Western Railroad Discussion > Question About Baytown Loop In the Houston Area

Can anyone explain the history of the Baytown Loop in the Houston Area? It's history, operations, etc.

Thanks.

rantoul Wrote:
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> Not sure of your question, a sort of a loop in
> Baytown....
>
> Early 1990's UP via a MP line sought access to
> Exxon Mobil plant, assembled the right of way but
> never built the trackage because UP's mid 1990's
> purchase of SP provided the access being sought by
> the MP line expansion.  The planned MP expansion
> in combination with today's 3 sides would have
> created a loop (of tracks).

Thanks...I'm trying to figure out portions of the BayPort loop as well. I'll post that as a seperate question. I'm a bit confused between reference to Bayport and Baytown loop

I work out of Strang..also cover Coady & Dayton…the Bayport Loop is south of Strang and Coady & Dayton are on the Baytown Branch/Loop

Posted from iPhone

The Baytown (TX) "Loop" did not exist until the UP-SP merger.  After the merger, a connection was built between the former MP Baytown Branch and the former SP Baytown Branch where the branches crossed inside the Exxon Baytown chemical plant.   The UP Baytown Branch was built as the Houston-North Shore Railway in 1927, which became a Mopac property and then later UP.  The SP Baytown Branch was built as the Dayton-Goose Creek Railway in 1918.  I am happy to take a deeper dive (if interested) into the history and operations with some maps, but it will have to be this weekend.  It can be a big subject, and even bigger if we include the branches off both lines to the US Steel Baytown plant.

Ted Ferkenhoff
Flagstaff, AZ

tferk Wrote:
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> The Baytown (TX) "Loop" did not exist until the
> UP-SP merger.  After the merger, a connection was
> built between the former MP Baytown Branch and the
> former SP Baytown Branch where the branches
> crossed inside the Exxon Baytown chemical plant. 
>  The UP Baytown Branch was built as the
> Houston-North Shore Railway in 1927, which became
> a Mopac property and then later UP.  The SP
> Baytown Branch was built as the Dayton-Goose Creek
> Railway in 1918.  I am happy to take a deeper
> dive (if interested) into the history and
> operations with some maps, but it will have to be
> this weekend.  It can be a big subject, and even
> bigger if we include the branches off both lines
> to the US Steel Baytown plant.

Bring it on.

Thanks