Rio Grande Explorations

Giddings to Brenham, Texas

August 18, 2017

 

A quick work trip to Giddings afforded me the opportunity to get some photos of the moribund Watco/Cap Metro line from Giddings to Elgin. This 35 mile section of railroad hasn't seen regular service since the late 1980's. The remaining 32 miles from Elgin to Austin is in service and Watco has announced plans to re-open the entire route with trains running by Christmas.

 

I wanted a few shots of the line in its "abandoned" condition before work begins because it's a rare thing to see a line in this condition coming back to life.

 

As I pulled into the lot near the Depot, my scanner crackled alerting me to an approaching train.

Before I could park and hop out, the head end got past the depot.

 

The disconnected line on the right is the interchange with the H&TC line to Brenham.

The Giddings Subdivision of the Union Pacific is on the left.

 

Google Maps

 

 

Looking down the old H&TC / T&NO interchange.

 

DPU & Giddings Water Tank

 

DPU heading south

 

 

Watco/UP Interchange track at the northwest corner of what was once a diamond.

 

Google Maps

 

Looking down the Watco line to the UP Giddings Sub

 

 

 

Looking west towards Elgin/Austin

 

Looking east on the grade of H&TC towards Giddings Depot

 

 

Looking west towards Elgin/Austin

This is the small Watco Yard in Giddings

 

Google Maps

 

 

UP control box at the junction

 

 

RGX II and the HTC Freight Depot

 

As a kid, I spent copious amounts of time on Galveston Island at my grandparents house.

So, this connection with the Seawall is of particular note to me.

 

That's a big chunk of granite!

 

Looking east towards Brenham. These rails were severed in 1979.

 

 

 

Looking west towards Elgin/Austin from N Dallas Street

 

Google Maps

 

Looking west towards Elgin/Austin

 

 

Looking east from N Dallas St.

 

 

Looking west towards Elgin/Austin

 

Looking west towards Elgin/Austin from a private driveway just off Highway 290 about a mile west of Giddings

 

Google Maps

 

East towards Giddings

 

T&NO/SP Freight Depot

 

This is the original T&NO Depot in Carmine, Texas. However, it is not in its original location.

I believe it's close, though. The ROW appears to be on the other side of 290.

 

Google Maps

 

 

 

 

 

Note the large granite block. Similar to the one in Giddings.

 

 

 

 

Between Carmine and Giddings is the small hamlet of Burton. And, as it turns out, Burton has a small railroad museum

in the original Burton Depot. However, I didn't know this until I stumbled across it doing research for this report.

 

I have to return to Giddings in the coming months. When I do, I'll be sure to stop in Burton!

 

UPDATE

Burton, Texas Trip Report

 

Looking west from Blinn Street in Brenham. This is the other end of the H&TC grade.

 

Google Maps

 

Looking east from Blinn Street

 

 

Another view west from Blinn Street

 

 

Another view east

 

 

View east from High Street

 

Google Maps

 

 

View west S Jackson

 

View east from S Jackson

 

View south from Peabody Street, near the AT&SF Freight Depot.

This is the AT&SF / H&TC crossing in Brenham. A 3 mile remnant of the H&TC is

used to serve local industries, chief among them is the Blue Bell ice cream factory.

 

Google Maps

 

View north from West 1st Street, near the AT&SF Freight Depot

 

RGX II at the AT&SF Freight Depot in Brenham.

When I was 4, we rode Amtrak to this spot from Houston. It was a simple day-trip to appease a budding railfan.

 

 

 

 

View west from Church Road

 

This was one of two crossing in Brenham that boasted the last functioning "wigwag" crossing guards in Texas.

We were fortunate to get a few photos in 2004.

 

Brenham Wigwags 2004

 

Google Maps

 

View east from Church Road

 

 

View west from South Chappell Hill Street.

 

Now, here's a bizarre twist to the above photo. About 3 minutes after I took that shot, my brother-in-law texted me the photo below and asked me what this thing (the Trackmobile) was used for. I stared at the photo for minute thinking there's no way it's the same critter. So, I grabbed my camera off the passenger seat and pulled up my photo. Sure enough, it looked the same. So, I texted him back, "Are you in Giddings?!" After a moment he replied that he was. So, I called him and we exchanged incredulous comments about our paths crossing so closely way out in East Texas while heading in opposite directions. Really bazaar.

 

Google Maps

 

 

Final shot, looking towards the Blue Bell ice  cream factory on the former mainline to Hempstead and Houston.

The rails between Brenham (east of Blue Bell) to Hempstead were pulled in 1962.

View east from South Chappell Hill Street.

 

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