Nostalgia & History > SP branch line over the Brazos River

With some bluebonnets, a GP9 leads an eastbound over the Brazos River on the Bellaire Branch in Texas between Eagle Lake and Houston in April 1976. 
This line was originally the Houston-Kennedy San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway.
At this time the line was a nice quiet branch with rail that dated back to the teens.
Soon things would change.
The second span back would be washed away in a flood a year or two later.
This would cut the line in half. We were certainly curious what the SP would do and was very surprised that they not only repaired the bridge but rebuilt the
entire 50 mile route with welded rail and used it as a one way only route in conjunction with the Sunset Route which also ran Houston-Eagle Lake. 
Main line trains on this route was nice while it lasted but today the line is abandoned.

Gary

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Great photo. That bridge certainly looks good.
Bob

Nice catch and neat mix of power as well.
JB

You've got the whole Texas thing going! Bluebonnets and all. Well done.

Gary, I sure like that slide on a seldom photographed line. Do you know when they ended regular thru service on that line ? Thanks, Kelly

UP951West Wrote:
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> Gary, I sure like that slide on a seldom
> photographed line. Do you know when they ended
> regular thru service on that line ? Thanks, Kelly

The main portion from Bellaire Junction to about 9 miles east of Eagle Lake was abandoned around 2001. The last 9 miles of trackage was abandoned in 2008 (some of that track is still there).

Gary

That last 9 miles to Eagle Lake is still there, but the turnout has been removed from the connection to the Sunset Route, so it is stranded track.