Steam & Excursion > AFT Confidential 15- Houston TX

15 Houston TX February 19-24

The trip to Houston was all MP which resulted in a kind of funny dog leg routing- the Mopac to Houston isn't quite a straight shot. For the last few miles into Houston we were shadowed by the (a?) Goodyear Blimp! Somebody had the right idea- probably a great vantage point!

We displayed the train at the old Houston Union Station (ATSF, FW&D, CRIP, MP, SP/T&NO, and MKT. Cool!) Amtrak had moved out about 2yrs before we got there, so it was no longer active. Houston Belt & Terminal 31 (in their Bicentennial colors) spotted the train.

Today the station building has been incorporated into the Houston Astros Ballpark and the 610 sat, more or less, on what is now the 3rd baseline!

SR Bush
Dutch Flat


Photo 1. Tony & Dave & The Blimp. In the next pic Dave moons the camera, but I will spare you that, gentle reader.
Photo 2. The display site at Houston. The brick building at the far right is the Union Station, now incorporated into the Astros Ballpark.
Photo 3. ATSF 5704 and Houston Belt 31 waiting nearby for our departure on the 24th.

Photos 4&5. KCS Good Cheer, SP 99 , and other cars were stored nearby too.
Photos 6&7. I made it over to the SP Shops. The poured concrete construction is just as interesting as the activity itself!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/21 14:35 by BoilingMan.

---

---

---

.

---

---

---

,.

---

Poured concrete construction was real popular in the twenties because it was considered "fireproof".
There was a lot of it on the west coast because it was considered to be earthquake proof too.

Enjoying your continuing coverage and stories of the AFT heading east, thanks for posting!

Thank you.
It’s early days- about 75 or so moves to go till Miami in December.
SR

Even fewer before you entice some neophyte from NJ to join your traveling minstrel show and make some life long friends! 


BoilingMan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank you.
> It’s early days- about 75 or so moves to go till
> Miami in December.
> SR