Western Railroad Discussion > Houston Milby Street Action - Earlier This Month

Two images from Milby Street in Houston (now BNSF's locomotive servicing facility). While I'm sure it's not an efficient layout for modern diesels, it sure is a neat piece of old-time railroading.

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Any idea whose facility this was pre-BN? It has a turntable and you can see the outline of a roundhouse. Is it still WABTEC (I see on the gate it says WABTEC) or have they left and it's now all BNSF?

Houston Belt and Terminal, I think...

FiestaFoamer Wrote:
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> Houston Belt and Terminal, I think...

This was indeed the former Houston Belt, and Terminal roundhouse. ATSF, BN/RI road power were all serviced there along with HB&T switch engines.

Thank you. A very compact facility.

I guess they lifted the restriction on six axle engines out there.

Nice photos.

Posted from iPhone

The Milby Street property was owned by ATSF and leased to HB&T. It is still owned by BNSF as is the main track of the HB&T West Belt from T&NO Jct to Union Station, now Minute Maid Park. From Union Station north to Belt Jct the West Belt is owned by UP, formerly IGN. The East Belt Is owned by HB&T which is 50% UP and 50% BNSF.

The restriction prohibiting six axle locomotives at Milby Street was placed there by the former tenant because of track condition, not the track geometry. Those conditions and restrictions were corrected by BNSF when the lease was terminated and BNSF began operating the facility.

Never been a restriction on 6 axle power here. Maybe a certain whisker track, but the facility itself has hosted 6-axle power
beginning with E's and PA's through SD45 and FP45's. After the mid 90's mergers, it wasn't used as a BNSF service facility
until just recently.

Robert Pierce
Sugar Land, TX
SWRails.com

Yes there was. No six axle power was allowed into Milby at all as recently as last year and all other movements were to be made at walking speed.



TexBob Wrote:
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> Never been a restriction on 6 axle power here.
> Maybe a certain whisker track, but the facility
> itself has hosted 6-axle power
> beginning with E's and PA's through SD45 and
> FP45's. After the mid 90's mergers, it wasn't used
> as a BNSF service facility
> until just recently.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/18 22:50 by jointauthority.