Colmesneil, Texas

Trinity Division - MP 67

Google Map

 

SP Line - Beaumont to Lufkin/Dallas.   In 1900-1903, the Texas & New Orleans built 160 miles of railroad connecting Rockland and the Sabine & East Texas Railroad with the Texas Trunk Railroad, also owned by the T&NO.  This formed a through route between Dallas and Beaumont, although it was never considered an important main line.  Early on, the railroad featured a pair of passenger trains each way, but by the mid 1930's passenger service was an overnight mixed train between Dallas and Beaumont, which for a time, even carried a Pullman sleeper.  This run was scheduled at 13.5 hours, and was usually entrusted to an MK-5 2-8-2, like the 773 in Grapevine, the 786 in Austin and the 745 in New Orleans.  By 1940, the Pullman had been taken off although the mixed train survived into the early 1960's, I think.  In the mid 1980's  the entire line was rebuilt from dirt ballast, jointed 90# rail line to welded rail, 115-121# line for chemical tonnage from Beaumont direct to Dallas and for drop off at the Rabbit Line connection in Nacogdoches to go to Shreveport.   Lack of any local traffic by this time and the SP's desperate financial straits resulted in the abandonment of the line in the early 1990's and by 1995 the rail had been pulled.   -Everett Lueck

The Colmesneil Turntable may have been located in the distant far right... if it existed. On the map above it isn't clear whether the turntable was planned for the future or previously abandoned. However, the lack of any other turning arrangement seems to indicate the turntable likely existed. No evidence either way has yet been located.

Not sure what this was, but it's on the ROW and sure looks like it has a railroad heritage.

The front half of this structure is likely the Colmesneil Depot. We can't be sure, but it certainly looks like a depot and is in exactly the right location for it. Someday, perhaps we'll locate photographic evidence to support this ascertain.

Another view of the Depot

This is the former Southern Pacific line in Colmesneil, looking north.

Remnants of ties just off the SP ROW

Looking south along the SP ROW

Base for Crossing Guard Lights

Another base for Crossing Guard Lights

East of Colmesneil / Billiams Creek