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The track continues west from the Palestine Depot for about 4 miles
towards the center of town. The last Missouri Pacific freight operation
on this segment was in the mid 1980’s. Between that time and 2013, the
rails were largely dormant. In 2013, after
several months of work, this section was reopened and freight operations
have resumed. Of interesting note: in 1913 the TSR offices were moved to
Palestine from Rusk. 100 years later the line was reopened into
Palestine.
Loop 256 is at Mile Post 27.3. The State of Texas paid to have these
modern crossing gates constructed in the 1980’s.
Going
west we enter a residential neighborhood where the crossings of Redwood
Street at Mile Post 27.5 and Oakhurst Street
at Mile Post 27.6 are located. This was once a Flag Stop for the Wherry
Lumber Company. The company was based in Neches, Texas, but had a small
mill here in Palestine.
The line goes under Highway 287 at Mile Post 27.9. This is the highest
point on the railroad at 545 feet above sea level.
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