The 19th Century’s Favorite Way to Travel
THE HISTORY OF TEXAS RAILROADS is a story of the expansion of business opportunities, the growth of industry, and the settlement of open parts of the country. Some Texas railroad visionaries planned big, connecting the east coast of the U.S. to the Pacific. Others looked at the middle distance, moving goods between markets in the center of the state and the Gulf Coast. And some lines were planned to run only a few miles, to connect passengers and freight with larger rail lines or with convenient ports.
For over sixty years, railroads were the major means of passenger travel within the state, and freight traffic remains important today.
If you’re traveling through the Houston area along Interstate 10, make sure to stop by the Chambers County Safety Rest Stops at mile markers 814 (eastbound) and 815 (westbound) for a fascinating look into the history of railroads in Texas. Stop in on your travels to see how the past has created the present.