Railroad and Important Events Timeline

This timeline covers early history of railroading in the Fort Bend County and Houston areas. It just so happens that railroading in Texas started here.

Date

Railroad

Event

1820s

Samuel M. Williams is granted a large plot of land by Stephen F. Austin. Williams ("Williams Trace" is named for him) calls the area, which includes most of modern-day Sugar Land, "Oakland Plantation" due to abundant variety of oak trees. Eventually Williams discovers that sugar cane grows well in this area and establishes a sugar refining business. Other plantations in the area adapt sugar cane as a primary crop.

1836

The battle of the Alamo is fought. Texas wins independence at the later Battle of San Jacinto (very close to Harrisburg). The Republic of Texas is formed.

1836

First railroad is chartered by the Republic of Texas to the "Texas Rail-Road, Navigation and Banking Company". No track is laid, however.

1838

The 2nd railroad -- "Brazos and Galveston Railroad Company" -- is chartered and regulated by Texas law. But no railroad construction work happens.

1839

The name of "Harrisburg" County is shortened to "Harris" -- a county that Houston will grow to fill in it's entirety

1841

The Harrisburg Railroad and Trading Company is chartered, with Andrew Briscoe ("the father of Texas railroads") of Harrisburg at the helm. Performs 2 miles of grading, but no track is laid.

1842

Mexican Army invades and captures San Antonio (briefly).

1846

Texas joins the United States.

1849

Benjamin Franklin Terry and William Jefferson Kyle, residents of Brazoria, Texas, head to the California gold rush and strike it rich.

1850

BBB&C

The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado railroad, led by General Sidney Sherman (a leader from the Texas fight for independence), is chartered. It proceeds to buy all the property of the Harrisburg Railroad and Trading Company, plus most of Harrisburg.

1851

BBB&C

Construction of a real railroad begins! Modern standard gauge rail is chosen by Chief Engineer John A Williams from Boston -- 25 years before it became standard.

1852

Kyle and Terry return to Texas and purchase Oakland Plantation -- now a sugar cane plantation and refinery -- then rename it to "Sugar Land".

1852

BBB&C

The BBB&C contracts with Kyle and Terry to build the extension of the railroad westward from Houston.

Sep. 1, 1853

BBB&C

The first train ("General Sherman") in Texas runs from Harrisburg to Stafford (Point), a trip of about 20 miles length

1853

GH&H

The Galveston, Houston and Henderson railroad is chartered. Construction is completed from Houston to Virginia Point (across the bay from Galveston). Some of this activity apparently was performed under the name "Galveston, Houston & Red River Railroad".

1853

BBB&C

Kyle and Terry buy up land to ensure the BBB&C rails must route through Sugar Land in the link between Stafford and Richmond. This is the reason for the big "S" curve in the rail path at Stafford and Sugar Land.

1855

BBB&C

The eastern bank of the Brazos River (across from Richmond) is reached. A river-level floating bridge is installed due to the extremely high costs of other options. It becomes the first "E-ticket ride" in Texas.

1856

The Houston Tap Railway is begun with the goal to prevent all rail traffic from bypassing Houston going directly to Harrisburg on the BBB&C.

1856

HT&B

The Houston Tap and Brazoria Railway Company was chartered on September 1, 1856, to run from Houston to Columbia in Brazoria County. The HT&B takes over the HT.

1857

GH&H

Construction of bridge across Galveston Bay is started.

1859

BBB&C

Construction reaches the San Bernard River.

1860

BBB&C

Construction reaches Alleyton on the Colorado River.

1860

HT&B

The HT&B reaches East Columbia after passing through east Fort Bend County. Already has been tagged with the nickname "The Sugar Road", due to its service to the many sugar plantations in Brazoria County.

1860

GH&H

First train crosses Galveston Bay bridge.

1861

GH&H

The Civil War starts, and Texas generally aligns with the Confederacy. The GH&H railroad is used in the defense of Galveston.

1866

H&GN

Houston and Great Northern was chartered.

1867

BBB&C

Reaches west to Columbus by linking to the Columbus Tap Railway.

1867

BBB&C

Sold by the Harris County sheriff to "satisfy various judgments against the railroad", evidently caused by lack of repairs and income due to the Civil War. Bought by William M. Sledge, one of the contractors who helped build it

1867

GH&H

A yellow fever outbreak in Galveston causes Houston to blockade all railroad traffic from and to Galveston. Ships begin to go upriver to Houston to deliver and receive cargo, thereby bypassing Galveston. This scenario recurs several times in the subsequent years.

1869

HT&B

On February 6, 1869, it was bought at a sheriff's sale.

1869

BBB&C

A high bridge is built across the Brazos River at Richmond, after a few too many locomotives, boxcars and passengers are dunked in the river while using the low bridge.

1870

BBB&C

Mr. Sledge sells the BBB&C to Thomas W. Peirce and associates in January, 1870

1870

GH&SA

The BBB&C changes its name to the Galveston, Houston and San Antonio.

1873

GH&SA

Construction westward toward San Antonio is begun.

1873

GC&SF

The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railroad is chartered to link Galveston to the emerging national rail system while bypassing Houston.

1873

HT&B

Houston Tap and Brazoria was merged into the Houston and Great Northern.

1873

I&GN

The International and Great Northern Railroad was formed by the consolidation of the International Railroad Company and the Houston and Great Northern Railroad

1874

GH&SA

The railroad establishes the town of Schulenberg, Texas as a stop along the route to San Antonio.

1874

GH&SA

The railroad's East-West line is commonly called the "Sunset Route" -- a name that will stick through time and mergers.

1875

GC&SF

Construction begins.

1875

TW(ng)

The name of one of the "Texas Western Railway" companies (there were 3) is changed to the Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railway Company; it will build west from Houston.

1876

TW(ng)

The TW(ng) builds though extreme north Fort Bend County.

1877

GH&SA

Track reaches San Antonio.

1877

GC&SF

The railroad reaches Arcola in southeast Fort Bend County.

1877

TW(ng)

The TW(ng) reaches Pattison in Waller County, and freight traffic begins.

1878

GH&SA, SP

Peirce, representing the GH&SA, and Huntington, representing the Central Pacific (eventually to become the SP) companies, agree to cooperate on a link through west Texas.

1878

GC&SF

The company completes an iron bridge 480 feet long over the Brazos River

1879

GC&SF

The GC&SF approaches Richmond but diverts around and establishes Rosenberg as a way station instead.

1879

I&GN

Reaches Galveston through part ownership of the GH&H.

1880

GH&SA, SP

Construction of the GH&SA/SP link through west Texas begins.

1881

GC&SF

The GC&SF reaches Fort Worth, Texas.

1882

NYTM

The New York, Texas and Mexican Railway completes the link between Rosenberg and Victoria. This link is nicknamed the "Macaroni Line". At first poorly built, this link will be upgraded by the SP and become a major thoroughfare, still carrying a lot of rail traffic today.

1883

GH&SA, SP

These railroads meet and join in west Texas at the Pecos River.

Feb. 6, 1883

GH&SA, SP

The first train from New Orleans to San Francisco arrives at San Antonio. It passed through Sugar Land the day before.

1883

GH&H

GH&H is purchased by the MKT.

1884

GH&SA

Members of the Central Pacific buy up GH&SA stock and gain a controlling interest; from hereon the GH&SA is a subsidiary of the Central Pacific, which evolves into the Southern Pacific (SP).

1884

SA&AP

The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway Company was chartered on August 28, 1884, to connect San Antonio with Aransas Bay, a distance of 135 miles

1885

NYTM, SP

All interests and holdings of the NYTM are sold to the SP.

1886

ATSF

ATSF establishes an agreement with GC&SF: the ATSF will purchase the GC&SF, but the GC&SF will function as a separate organization.

1888

SA&AP

During the years 1887 and 1888 the SA&AP constructed 176 miles between Kenedy and Houston. It takes a more northerly path through Fort Bend County than the GH&SA Sunset Route, and passes through Fulshear and Simonton.

1890

MKT

MKT (of Texas) passes through Katy on its way to Houston. This seals the fate of the TW(ng) narrow-gauge railroad.

1892

SA&AP

The SA&AP is purchased outright by the SP. By this time, the SA&SP was operating 688 miles of main track, and owned fifty locomotives and 1,388 cars.

1893

The Sugar Land Railroad is chartered to build a link between Sugar Land and the I&GN in Arcola, Texas.

1894

Arcola is reached by 14 miles of track; operation begins.

1900

TW(ng)

Operations ceased in 1896, track is abandoned by 1899, and the last rails are pulled up by 1900.

1903

SA&AP

The Railroad Commission brought suit for forfeiture of the SA&AP charter in order to compel the SP to divest itself of ownership. The SA&AP becomes independent again.

1905

GH&SA

The SP consolidates its many rail lines in this region under the GH&SA.

1907

The Sugar Land plantation is purchased from bankrupt Colonel E. H. Cunningham interests by I. H. Kempner and W. T. Eldridge. Included in this purchase is the Sugar Land Railroad.

1909

The Sugar Land Railway purchases the rail yard in Sugar Land, next to the Imperial Sugar factory, from the GH&SA.

1911

ATSF

The Santa Fe begins construction of the 10-story art deco building in Galveston at 25th and Strand. This building served as the regional Santa Fe headquarters for many years, and now houses the Galveston Railroad Museum

1912

Purchases 17 miles of private track, from mile post 10.74 to Rotchford, from the Cunningham Sugar Company. This yields a shorter connection to the I&GN, and the final 4 miles of track to Arcola is abandoned.

1912

Acquires the Imperial Valley Railway Company running five miles from Sugar Land to Cabell (now the site of a State prison along Hwy 99), along with five miles of other tracks

1916

6 miles of track laid between Otey and Anchor

1918

GH&SA

The GH&SA builds from Rosenberg through Needville, in south Fort Bend County and stops at Guy.

1924

I&GN

The MP buys the I&GN through the New Orleans, Texas and Mexico Railway Company (NOTM)

1925

SA&AP

The Interstate Commerce Commission authorized the SP to regain control of the SA&AP, and the company was leased to the GH&SA (a SP subsidiary) for operation

1926

SL / NOTM

The Sugar Land Railway was acquired by the New Orleans, Texas and Mexico Railway Company (NOTM) but continued to operate as a separate company.

1929

The stock market crashes and the Great Depression begins.

1931

12 miles of track laid between Cabell and Hickey

1932

21 miles of track between Anchor and House Junction was abandoned

1934

T&NO

The SP changes the name of all of its holding in this region to the Texas and New Orleans; the GH&SA and SA&AP banners are retired.

1936

GC&SF

The date of construction is unclear, but by this date the GC&SF (AT&SF) link between Thompson's and Bay City is in operation.

1942

Track between Cabell and Hickey is abandoned

1951

This is the theme year for the FBMRC Club layout, composed of several NTRAK modules. It is also the near-peak for financial success of railroading in the US, and near the middle of the "transition era" when railroads were converting from steam to diesel power.

1952

3 miles of track between Cabell and Pryor is abandoned

1952

Sugar Land Railway Company reported total earnings of $545,000 and owned seven cars and no locomotives.

1956

SL / I&GN / NOTM / MP

The SL, I&GN and NOTM are consolidated with the re-organized Missouri Pacific Railroad Company and lose all unique identity.

1959

The City of Sugar Land is incorporated -- it is no longer a company town. But it retains the Imperial Sugar crown logo as the city symbol.

1961

T&NO

T&NO is fully absorbed into the SP and loses any unique identity.

1965

GC&SF

The GC&SF was merged into the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company

1970s

SL / MP

All remaining tracks are removed to make room for Williams Trace Road and other components of the expansion of Sugar Land as a residential community. This includes 31 miles of the ex-HT&B/I&GN East Columbia branch, which now terminates at Arcola

1988

MKT

The UP buys the MKT.

1996

The UP buys the SP, including the Sunset Route and all other SP tracks in the Fort Bend County area.

1996

BNSF

The ex-GC&SF bridge across the Brazos River ("Bridge 48.5") is replaced.

2003

All remaining track of the former-SA&AP Bellaire Branch within Houston city limits is torn up to make room for the Westpark Expressway.

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