Western Railroad Discussion > US 59, UP directional running in Texas

Driving to and from Galveston for our cruise last month we traveled on US 59 both directions between Texarkana and Houston.  We saw a lot of tracks and a surprising number of trains, but being in "mileage mode" made no stops for railfanning (although I did shoot a northbound DPU behind the McDonalds in Jefferson TX).  While on the road I thought we were following the ex-MOP all the way from Poplar Bluff MO to Houston, but subsequent research reveals that we broke away from the MOP at Marshall TX, then later picked up the ex Cotton Belt (I think?) Shreveport line at Tenaha TX.

I feel like the entire route would be worth doing again as a railfan trip.  I don't know if I'll ever get it accomplished, but would anyone knowledgeable about the area care to describe the routes used in UP's directional running scheme to and from Houston for me?  I've never paid much attention to that part of the country before and this trip really exposed my lack of knowledge regarding operations in east Texas.

Thanks,

Andy

You were driving next to the ex Espee between Shreveport and Houston (aka The Rabbit).

Most traffic on this route is westbound towards Houston.

About 60 miles to the west is eastbound track of the ex MOP which sees traffic from Houston
and San Antonio.

About 30 miles to the west of the MOP is ex Cotton Belt which sees mostly westbound traffic to San Antonio and points south and west.