Nostalgia & History > Cotton Belt yard, Tyler, Tex, in the snow

This is from the 1930's no exact date, but I know the bridge this was taken from was built in 1931,
and the GE motorcars were scrapped in '37.

The epic snowfall we just experienced was rather like it was on the day this was taken.  I really wanted to 
get this same shot in the snow last week, but all the roads were frozen solid.  Back in the 30's everyone in
Tyler lived close to the tracks, so the bloke that took this probably walked to the bridge.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/21 15:24 by WrongWayMurphy.

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Fascinating picture. Well today it got up to high 60s as if winter weather had never happened.  But this photo is like it was last week, cold & bleak fur us Texans.  Can you tell us more about the buildings in the background & the streamlined motor cars?  I always thought of the Cotton Belt as fairly bereft of passenger service.  Looks like I made the wrong assumption.  Thanks!

Hou74-76 Wrote:
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> Fascinating picture. Well today it got up to high
> 60s as if winter weather had never happened.  But
> this photo is like it was last week, cold & bleak
> fur us Texans.  Can you tell us more about the
> buildings in the background & the streamlined
> motor cars?  I always thought of the Cotton Belt
> as fairly bereft of passenger service.  Looks
> like I made the wrong assumption.  Thanks!

Motorcar was used Tyler-Lufkin.  After these GE cars were scrapped, 
more modern Brill cars were used in  this route.

In the background is Tyler roundhouse, sand house, coach shop,
freight car repair shop.  Light to medium locomotive repairs were done
at the roundhouse here, heavy repairs done at Pine Bluff, Ark..  once UP
took control of SP in the late 90's all these building disappeared save the
coach shop, now used for seed storage for local seed company.  Turntable
was cut up and buried in the pit, at least that's the story told.