a private residence. At one time the
Ireland Independent School District had its own school, but then it
got absorbed by the Jonesboro I.S.D. school system.

Thanks,

Shalom,

Michael D. Lucas
76531


--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "xocboy2001"
<stevedonaldson@...> wrote:
>
> Lessee, Cotton Belt was last railroad thru there, which was S.P., now U.P.,
wonder if they'd be any help?I'm only seeing trail of your efforts here, mostly
dialogue OTHER than opening quest.
>
> --- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Michael L"
<lawnmowermantx@> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Group,
> >
> >    That's some great places to start! The Chamber Of Commerce if I
> > understand it correctly is to 'sell' the local area for 'commerce' and
> > business? This being private property, on private land, in a town that
> > almost became a town (The town of Ireland, TX had a Platte but never
> > was developed for 'unknown' and 'unofficial' reasons. :(  The churches
> > there in Ireland, TX are now converted to private homes, and what would have
been streets and cross roads are now empty lots of land.
> >
> >     Although, I'm half way through my vacation, and got to prepare for my
upcoming qualifications and physical agility test. I got to practice target
shooting, and working out. I hope the pics I sent will suffice, yet I hope to
find the owner of the Depot. That person is sure is lucky because the wild-grass
fires of last year was threatening the depot!
> >
> > Thanks Everyone,
> >
> > Shalom,
> >
> > Michael D. Lucas
> > 76531
> >
>

Dear David and Steve,

    Then again, I'll risk going out there, and snoop around. Lately
the weather changes from 20 degrees, freezing rain, sleet, to 70 degrees kicking
my tuchus!

Shalom,
Michael D. Lucas
76531


--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "David K. Wheeler"
<davidkwheeler@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
http://treasuredigger.net/pages/How-to-Use-the-Assessor%E2%80%99s-Office-to-Loca\
te-Property-Ownership.html
>
> http://www.ehow.com/how_5017025_determine-property-ownership.html
>
> David K. Wheeler
>
> On 2/10/2012 6:23 PM, xocboy2001 wrote:
> > Lessee, Cotton Belt was last railroad thru there, which was S.P., now U.P.,
wonder if they'd be any help?I'm only seeing trail of your efforts here, mostly
dialogue OTHER than opening quest.
> >
> > --- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Michael
L"<lawnmowermantx@>  wrote:
> >> Dear Group,
> >>
> >>     That's some great places to start! The Chamber Of Commerce if I
> >> understand it correctly is to 'sell' the local area for 'commerce' and
> >> business? This being private property, on private land, in a town that
> >> almost became a town (The town of Ireland, TX had a Platte but never
> >> was developed for 'unknown' and 'unofficial' reasons. :(  The churches
> >> there in Ireland, TX are now converted to private homes, and what would
have been streets and cross roads are now empty lots of land.
> >>
> >>      Although, I'm half way through my vacation, and got to prepare for my
upcoming qualifications and physical agility test. I got to practice target
shooting, and working out. I hope the pics I sent will suffice, yet I hope to
find the owner of the Depot. That person is sure is lucky because the wild-grass
fires of last year was threatening the depot!
> >>
> >> Thanks Everyone,
> >>
> >> Shalom,
> >>
> >> Michael D. Lucas
> >> 76531
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

As a note....  I sent Brian several photos about 8 years ago; and gave Brian
permission to use them on the website.  He graciously included a note on the
site, that some of the photos under the Oregon Pacific & Eastern section were
taken by me (Don Kirk).  He appreciates any help anyone can be, giving him
either information or photos or both.

Don

--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Larry" <hornfroglooking@...>
wrote:
>
> I wanted to share this site I found, very nice.
>
>
> http://www.brian894x4.com/AbandonedRRmainpage.html
>

Don't know about this city/county, but in most cities and counties, you can go
into the planning and look on maps for a parcel #.  Then go into the property
tax dept. and look up the tax records for the property.  It will give the name
and address of the owner (and the parcel in question).  I work for a nonprofit
that buys old theatres and restores them.  I often have to do this look-up to
find out who owns the property we want.  I hope this helps.

Don

--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Michael L"
<lawnmowermantx@...> wrote:
>
> Dear David and Steve,
>
>    Then again, I'll risk going out there, and snoop around. Lately
> the weather changes from 20 degrees, freezing rain, sleet, to 70 degrees
kicking my tuchus!
>
> Shalom,
> Michael D. Lucas
> 76531
>
>
> --- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "David K. Wheeler"
<davidkwheeler@> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
http://treasuredigger.net/pages/How-to-Use-the-Assessor%E2%80%99s-Office-to-Loca\
te-Property-Ownership.html
> >
> > http://www.ehow.com/how_5017025_determine-property-ownership.html
> >
> > David K. Wheeler
> >
> > On 2/10/2012 6:23 PM, xocboy2001 wrote:
> > > Lessee, Cotton Belt was last railroad thru there, which was S.P., now
U.P., wonder if they'd be any help?I'm only seeing trail of your efforts here,
mostly dialogue OTHER than opening quest.
> > >
> > > --- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Michael
L"<lawnmowermantx@>  wrote:
> > >> Dear Group,
> > >>
> > >>     That's some great places to start! The Chamber Of Commerce if I
> > >> understand it correctly is to 'sell' the local area for 'commerce' and
> > >> business? This being private property, on private land, in a town that
> > >> almost became a town (The town of Ireland, TX had a Platte but never
> > >> was developed for 'unknown' and 'unofficial' reasons. :(  The churches
> > >> there in Ireland, TX are now converted to private homes, and what would
have been streets and cross roads are now empty lots of land.
> > >>
> > >>      Although, I'm half way through my vacation, and got to prepare for
my upcoming qualifications and physical agility test. I got to practice target
shooting, and working out. I hope the pics I sent will suffice, yet I hope to
find the owner of the Depot. That person is sure is lucky because the wild-grass
fires of last year was threatening the depot!
> > >>
> > >> Thanks Everyone,
> > >>
> > >> Shalom,
> > >>
> > >> Michael D. Lucas
> > >> 76531
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

What is the cost of rebuilding our national networks to way we were versus the
90-percent down from then to now.

I would say into the Billions of dollars to rebuild abandoned branches and
mainlines.

-Willie

--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Jeffrey" <jeffreycaiken@...>
wrote:
>
> What is the cost of rebuilding our national networks to way we were versus the
90-percent down from then to now.
>

Dear Don,

    Thanks I been the Coryell County Appraisal District. At one
time in 2006 or 2007, it 'was' a private residence. Now it is
used as a 'barn' to store hay and a storage shed. There are no
known address to this property. Just a 'no trespassing' sign.
The weather been cold, then hot, then cold again, and I didn't
get a chance to snoop and ask around. Who knows, just buy me a
box or three of pop tarts, and a portapotty and camp out? ;)

    Anyways, I think I got some good leads, just need the right
time off to go follow up. Thanks!

Shalom,

Michael D. Lucas
76531

--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "don_l_kirk" <don_l_kirk@...>
wrote:
>
> Don't know about this city/county, but in most cities and counties, you can go
into the planning and look on maps for a parcel #.  Then go into the property
tax dept. and look up the tax records for the property.  It will give the name
and address of the owner (and the parcel in question).  I work for a nonprofit
that buys old theatres and restores them.  I often have to do this look-up to
find out who owns the property we want.  I hope this helps.
>
> Don
>
> --- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Michael L"
<lawnmowermantx@> wrote:
> >
> > Dear David and Steve,
> >
> >    Then again, I'll risk going out there, and snoop around. Lately
> > the weather changes from 20 degrees, freezing rain, sleet, to 70 degrees
kicking my tuchus!
> >
> > Shalom,
> > Michael D. Lucas
> > 76531
> >
> >
> > --- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "David K. Wheeler"
<davidkwheeler@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
http://treasuredigger.net/pages/How-to-Use-the-Assessor%E2%80%99s-Office-to-Loca\
te-Property-Ownership.html
> > >
> > > http://www.ehow.com/how_5017025_determine-property-ownership.html
> > >
> > > David K. Wheeler
> > >
> > > On 2/10/2012 6:23 PM, xocboy2001 wrote:
> > > > Lessee, Cotton Belt was last railroad thru there, which was S.P., now
U.P., wonder if they'd be any help?I'm only seeing trail of your efforts here,
mostly dialogue OTHER than opening quest.
> > > >
> > > > --- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Michael
L"<lawnmowermantx@>  wrote:
> > > >> Dear Group,
> > > >>
> > > >>     That's some great places to start! The Chamber Of Commerce if I
> > > >> understand it correctly is to 'sell' the local area for 'commerce' and
> > > >> business? This being private property, on private land, in a town that
> > > >> almost became a town (The town of Ireland, TX had a Platte but never
> > > >> was developed for 'unknown' and 'unofficial' reasons. :(  The churches
> > > >> there in Ireland, TX are now converted to private homes, and what would
have been streets and cross roads are now empty lots of land.
> > > >>
> > > >>      Although, I'm half way through my vacation, and got to prepare for
my upcoming qualifications and physical agility test. I got to practice target
shooting, and working out. I hope the pics I sent will suffice, yet I hope to
find the owner of the Depot. That person is sure is lucky because the wild-grass
fires of last year was threatening the depot!
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks Everyone,
> > > >>
> > > >> Shalom,
> > > >>
> > > >> Michael D. Lucas
> > > >> 76531
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
>

I live in southwest Louisiana (Beauregard Parish) and I'm
researching the railroads that operate through Beauregard Parish and the
surrounding area.



1. DeRidder Branch Lake Charles to DeRidder (Lake Charles & Northern and
Texas & New Orleans which became total Southern Pacific.),

2. The Missouri Pacific: DeQuincy Division (Gulf Coast Lines) DeQuincy
to Kinder,

3. Texas line through Merryville Louisiana to DeRidder and on to Oakdale
Louisiana.

        A. Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe, later the line was taken over by
Santa Fe, then when the BNSF merger went through the line was sold to
Timber Rock a WATCO.

4. Kansas City Southern Route from DeRidder to DeQuincy including the
Lake Charles Sub-Division.

5. Kansas City Southern line from DeQuincy to Texas state line in which
Missouri Pacific had Trackage rights



Looking for information in regards to the data provided above the
following

1. Track charts,

              Kansas City Southern

              Missouri Pacific

              Lake Charles Northern (Texas & New Orleans DeRidder Branch

              Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe

              Santa Fe

2. Photos and plans for the Missouri Pacific Railroad facility in
DeQuincy La.
3. Crossing (Diamond) Missouri Pacific RR crossing  LC&N (T&NO) that was
located in Fulton La. (Fulton La. between DeQuincy and Kinder La.)

   Thanks for any assistance that can be provided
Glen Mears Sr.







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Texas Pacifico Transportation Ltd. (reporting mark TXPF) is a railroad operating
company in West Texas that is owned by Grupo México. The company operates over
the South Orient Rail Line under a lease and operating agreement with the Texas
Department of Transportation and the South Orient Rural Rail Transportation
District. The South Orient Rail Line runs from the Mexican border town of
Presidio, Texas to San Angelo Junction. It was constructed to interchange with
Ferromex at Presidio but the Presidio–Ojinaga International Rail Bridge has not
been operational since a fire damaged it on 29 February 2008. It interchanges
with Union Pacific Railroad at Alpine, Texas, and with BNSF Railway and the Fort
Worth and Western Railroad at San Angelo Junction. The Texas Pacifico company
began service in March 2001. Portions of the line northeast from Presidio are in
such direpair trains travel at five miles an hour. Currently the line has been
renewed as far to the southwest from San Angelo as Barnhart, Texas
In the 1990s, the South Orient Railroad Company wanted to abandon the dormant
railroad, which has one of only eight rail crossings along the U.S.-Mexico
border. The state wanted to preserve the tracks and right of way, so in 1999
legislators appropriated $6 million to the Texas Department of Transportation to
buy the railroad.
In February 2001, TxDoT partnered with Texas Pacifico, a subsidiary of Mexican
mining company Grupo México, to purchase the railroad for $9.5 million. Under
their agreement, TxDoT became the railroad's permanent owner and Texas Pacifico
received a 40-year operating lease.

The state's initial involvement in the preservation of rail lines came about as
the result of an application to abandon the old Kansas City, Mexico & Orient
line (otherwise known as the "South Orient" line) by the Atchinson, Topeka, and
Santa Fe (ATSF). In 1989, the Commission provided a $3 million secured grant to
the South Orient Rural Rail Transportation District towards the purchase from
the ATSF. In return for the grant, TxDOT received the existing right-of-way for
the rail line and a security interest in the installed rails and ties. The rail
district entered into a lease and operating agreement with private investors,
bringing about the formation of the South Orient Railroad Company (SORC).
However, by 1998 SORC filed an abandonment application with the STB. In 1999,
the Texas legislature appropriated $6 million towards the $9.5 million purchase
price of the rail line from SORC. After almost two years of negotiations between
all parties, TxDOT entered into a $3.5 million lease and operating agreement
with Texas Pacifico Transportation (TXPF), securing the balance of the purchase
price. At the same time TxDOT acquired all rights, titles, and interests in the
rail line, thereby ensuring that ownership of the rail infrastructure and
right-of-way would be preserved by the State.
The South Orient line, as one of only seven rail gateways between the United
States and Mexico, has the potential to relieve some of the congestion at other
border crossings through the diversion of rail traffic to the gateway at
Presidio/Ojinaga. The 391-mile long line has had no significant rehabilitation
since the early 1980s. The infrastructure contains rail manufactured between
1915 and 1966, including over 75 miles of jointed 70 pounds-per-yard rail.
Current freight rail infrastructure is constructed of at least 115
pounds-per-yard rail. Increased traffic over the line would contribute to the
rapid deterioration of the infrastructure, and a substantial rehabilitation
program is necessary to sustain operation along the entire line. TXPF has begun
the rehabilitation of the line to improve service and begin operations to the
border, with an initial rehabilitation expenditure of roughly $9 million.
Approximately 68,900 new ties have been purchased and installed at strategic
locations on the line to enable operations along the entire length.

Through this resourceful partnership between TXPF and TxDOT, the state's
ownership of this rail line prevents its abandonment and scrapping of tangible
assets by an operator, protects the State's financial interests, and ensures the
State of Texas' commitment in determining the future of this vital
transportation corridor. In February 2004, TxDOT received a U.S. Congressional
earmark in the Omnibus Transportation Act of $5.5 million for further
rehabilitation of the infrastructure. TxDOT is administering the expenditure of
these funds; which includes the installation of approximately 34,700 ties
between Alpine and Presidio on the mainline to increase train speeds, the
improvement of two grade crossings in the city of Fort Stockton, and the
rehabilitation of the Fort Stockton rail yard to enable economic development
there. TxDOT has identified approximately $70 million in infrastructure needs on
the line, and continues oversight and monitoring of the lease agreement and
operations over the line.

Click on the link to see the up date on the line.

ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/rail/south_orient/final_report_082310.p\
df

Don't forget to turn your clocks forward tomorrow. Its daylight savings time and
the days are longer again. Where did winter go?

Sharon Deckard

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Larry,

   Awesome work! Rails from 1911? Those should be put in a musuem,
along with other artifacts. I hadn't got around to finding the
owner of the Railroad Depot, there is one lead to look into, or a
direct contact to the property. Lately it has been raining, tornado
watches, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, and other bad weather
kept me in home, as I may come down with some flu bug. :P  My Dad
got sick, now I'm getting sick... :P I also been tinkering with my
back up car. I really don't want to get out in this bad weather,
which true to form, falls on my days off! LOL. Sunny weather when I
am at work!! UGH!! Please forgive me, for not contacting sooner. :(

Shalom,

Michael D. Lucas

(Oh yes, I did try to go to the San Angelo Junction, on some older
maps, it was abandoned in 1963.) Turns out, the roads show it going
there on an older map, but in reality, it is blocked off on
private land. Local residents state, some land owner bought the
property, and fenced off access. The 'road' is now a small one lane,
wagon rutted road. I almost blew my tires out there, cacti, and some
sharp pointed brush grow close on the road. A new looking pad lock
and a security bar gate, adorn the entrance. Poaching and game
hunters took advantage of the vastness of the area, prompted the
area to be blocked off.  These are some articles about San Angelo
Junction, TX. It's off of U.S. 283. Gas prices now in Hamilton, and
in Hico vary from 3.72 to 3.75 a gallon.

  Larry, I hope you aren't upset or mad at me, for not being able to
contact the owner(s) of the Ireland Depot? :( I feel horrible, and
frustrated, I don't know everyone well, and was afraid others would
not help me. :(

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hvs15

http://www.hillcountrycurrent.com/san-angelo-junction-tx/

http://texas.hometownlocator.com/tx/coleman/san-angelo-junction.cfm


Shalom,
Michael D. Lucas
76531


--- In abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com, "Larry" <hornfroglooking@...>
wrote:
>
> Texas Pacifico Transportation Ltd. (reporting mark TXPF) is a railroad
operating company in West Texas that is owned by Grupo México. The company
operates over the South Orient Rail Line under a lease and operating agreement
with the Texas Department of Transportation and the South Orient Rural Rail
Transportation District. The South Orient Rail Line runs from the Mexican border
town of Presidio, Texas to San Angelo Junction. It was constructed to
interchange with Ferromex at Presidio but the Presidio–Ojinaga International
Rail Bridge has not been operational since a fire damaged it on 29 February
2008. It interchanges with Union Pacific Railroad at Alpine, Texas, and with
BNSF Railway and the Fort Worth and Western Railroad at San Angelo Junction. The
Texas Pacifico company began service in March 2001. Portions of the line
northeast from Presidio are in such direpair trains travel at five miles an
hour. Currently the line has been renewed as far to the southwest from San
Angelo as Barnhart, Texas
> In the 1990s, the South Orient Railroad Company wanted to abandon the dormant
railroad, which has one of only eight rail crossings along the U.S.-Mexico
border. The state wanted to preserve the tracks and right of way, so in 1999
legislators appropriated $6 million to the Texas Department of Transportation to
buy the railroad.
> In February 2001, TxDoT partnered with Texas Pacifico, a subsidiary of Mexican
mining company Grupo México, to purchase the railroad for $9.5 million. Under
their agreement, TxDoT became the railroad's permanent owner and Texas Pacifico
received a 40-year operating lease.
>
> The state's initial involvement in the preservation of rail lines came about
as the result of an application to abandon the old Kansas City, Mexico & Orient
line (otherwise known as the "South Orient" line) by the Atchinson, Topeka, and
Santa Fe (ATSF). In 1989, the Commission provided a $3 million secured grant to
the South Orient Rural Rail Transportation District towards the purchase from
the ATSF. In return for the grant, TxDOT received the existing right-of-way for
the rail line and a security interest in the installed rails and ties. The rail
district entered into a lease and operating agreement with private investors,
bringing about the formation of the South Orient Railroad Company (SORC).
However, by 1998 SORC filed an abandonment application with the STB. In 1999,
the Texas legislature appropriated $6 million towards the $9.5 million purchase
price of the rail line from SORC. After almost two years of negotiations between
all parties, TxDOT entered into a $3.5 million lease and operating agreement
with Texas Pacifico Transportation (TXPF), securing the balance of the purchase
price. At the same time TxDOT acquired all rights, titles, and interests in the
rail line, thereby ensuring that ownership of the rail infrastructure and
right-of-way would be preserved by the State.
> The South Orient line, as one of only seven rail gateways between the United
States and Mexico, has the potential to relieve some of the congestion at other
border crossings through the diversion of rail traffic to the gateway at
Presidio/Ojinaga. The 391-mile long line has had no significant rehabilitation
since the early 1980s. The infrastructure contains rail manufactured between
1915 and 1966, including over 75 miles of jointed 70 pounds-per-yard rail.
Current freight rail infrastructure is constructed of at least 115
pounds-per-yard rail. Increased traffic over the line would contribute to the
rapid deterioration of the infrastructure, and a substantial rehabilitation
program is necessary to sustain operation along the entire line. TXPF has begun
the rehabilitation of the line to improve service and begin operations to the
border, with an initial rehabilitation expenditure of roughly $9 million.
Approximately 68,900 new ties have been purchased and installed at strategic
locations on the line to enable operations along the entire length.
>
> Through this resourceful partnership between TXPF and TxDOT, the state's
ownership of this rail line prevents its abandonment and scrapping of tangible
assets by an operator, protects the State's financial interests, and ensures the
State of Texas' commitment in determining the future of this vital
transportation corridor. In February 2004, TxDOT received a U.S. Congressional
earmark in the Omnibus Transportation Act of $5.5 million for further
rehabilitation of the infrastructure. TxDOT is administering the expenditure of
these funds; which includes the installation of approximately 34,700 ties
between Alpine and Presidio on the mainline to increase train speeds, the
improvement of two grade crossings in the city of Fort Stockton, and the
rehabilitation of the Fort Stockton rail yard to enable economic development
there. TxDOT has identified approximately $70 million in infrastructure needs on
the line, and continues oversight and monitoring of the lease agreement and
operations over the line.
>
> Click on the link to see the up date on the line.
>
>
ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/rail/south_orient/final_report_082310.p\
df
>

Dear Group,


Personal Reflections and Personal Opinion inside the bracket lines.
______________________________________________________________________
It appears in my preliminary report, I was mistaken. In the 1930's a
railroad bridge did exist at the same this this bridge was in use.

According to the Texas Escapes and other local accounts, a flood in 1936,
destroyed the railroad bridge over the Colorado River. However
it is hard to ascertain any information of the bridge over the river
from Brownwood to Brady, TX. It would seem, if the bridge did exist,
and the railroad company 'lost' a bridge during the flood season of
the Colorado River, it would be safe to assume, the old original
track route from Brownwood to Brady went due South, through the old
ghost town of Rochelle, TX and wound its way parallel to U.S. 190 to
what is now the Gulf, Colorado, and San Saba Railroad. Which in more
recent years past 1959, a bypass was made, and all remains of the
railroad between Brownwood, TX to Brady via along U.S. 377 are on
private land, dismantled, and any bridge, trestle remains also have
been long since destroyed.

Railroad traffic has slowed down considerably and before long the
Gulf, Colorado, and San Saba might be shut down permanently. From the
time I took the photos of the tracks, and current economic crisis, I
feel (I hope I am wrong) G.C.SS.RR will be non existent, and sold
for scrap to cover any debts? Don't quote me, talk to the owners..
______________________________________________________________________

Also known as the Winchell Bridge

Text Taken from the TexasEscapes Site:

The Winchell Bridge is easily seen from Highway 377 as you cross the Colorado
River at Winchell. Connecting McCulloch and Brown counties, this older structure
is distinctive for its triple camelback design. Although it was removed from
service in 1987, its graceful lines are worth a glance upriver to admire it.

Completed in 1932 by the Austin Bridge Co., the bridge narrowly survived the
record high flood of 1936, which washed out the nearby railroad bridge. Designed
with three through truss camelback structures, the center truss measures 200' in
length and each end truss is 110'. Including the approaches, the total length
was originally 848.2 feet.

This bridge was condemned in 1987 and a new concrete bridge was built next to
it. Brown and McCulloch Counties signed a joint maintenance resolution at that
time, each county being responsible for repairs to their half, including removal
of tall vegetation under the bridge and spot painting to protect bridge joints
and cover graffiti. To prevent access to the old structure, about 60 feet of
approach was removed from each end.

Location:
Latitude: 31.4680
Longitude: -99.1622

http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasBridges/Winchell-Bridge-Colorado-River-Texas.ht\
m

http://www.pbase.com/photos_by_moon/us337brown_mcculloch

Dear Group,

    This is the history of railroad service in Brown County, in
Brownwood, TX to its surrounding communities. It's official, rail
service existed beyond 1936's record flood. Only now, is to find the trestle
remains, or bridge supports to record where the track originally went. G-d only
knows. :P  Shalom.

http://browncountyhistory.org/passenger_trains.html

Railroad Passenger Service
In Brown County

Passenger service to Brownwood came with the first train into Brownwood on
December 31, 1885 by the Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe Railway. The first passenger
was Dr. James Johnson.  There was daily service between Brownwood and Lampasas. 
The Fort Worth & Rio Grande completed its tracks from Fort Worth to Brownwood on
July 1, 1891.

Later, as the rail lines were extended, passenger service went to and from the
towns of Coleman, Ballinger, Brady, Menard, May, San Angelo, Temple and Fort
Worth.  At one time Brownwood was served by fifteen passenger trains a day.

Ballinger, Coleman and Brownwood

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway opened their new track to Coleman and
Ballinger on April 1, 1886.  Passenger service was immediately started between
Brownwood and those two communities when the line was placed in operation on
August 1, 1886.

Fort Worth and Brownwood

The first passenger train, of the Fort Worth & Rio Grande Railway Company, left
Fort Worth on July 18, 1891 and arrived in Brownwood at 9:30 pm.  Passenger
service from Fort Worth continued in one form or another until July 1968.

Menard and Brownwood

The Frisco completed an extension of its railroad line from Brownwood and Brady
on March 11, 1903.  Several years later, the Frisco extended the tracks from
Brady to Menard on February 25, 1911, and started passenger service to that
town.  In 1920, a new schedule for Train #5 between Fort Worth and Menard showed
the train leaving at 11:35 p.m. and arriving in Brownwood at 7:15 a.m.  The
Brownwood train would depart at 8:45 a.m. and arrived in Fort Worth at 2:20 p.m.
Trains #81 & #82 went from Brownwood to Menard up until passenger service was
discontinued on April 30, 1954.

May and Brownwood

The first passenger train, on the North & South line of the Frisco, between
Brownwood and May was a six coach train carrying some 500 Brownwood boosters to
May on January 1, 1912.  May celebrated the completion of the line by having a
mock hanging of a man who had dared to doubt that May would ever get the
railroad.  Passenger service continued until around 1924-1925.   The railroad to
May was abandoned in 1927.

Other Passenger Trains

There was train service from Temple to Brownwood on trains #73 & 74 until late
in 1956.

During World War II troop trains travel to and through Brownwood.  The Red
Cross, upon notified when a troop train was going to stop in Brownwood, would
provide sandwiches, drinks and cookies for the men on the train.  Troop trains
also brought several thousand German Prisoners of War to the prison camp at Camp
Bowie.  They would get off the train at the Santa Fe Depot and march to the
prison singing German songs.

Known Named Trains through Brownwood

There were three known named trains that came through Brownwood at one time or
another.  They were the  California Special," the "Texan," and "The Angelo." 
The last passenger train through Brownwood left the Santa Fe Station on July 21,
1968.

The "California Special"

The Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe's new "California Special" service left Galveston
for the first time Sunday morning, February 7, 1915, promptly at 6:30 a.m.  The
"California special sleeper" went to Houston where it was attached to the
special train that had come from New Orleans via the Frisco rails.  Thence the
special went through Temple and Brownwood to Clovis, N. M.  by way of the
Sweetwater.  At Clovis the Texas train connected with the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe special from Kansas City, and thereafter went through straight to San
Francisco. At first, the train operated every other day, but later became a
daily train as more passengers rode the rain.

In 1936, a timetable for Brownwood listed it as train #75 leaving daily from
Brownwood at 7:50 a.m. to arrive in Sweetwater at 10:50 a.m.  Starting in 1938,
the "California Special" provided passengers with through car service to the
West Coast from New Orleans to Clovis, New Mexico where passengers could then
connect to the "Grand Canyon Limited.".

In 1954, the "San Francisco Chief" that ran between Los Angeles and Chicago was
inaugurated. So the schedule was changed so that the "California Special" left
Houston at 6:45 p.m. each night and arrived at Clovis, New Mexico at 10:30 a.m.
that next morning (two hours before the arrival of the Train # 1, the "San
Francisco Chief'," from Chicago to California).  The train, now # 75, left
Brownwood at 2:00 am and arrived in Sweetwater at 4:25 am.

The eastbound "California Special," #76 left Clovis at 4:45 p.m. (one hour after
the arrival of Train #2 of the "San Francisco Chief," California to Chicago),
arriving in Houston at 8:15 a.m. the following morning.  The train #76 made its
12:25-12:50 a.m. in Brownwood.

A person, who rode the "California Special" in 1966, said that it had a full
lunch counter diner and dormitory lounge. During 1968 Santa Fe received
permission to drop ten trains; one of them was the "California Special.  The
train was discontinued on July 18, 1968.  The "San Francisco Chief" itself was
discontinued on April 30, 1971 after seventeen years of operation.

The "Texan"

"The Texan" started as a named passenger train that was Train No. 80 eastbound,
which was applied to the eastbound train from Clovis to Temple, as part or the
"California Special."  This special train started at the same time as the
westbound California Special on February 7, 1915.  About 1954, "The "Texan" name
was dropped in favor of the "California Special."   In 1936, the train left
Sweetwater at 7:45 pm and arrived in Brownwood at 10:30 pm.

"The Angelo"

"The Angelo" was a new named train between Dallas...Ft. Worth and San Angelo
began November 13, 1931. It ran to and from San Angelo and from San Angelo to
Fort Worth daily. Train No.77 was the east bound train and Train No. 78 was the
westbound train.  It arrived in Brownwood at 8:30 a.m., having left Dallas at
9:30 p.m. the previous night.  Some cars from "The Angelo" were switched on to
the "California Special" at Brownwood providing through service from Dallas to
California.  It then continued on to San Angelo.  It then left San Angelo a 8:30
p.m. that night and arrived back in Dallas at 8:30 a.m. the next morning.

The train carried a diner and lounge.  In the late 50's two Alco 51 Class
locomotives would bring the Fort Worth and Dallas train #77 to Brownwood, while
two more of the class diesels would bring train #46 up from Houston.  At
Brownwood, three of the units would couple to train #75 to Clovis, New Mexico,
while the third diesel could take the heavyweight stub on to San Angelo.

By 1942 the train was leaving Dallas at 10:00 p.m. and arriving in Brownwood at
4:00 a.m. in the morning and in San Angelo by 8:55 a.m.

As one person remembered, the train consisted of five cars including the
Pullman.  Towards the last, it was reduced to three cars.  It always had a
baggage-PRO and at least a baggage-express car plus the passenger equipment. In
June 1965, service on the 94-mile stretch between Brownwood and San Angelo was
ended and the rest of the route became "freight only" in July 1968.  Note that
the "California Special" and "The Angelo" all stopped in Brownwood in the middle
of the night.

Special Trains

There were, from time to time, several special trains that came through
Brownwood or originated in Brownwood.  Here are a few that we know about.

Four Different Special Boy Scout Jamboree Trains

On Thursday, June 24, 1937, twenty-five Boy Scouts entrained for Washington at
12:30 a.m. from Brownwood.  The troop traveled in a special car on the regular
Santa Fe train from Brownwood to Fort Worth, where it was attached to a special
Jamboree train at 3:30 p.m. to Washington. Other cars on the special train out
of Fort Worth had Boy Scout troops from Abilene, Lubbock, Sweetwater, San
Angelo, Fort Worth and finally Texarkana.  They arrived in Washington Saturday,
June 26, and returned to Brownwood on July 12, 1937.

Again, on Saturday, June 24, 1950, seventy Boy Scouts and Scouters boarded a
special Santa Fe passenger train at 1:45 a.m. for Fort Worth.  Several cars of
the train were then hooked to a larger special to the National Scout Jamboree in
Valley Forge, PA., which included a total of 22 cars.  The special out of
Brownwood also included Boy Scout groups from Lubbock and San Angelo.  Their
cars were added to the special out of Brownwood. They arrived in Washington, D.
C. 8 hours late.  They took a steam engine train to Chicago, and then out of
Chicago a diesel engine took them to Pittsburgh, PA where a steam engine added
on in front of the diesel to get them over the Allegheny Mountains.  From
Harrisburg, Penn. They took an electric engine into Washington, C. C., via
Baltimore, Md.

On Saturday, July 24, 1953, 1:45 a.m., Boy Scouts and Scouters boarded a special
Santa Fe train for Fort Worth where additional units were attached to the train
for its trip to the National Jamboree at Valley Forge, PA.  Regular Santa Fe
trains, arriving form San Angelo and Lubbock after midnight, switch cars to the
local Scout special.  They arrived in Fort Worth at 6:15 a.m., Saturday, where
additional cars were added.  Another car was picked up at Ardmore, OK at 9:45
a.m.  Another section was attached to the special at Newton, Kansas at 6:15 p.m.
The special train arrived at Washington, D.C. at 6:30 a.m. Monday, June 26.

Seventy-four Scouts from the Concho Valley Council, San Angelo made the trip to
the 1957 National Jamboree by special train to the event. Special coaches and a
baggage car on the train accommodated the Scouts. Jackie Jones relates that he
went by car from Del Rio to San Angelo to the train station.  He remembers there
being an engine and two passenger cars.  In Brownwood, they joined a delegation
of forty-eight Scouts, Explorers, and leaders of the Comanche Trail Council who
boarded the train at midnight for the fourth annual National Jamboree. The
special train, which made the trip to Valley Forge, was organized in Fort Worth.
Houston-Galveston coaches were added to the train and more cars were added at
St. Louis.  They arrived at Valley Forge at 7 a.m. on a Tuesday, three days
prior to the official opening of the Jamboree on Thursday.  This was the last
time that the Boy Scouts went to a Jamboree by train.

"Texas Aggie Band Special"

On October 6-7, 1961 when the "Texas Aggie Band Special" operated to Lubbock for
a Southwest Conference matchup between cross state rivals Texas A&M and Texas
Tech. This was a 350 piece marching band, with all their band instruments,
including something like two dozen tubas, percussion equipment, uniforms, and
chaperones across the state of Texas.  The train, consisting of a baggage car
and five, 72 seat El Capitan Hi-level chair cars, operated 437 miles to Temple,
Brownwood, Sweetwater and Lubbock as a second section of Train No. 66-75, the
"California Special."

"Football Special"

On September 21, 1962, a twenty-car Santa Fe "Football Special" train ran from
Brownwood to Cleburne for the opening high school game of the season.  The train
traveled to Cleburne via Comanche, Dublin, Stephenville and Cresson.  Each car
carried from 48-66 passengers.  The train left Brownwood Santa Fe passenger
depot at 3:30 p.m. and returned to Brownwood about 1 a.m. in the morning. 
Eighteen of the cars were for passengers, one for baggage and one for
concessions.  The Brownwood Lions Club sponsored the trip and manned the
concession car. During seven hours on the train over 2,500 soft drinks were
consumed.

Sold on the train were 30 boxes of candy; 1,200 sandwiches of 1,300 made; 36
dozen boiled eggs; 88 pounds of hot dog wieners and 120 packages of buns.  Over
900 tickets were sold for the train.  The Brownwood Bulletin published a "Lion
Special Souvenir Edition" on September 21, 1962.  Ten school buses at Cleburne
transported passengers form the cars to the stadium and then back after the
game.  The first group transported from the train to the game was the band,
drill team and cheerleaders.  Brownwood Lions won the game 20-0 under Coach
Gordon Wood.

Locomotives Used in Passenger Trains

Of course, the first locomotives were the old steam ones that were required to
stop often to replenish their water supply in the tender.  This created many new
communities on their route and depots to be serviced by the passenger train. 
They were required at first o stop at least 10 minutes at each community that
had a depot.  Steam locomotives were later replaces by other more cost efficient
means of moving passenger trains.  The Diesel Locomotive was the most
recognized, and still in service today.  But, there was also the gas electric
Motor Cars, know as the "Doodlebug."

Doodlebug

On short runs, when it became too expensive to use steam locomotives, the
railroad used gas electrict Motor Cars (Doodlebugs) which were locomotives that
included in one piece, the locomotive, a freight section, and a passenger
section all in one car.    Doodlebugs were used on trains No. 75 & 76 in1930
that ran to and from San Angelo and Brownwood.   By 1932 the Doodlebugs ran from
Temple to San Angelo.  Apparently that was too long a stretch for the Doodle Bug
as the next year is was from Brownwood to San Angelo only.  By 1934, that was
shorten to run only between Coleman and San Angelo.  Once again, in 1936, the
Doodlebug pulled trains from Temple to Brownwood.  This continued until 1956.

Starting in 1940, the Doodlebug ran trains from Brownwood to and from Menard on
trains No. 81 & 82.  This continued until April 30, 1954, when passenger service
was discontinued between the two communities.

Motor Cars numbered M150 and M151 were eventually discontinued and laid up in
Brownwood at the roundhouse as of November 6, 1959.  They were later scraped.

Diesel Locomotives

A story in the Brownwood Bulletin, February 21, 1949, said "Operation through
Brownwood of Diesel semi-streamlined Santa Fe passenger trains on new, faster
schedules was launched last night with a group of eight Brownwood men on the
inaugural run out of Houston.  Pulled by a 720-ton Diesel locomotive, the
nine-car train left Houston on its inaugural run at 6:50 p.m. Sunday, arriving
in Brownwood at 2:38 a.m. today; one hour and thirty minutes faster than the old
schedule.  On the inaugural run the train was composed of three Pullmans, two
chair cars, one coach, a diner, lounge and baggage car."

09/06/2010

How do ROW's of private property that contain an abandoned short spur get off
the tax maps?  The problem, CSX says the spur is abandoned, but CSX won't put
this in writing? Any thoughts from this esteemed group? Perplexed in NY.




   ----- Original Message -----
   From: M.D. Lucas 76531
   To: abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2012 8:25 AM
   Subject: [Abandoned Railroads of the US] Railroad Passenger Service In Brown
County



   Dear Group,

   This is the history of railroad service in Brown County, in
   Brownwood, TX to its surrounding communities. It's official, rail
   service existed beyond 1936's record flood. Only now, is to find the trestle
remains, or bridge supports to record where the track originally went. G-d only
knows. :P Shalom.

   http://browncountyhistory.org/passenger_trains.html

   Railroad Passenger Service
   In Brown County

   Passenger service to Brownwood came with the first train into Brownwood on
December 31, 1885 by the Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe Railway. The first passenger
was Dr. James Johnson. There was daily service between Brownwood and Lampasas.
The Fort Worth & Rio Grande completed its tracks from Fort Worth to Brownwood on
July 1, 1891.

   Later, as the rail lines were extended, passenger service went to and from the
towns of Coleman, Ballinger, Brady, Menard, May, San Angelo, Temple and Fort
Worth. At one time Brownwood was served by fifteen passenger trains a day.

   Ballinger, Coleman and Brownwood

   The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway opened their new track to Coleman and
Ballinger on April 1, 1886. Passenger service was immediately started between
Brownwood and those two communities when the line was placed in operation on
August 1, 1886.

   Fort Worth and Brownwood

   The first passenger train, of the Fort Worth & Rio Grande Railway Company,
left Fort Worth on July 18, 1891 and arrived in Brownwood at 9:30 pm. Passenger
service from Fort Worth continued in one form or another until July 1968.

   Menard and Brownwood

   The Frisco completed an extension of its railroad line from Brownwood and
Brady on March 11, 1903. Several years later, the Frisco extended the tracks
from Brady to Menard on February 25, 1911, and started passenger service to that
town. In 1920, a new schedule for Train #5 between Fort Worth and Menard showed
the train leaving at 11:35 p.m. and arriving in Brownwood at 7:15 a.m. The
Brownwood train would depart at 8:45 a.m. and arrived in Fort Worth at 2:20 p.m.
Trains #81 & #82 went from Brownwood to Menard up until passenger service was
discontinued on April 30, 1954.

   May and Brownwood

   The first passenger train, on the North & South line of the Frisco, between
Brownwood and May was a six coach train carrying some 500 Brownwood boosters to
May on January 1, 1912. May celebrated the completion of the line by having a
mock hanging of a man who had dared to doubt that May would ever get the
railroad. Passenger service continued until around 1924-1925. The railroad to
May was abandoned in 1927.

   Other Passenger Trains

   There was train service from Temple to Brownwood on trains #73 & 74 until late
in 1956.

   During World War II troop trains travel to and through Brownwood. The Red
Cross, upon notified when a troop train was going to stop in Brownwood, would
provide sandwiches, drinks and cookies for the men on the train. Troop trains
also brought several thousand German Prisoners of War to the prison camp at Camp
Bowie. They would get off the train at the Santa Fe Depot and march to the
prison singing German songs.

   Known Named Trains through Brownwood

   There were three known named trains that came through Brownwood at one time or
another. They were the California Special," the "Texan," and "The Angelo." The
last passenger train through Brownwood left the Santa Fe Station on July 21,
1968.

   The "California Special"

   The Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe's new "California Special" service left
Galveston for the first time Sunday morning, February 7, 1915, promptly at 6:30
a.m. The "California special sleeper" went to Houston where it was attached to
the special train that had come from New Orleans via the Frisco rails. Thence
the special went through Temple and Brownwood to Clovis, N. M. by way of the
Sweetwater. At Clovis the Texas train connected with the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe special from Kansas City, and thereafter went through straight to San
Francisco. At first, the train operated every other day, but later became a
daily train as more passengers rode the rain.

   In 1936, a timetable for Brownwood listed it as train #75 leaving daily from
Brownwood at 7:50 a.m. to arrive in Sweetwater at 10:50 a.m. Starting in 1938,
the "California Special" provided passengers with through car service to the
West Coast from New Orleans to Clovis, New Mexico where passengers could then
connect to the "Grand Canyon Limited.".

   In 1954, the "San Francisco Chief" that ran between Los Angeles and Chicago
was inaugurated. So the schedule was changed so that the "California Special"
left Houston at 6:45 p.m. each night and arrived at Clovis, New Mexico at 10:30
a.m. that next morning (two hours before the arrival of the Train # 1, the "San
Francisco Chief'," from Chicago to California). The train, now # 75, left
Brownwood at 2:00 am and arrived in Sweetwater at 4:25 am.

   The eastbound "California Special," #76 left Clovis at 4:45 p.m. (one hour
after the arrival of Train #2 of the "San Francisco Chief," California to
Chicago), arriving in Houston at 8:15 a.m. the following morning. The train #76
made its 12:25-12:50 a.m. in Brownwood.

   A person, who rode the "California Special" in 1966, said that it had a full
lunch counter diner and dormitory lounge. During 1968 Santa Fe received
permission to drop ten trains; one of them was the "California Special. The
train was discontinued on July 18, 1968. The "San Francisco Chief" itself was
discontinued on April 30, 1971 after seventeen years of operation.

   The "Texan"

   "The Texan" started as a named passenger train that was Train No. 80
eastbound, which was applied to the eastbound train from Clovis to Temple, as
part or the "California Special." This special train started at the same time as
the westbound California Special on February 7, 1915. About 1954, "The "Texan"
name was dropped in favor of the "California Special." In 1936, the train left
Sweetwater at 7:45 pm and arrived in Brownwood at 10:30 pm.

   "The Angelo"

   "The Angelo" was a new named train between Dallas...Ft. Worth and San Angelo
began November 13, 1931. It ran to and from San Angelo and from San Angelo to
Fort Worth daily. Train No.77 was the east bound train and Train No. 78 was the
westbound train. It arrived in Brownwood at 8:30 a.m., having left Dallas at
9:30 p.m. the previous night. Some cars from "The Angelo" were switched on to
the "California Special" at Brownwood providing through service from Dallas to
California. It then continued on to San Angelo. It then left San Angelo a 8:30
p.m. that night and arrived back in Dallas at 8:30 a.m. the next morning.

   The train carried a diner and lounge. In the late 50's two Alco 51 Class
locomotives would bring the Fort Worth and Dallas train #77 to Brownwood, while
two more of the class diesels would bring train #46 up from Houston. At
Brownwood, three of the units would couple to train #75 to Clovis, New Mexico,
while the third diesel could take the heavyweight stub on to San Angelo.

   By 1942 the train was leaving Dallas at 10:00 p.m. and arriving in Brownwood
at 4:00 a.m. in the morning and in San Angelo by 8:55 a.m.

   As one person remembered, the train consisted of five cars including the
Pullman. Towards the last, it was reduced to three cars. It always had a
baggage-PRO and at least a baggage-express car plus the passenger equipment. In
June 1965, service on the 94-mile stretch between Brownwood and San Angelo was
ended and the rest of the route became "freight only" in July 1968. Note that
the "California Special" and "The Angelo" all stopped in Brownwood in the middle
of the night.

   Special Trains

   There were, from time to time, several special trains that came through
Brownwood or originated in Brownwood. Here are a few that we know about.

   Four Different Special Boy Scout Jamboree Trains

   On Thursday, June 24, 1937, twenty-five Boy Scouts entrained for Washington at
12:30 a.m. from Brownwood. The troop traveled in a special car on the regular
Santa Fe train from Brownwood to Fort Worth, where it was attached to a special
Jamboree train at 3:30 p.m. to Washington. Other cars on the special train out
of Fort Worth had Boy Scout troops from Abilene, Lubbock, Sweetwater, San
Angelo, Fort Worth and finally Texarkana. They arrived in Washington Saturday,
June 26, and returned to Brownwood on July 12, 1937.

   Again, on Saturday, June 24, 1950, seventy Boy Scouts and Scouters boarded a
special Santa Fe passenger train at 1:45 a.m. for Fort Worth. Several cars of
the train were then hooked to a larger special to the National Scout Jamboree in
Valley Forge, PA., which included a total of 22 cars. The special out of
Brownwood also included Boy Scout groups from Lubbock and San Angelo. Their cars
were added to the special out of Brownwood. They arrived in Washington, D. C. 8
hours late. They took a steam engine train to Chicago, and then out of Chicago a
diesel engine took them to Pittsburgh, PA where a steam engine added on in front
of the diesel to get them over the Allegheny Mountains. From Harrisburg, Penn.
They took an electric engine into Washington, C. C., via Baltimore, Md.

   On Saturday, July 24, 1953, 1:45 a.m., Boy Scouts and Scouters boarded a
special Santa Fe train for Fort Worth where additional units were attached to
the train for its trip to the National Jamboree at Valley Forge, PA. Regular
Santa Fe trains, arriving form San Angelo and Lubbock after midnight, switch
cars to the local Scout special. They arrived in Fort Worth at 6:15 a.m.,
Saturday, where additional cars were added. Another car was picked up at
Ardmore, OK at 9:45 a.m. Another section was attached to the special at Newton,
Kansas at 6:15 p.m. The special train arrived at Washington, D.C. at 6:30 a.m.
Monday, June 26.

   Seventy-four Scouts from the Concho Valley Council, San Angelo made the trip
to the 1957 National Jamboree by special train to the event. Special coaches and
a baggage car on the train accommodated the Scouts. Jackie Jones relates that he
went by car from Del Rio to San Angelo to the train station. He remembers there
being an engine and two passenger cars. In Brownwood, they joined a delegation
of forty-eight Scouts, Explorers, and leaders of the Comanche Trail Council who
boarded the train at midnight for the fourth annual National Jamboree. The
special train, which made the trip to Valley Forge, was organized in Fort Worth.
Houston-Galveston coaches were added to the train and more cars were added at
St. Louis. They arrived at Valley Forge at 7 a.m. on a Tuesday, three days prior
to the official opening of the Jamboree on Thursday. This was the last time that
the Boy Scouts went to a Jamboree by train.

   "Texas Aggie Band Special"

   On October 6-7, 1961 when the "Texas Aggie Band Special" operated to Lubbock
for a Southwest Conference matchup between cross state rivals Texas A&M and
Texas Tech. This was a 350 piece marching band, with all their band instruments,
including something like two dozen tubas, percussion equipment, uniforms, and
chaperones across the state of Texas. The train, consisting of a baggage car and
five, 72 seat El Capitan Hi-level chair cars, operated 437 miles to Temple,
Brownwood, Sweetwater and Lubbock as a second section of Train No. 66-75, the
"California Special."

   "Football Special"

   On September 21, 1962, a twenty-car Santa Fe "Football Special" train ran from
Brownwood to Cleburne for the opening high school game of the season. The train
traveled to Cleburne via Comanche, Dublin, Stephenville and Cresson. Each car
carried from 48-66 passengers. The train left Brownwood Santa Fe passenger depot
at 3:30 p.m. and returned to Brownwood about 1 a.m. in the morning. Eighteen of
the cars were for passengers, one for baggage and one for concessions. The
Brownwood Lions Club sponsored the trip and manned the concession car. During
seven hours on the train over 2,500 soft drinks were consumed.

   Sold on the train were 30 boxes of candy; 1,200 sandwiches of 1,300 made; 36
dozen boiled eggs; 88 pounds of hot dog wieners and 120 packages of buns. Over
900 tickets were sold for the train. The Brownwood Bulletin published a "Lion
Special Souvenir Edition" on September 21, 1962. Ten school buses at Cleburne
transported passengers form the cars to the stadium and then back after the
game. The first group transported from the train to the game was the band, drill
team and cheerleaders. Brownwood Lions won the game 20-0 under Coach Gordon
Wood.

   Locomotives Used in Passenger Trains

   Of course, the first locomotives were the old steam ones that were required to
stop often to replenish their water supply in the tender. This created many new
communities on their route and depots to be serviced by the passenger train.
They were required at first o stop at least 10 minutes at each community that
had a depot. Steam locomotives were later replaces by other more cost efficient
means of moving passenger trains. The Diesel Locomotive was the most recognized,
and still in service today. But, there was also the gas electric Motor Cars,
know as the "Doodlebug."

   Doodlebug

   On short runs, when it became too expensive to use steam locomotives, the
railroad used gas electrict Motor Cars (Doodlebugs) which were locomotives that
included in one piece, the locomotive, a freight section, and a passenger
section all in one car. Doodlebugs were used on trains No. 75 & 76 in1930 that
ran to and from San Angelo and Brownwood. By 1932 the Doodlebugs ran from Temple
to San Angelo. Apparently that was too long a stretch for the Doodle Bug as the
next year is was from Brownwood to San Angelo only. By 1934, that was shorten to
run only between Coleman and San Angelo. Once again, in 1936, the Doodlebug
pulled trains from Temple to Brownwood. This continued until 1956.

   Starting in 1940, the Doodlebug ran trains from Brownwood to and from Menard
on trains No. 81 & 82. This continued until April 30, 1954, when passenger
service was discontinued between the two communities.

   Motor Cars numbered M150 and M151 were eventually discontinued and laid up in
Brownwood at the roundhouse as of November 6, 1959. They were later scraped.

   Diesel Locomotives

   A story in the Brownwood Bulletin, February 21, 1949, said "Operation through
Brownwood of Diesel semi-streamlined Santa Fe passenger trains on new, faster
schedules was launched last night with a group of eight Brownwood men on the
inaugural run out of Houston. Pulled by a 720-ton Diesel locomotive, the
nine-car train left Houston on its inaugural run at 6:50 p.m. Sunday, arriving
in Brownwood at 2:38 a.m. today; one hour and thirty minutes faster than the old
schedule. On the inaugural run the train was composed of three Pullmans, two
chair cars, one coach, a diner, lounge and baggage car."

   09/06/2010





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Maybe they put it in Rail Banking and do not wish to let the general public
know.
Rail banking is the preservation of railroad corridors for possible future rail
use. In 1983, Congress amended the Trails Act to create a program [codified at
16 U.S.C. 1247(d)] to allow rail banking to permit rail corridors that otherwise
would be abandoned to be used as recreational trails on an interim basis. Such
trails are subject to restoration as rail corridors at any point in time. The
Trails Act and the Board's implementing regulations give interested parties the
opportunity to negotiate voluntary agreements for trails on rail rights-of-way
slated for abandonment. A trail sponsor is required to assume responsibility for
trail management, liability in connection with a trail's use, and payment of
property taxes on the right-of-way. In turn, the railroad owning the
right-of-way may salvage its track and discontinue service on the line. If
parties reach a Trails Act agreement, the right-of-way can be used as a trail
until (if ever) a railroad
  decides to restore service over line.

--- On Mon, 4/16/12, Jay Bernhardt <jbernhardt@...> wrote:


From: Jay Bernhardt <jbernhardt@...>
Subject: Re: [Abandoned Railroads of the US] Railroad Passenger Service In Brown
County
To: abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com
Cc: "'Richard Palmer'" <railroad@...>
Date: Monday, April 16, 2012, 7:18 AM



 



How do ROW's of private property that contain an abandoned short spur get off
the tax maps? The problem, CSX says the spur is abandoned, but CSX won't put
this in writing? Any thoughts from this esteemed group? Perplexed in NY.

----- Original Message -----
From: M.D. Lucas 76531
To: abandonedrailroadsoftheus@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2012 8:25 AM
Subject: [Abandoned Railroads of the US] Railroad Passenger Service In Brown
County

Dear Group,

This is the history of railroad service in Brown County, in
Brownwood, TX to its surrounding communities. It's official, rail
service existed beyond 1936's record flood. Only now, is to find the trestle
remains, or bridge supports to record where the track originally went. G-d only
knows. :P Shalom.

http://browncountyhistory.org/passenger_trains.html

Railroad Passenger Service
In Brown County

Passenger service to Brownwood came with the first train into Brownwood on
December 31, 1885 by the Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe Railway. The first passenger
was Dr. James Johnson. There was daily service between Brownwood and Lampasas.
The Fort Worth & Rio Grande completed its tracks from Fort Worth to Brownwood on
July 1, 1891.

Later, as the rail lines were extended, passenger service went to and from the
towns of Coleman, Ballinger, Brady, Menard, May, San Angelo, Temple and Fort
Worth. At one time Brownwood was served by fifteen passenger trains a day.

Ballinger, Coleman and Brownwood

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway opened their new track to Coleman and
Ballinger on April 1, 1886. Passenger service was immediately started between
Brownwood and those two communities when the line was placed in operation on
August 1, 1886.

Fort Worth and Brownwood

The first passenger train, of the Fort Worth & Rio Grande Railway Company, left
Fort Worth on July 18, 1891 and arrived in Brownwood at 9:30 pm. Passenger
service from Fort Worth continued in one form or another until July 1968.

Menard and Brownwood

The Frisco completed an extension of its railroad line from Brownwood and Brady
on March 11, 1903. Several years later, the Frisco extended the tracks from
Brady to Menard on February 25, 1911, and started passenger service to that
town. In 1920, a new schedule for Train #5 between Fort Worth and Menard showed
the train leaving at 11:35 p.m. and arriving in Brownwood at 7:15 a.m. The
Brownwood train would depart at 8:45 a.m. and arrived in Fort Worth at 2:20 p.m.
Trains #81 & #82 went from Brownwood to Menard up until passenger service was
discontinued on April 30, 1954.

May and Brownwood

The first passenger train, on the North & South line of the Frisco, between
Brownwood and May was a six coach train carrying some 500 Brownwood boosters to
May on January 1, 1912. May celebrated the completion of the line by having a
mock hanging of a man who had dared to doubt that May would ever get the
railroad. Passenger service continued until around 1924-1925. The railroad to
May was abandoned in 1927.

Other Passenger Trains

There was train service from Temple to Brownwood on trains #73 & 74 until late
in 1956.

During World War II troop trains travel to and through Brownwood. The Red Cross,
upon notified when a troop train was going to stop in Brownwood, would provide
sandwiches, drinks and cookies for the men on the train. Troop trains also
brought several thousand German Prisoners of War to the prison camp at Camp
Bowie. They would get off the train at the Santa Fe Depot and march to the
prison singing German songs.

Known Named Trains through Brownwood

There were three known named trains that came through Brownwood at one time or
another. They were the California Special," the "Texan," and "The Angelo." The
last passenger train through Brownwood left the Santa Fe Station on July 21,
1968.

The "California Special"

The Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe's new "California Special" service left Galveston
for the first time Sunday morning, February 7, 1915, promptly at 6:30 a.m. The
"California special sleeper" went to Houston where it was attached to the
special train that had come from New Orleans via the Frisco rails. Thence the
special went through Temple and Brownwood to Clovis, N. M. by way of the
Sweetwater. At Clovis the Texas train connected with the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe special from Kansas City, and thereafter went through straight to San
Francisco. At first, the train operated every other day, but later became a
daily train as more passengers rode the rain.

In 1936, a timetable for Brownwood listed it as train #75 leaving daily from
Brownwood at 7:50 a.m. to arrive in Sweetwater at 10:50 a.m. Starting in 1938,
the "California Special" provided passengers with through car service to the
West Coast from New Orleans to Clovis, New Mexico where passengers could then
connect to the "Grand Canyon Limited.".

In 1954, the "San Francisco Chief" that ran between Los Angeles and Chicago was
inaugurated. So the schedule was changed so that the "California Special" left
Houston at 6:45 p.m. each night and arrived at Clovis, New Mexico at 10:30 a.m.
that next morning (two hours before the arrival of the Train # 1, the "San
Francisco Chief'," from Chicago to California). The train, now # 75, left
Brownwood at 2:00 am and arrived in Sweetwater at 4:25 am.

The eastbound "California Special," #76 left Clovis at 4:45 p.m. (one hour after
the arrival of Train #2 of the "San Francisco Chief," California to Chicago),
arriving in Houston at 8:15 a.m. the following morning. The train #76 made its
12:25-12:50 a.m. in Brownwood.

A person, who rode the "California Special" in 1966, said that it had a full
lunch counter diner and dormitory lounge. During 1968 Santa Fe received
permission to drop ten trains; one of them was the "California Special. The
train was discontinued on July 18, 1968. The "San Francisco Chief" itself was
discontinued on April 30, 1971 after seventeen years of operation.

The "Texan"

"The Texan" started as a named passenger train that was Train No. 80 eastbound,
which was applied to the eastbound train from Clovis to Temple, as part or the
"California Special." This special train started at the same time as the
westbound California Special on February 7, 1915. About 1954, "The "Texan" name
was dropped in favor of the "California Special." In 1936, the train left
Sweetwater at 7:45 pm and arrived in Brownwood at 10:30 pm.

"The Angelo"

"The Angelo" was a new named train between Dallas...Ft. Worth and San Angelo
began November 13, 1931. It ran to and from San Angelo and from San Angelo to
Fort Worth daily. Train No.77 was the east bound train and Train No. 78 was the
westbound train. It arrived in Brownwood at 8:30 a.m., having left Dallas at
9:30 p.m. the previous night. Some cars from "The Angelo" were switched on to
the "California Special" at Brownwood providing through service from Dallas to
California. It then continued on to San Angelo. It then left San Angelo a 8:30
p.m. that night and arrived back in Dallas at 8:30 a.m. the next morning.

The train carried a diner and lounge. In the late 50's two Alco 51 Class
locomotives would bring the Fort Worth and Dallas train #77 to Brownwood, while
two more of the class diesels would bring train #46 up from Houston. At
Brownwood, three of the units would couple to train #75 to Clovis, New Mexico,
while the third diesel could take the heavyweight stub on to San Angelo.

By 1942 the train was leaving Dallas at 10:00 p.m. and arriving in Brownwood at
4:00 a.m. in the morning and in San Angelo by 8:55 a.m.

As one person remembered, the train consisted of five cars including the
Pullman. Towards the last, it was reduced to three cars. It always had a
baggage-PRO and at least a baggage-express car plus the passenger equipment. In
June 1965, service on the 94-mile stretch between Brownwood and San Angelo was
ended and the rest of the route became "freight only" in July 1968. Note that
the "California Special" and "The Angelo" all stopped in Brownwood in the middle
of the night.

Special Trains

There were, from time to time, several special trains that came through
Brownwood or originated in Brownwood. Here are a few that we know about.

Four Different Special Boy Scout Jamboree Trains

On Thursday, June 24, 1937, twenty-five Boy Scouts entrained for Washington at
12:30 a.m. from Brownwood. The troop traveled in a special car on the regular
Santa Fe train from Brownwood to Fort Worth, where it was attached to a special
Jamboree train at 3:30 p.m. to Washington. Other cars on the special train out
of Fort Worth had Boy Scout troops from Abilene, Lubbock, Sweetwater, San
Angelo, Fort Worth and finally Texarkana. They arrived in Washington Saturday,
June 26, and returned to Brownwood on July 12, 1937.

Again, on Saturday, June 24, 1950, seventy Boy Scouts and Scouters boarded a
special Santa Fe passenger train at 1:45 a.m. for Fort Worth. Several cars of
the train were then hooked to a larger special to the National Scout Jamboree in
Valley Forge, PA., which included a total of 22 cars. The special out of
Brownwood also included Boy Scout groups from Lubbock and San Angelo. Their cars
were added to the special out of Brownwood. They arrived in Washington, D. C. 8
hours late. They took a steam engine train to Chicago, and then out of Chicago a
diesel engine took them to Pittsburgh, PA where a steam engine added on in front
of the diesel to get them over the Allegheny Mountains. From Harrisburg, Penn.
They took an electric engine into Washington, C. C., via Baltimore, Md.

On Saturday, July 24, 1953, 1:45 a.m., Boy Scouts and Scouters boarded a special
Santa Fe train for Fort Worth where additional units were attached to the train
for its trip to the National Jamboree at Valley Forge, PA. Regular Santa Fe
trains, arriving form San Angelo and Lubbock after midnight, switch cars to the
local Scout special. They arrived in Fort Worth at 6:15 a.m., Saturday, where
additional cars were added. Another car was picked up at Ardmore, OK at 9:45
a.m. Another section was attached to the special at Newton, Kansas at 6:15 p.m.
The special train arrived at Washington, D.C. at 6:30 a.m. Monday, June 26.

Seventy-four Scouts from the Concho Valley Council, San Angelo made the trip to
the 1957 National Jamboree by special train to the event. Special coaches and a
baggage car on the train accommodated the Scouts. Jackie Jones relates that he
went by car from Del Rio to San Angelo to the train station. He remembers there
being an engine and two passenger cars. In Brownwood, they joined a delegation
of forty-eight Scouts, Explorers, and leaders of the Comanche Trail Council who
boarded the train at midnight for the fourth annual National Jamboree. The
special train, which made the trip to Valley Forge, was organized in Fort Worth.
Houston-Galveston coaches were added to the train and more cars were added at
St. Louis. They arrived at Valley Forge at 7 a.m. on a Tuesday, three days prior
to the official opening of the Jamboree on Thursday. This was the last time that
the Boy Scouts went to a Jamboree by train.

"Texas Aggie Band Special"

On October 6-7, 1961 when the "Texas Aggie Band Special" operated to Lubbock for
a Southwest Conference matchup between cross state rivals Texas A&M and Texas
Tech. This was a 350 piece marching band, with all their band instruments,
including something like two dozen tubas, percussion equipment, uniforms, and
chaperones across the state of Texas. The train, consisting of a baggage car and
five, 72 seat El Capitan Hi-level chair cars, operated 437 miles to Temple,
Brownwood, Sweetwater and Lubbock as a second section of Train No. 66-75, the
"California Special."

"Football Special"

On September 21, 1962, a twenty-car Santa Fe "Football Special" train ran from
Brownwood to Cleburne for the opening high school game of the season. The train
traveled to Cleburne via Comanche, Dublin, Stephenville and Cresson. Each car
carried from 48-66 passengers. The train left Brownwood Santa Fe passenger depot
at 3:30 p.m. and returned to Brownwood about 1 a.m. in the morning. Eighteen of
the cars were for passengers, one for baggage and one for concessions. The
Brownwood Lions Club sponsored the trip and manned the concession car. During
seven hours on the train over 2,500 soft drinks were consumed.

Sold on the train were 30 boxes of candy; 1,200 sandwiches of 1,300 made; 36
dozen boiled eggs; 88 pounds of hot dog wieners and 120 packages of buns. Over
900 tickets were sold for the train. The Brownwood Bulletin published a "Lion
Special Souvenir Edition" on September 21, 1962. Ten school buses at Cleburne
transported passengers form the cars to the stadium and then back after the
game. The first group transported from the train to the game was the band, drill
team and cheerleaders. Brownwood Lions won the game 20-0 under Coach Gordon
Wood.

Locomotives Used in Passenger Trains

Of course, the first locomotives were the old steam ones that were required to
stop often to replenish their water supply in the tender. This created many new
communities on their route and depots to be serviced by the passenger train.
They were required at first o stop at least 10 minutes at each community that
had a depot. Steam locomotives were later replaces by other more cost efficient
means of moving passenger trains. The Diesel Locomotive was the most recognized,
and still in service today. But, there was also the gas electric Motor Cars,
know as the "Doodlebug."

Doodlebug

On short runs, when it became too expensive to use steam locomotives, the
railroad used gas electrict Motor Cars (Doodlebugs) which were locomotives that
included in one piece, the locomotive, a freight section, and a passenger
section all in one car. Doodlebugs were used on trains No. 75 & 76 in1930 that
ran to and from San Angelo and Brownwood. By 1932 the Doodlebugs ran from Temple
to San Angelo. Apparently that was too long a stretch for the Doodle Bug as the
next year is was from Brownwood to San Angelo only. By 1934, that was shorten to
run only between Coleman and San Angelo. Once again, in 1936, the Doodlebug
pulled trains from Temple to Brownwood. This continued until 1956.

Starting in 1940, the Doodlebug ran trains from Brownwood to and from Menard on
trains No. 81 & 82. This continued until April 30, 1954, when passenger service
was discontinued between the two communities.

Motor Cars numbered M150 and M151 were eventually discontinued and laid up in
Brownwood at the roundhouse as of November 6, 1959. They were later scraped.

Diesel Locomotives

A story in the Brownwood Bulletin, February 21, 1949, said "Operation through
Brownwood of Diesel semi-streamlined Santa Fe passenger trains on new, faster
schedules was launched last night with a group of eight Brownwood men on the
inaugural run out of Houston. Pulled by a 720-ton Diesel locomotive, the
nine-car train left Houston on its inaugural run at 6:50 p.m. Sunday, arriving
in Brownwood at 2:38 a.m. today; one hour and thirty minutes faster than the old
schedule. On the inaugural run the train was composed of three Pullmans, two
chair cars, one coach, a diner, lounge and baggage car."

09/06/2010

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

A number of former main lines still have track and or track and all electronics
in-tact.  If anyone knows of ones that have former rail users still on them,
that might reuse rail service if it's again available, AND if the line might
using historic RDC's become a combination tourist line and commuter line, let me
know.  In the past few years, some cities/counties have gotten permission to
acquire such lines and allow private operators to reopen the lines they
acqauired.

This could be done in many more areas, if people like us join together.

Don