Rio Grande Explorations

Trinity Division

of the

The Wobbly

December 29, 2017

After an arduous and exhausting December, all I wanted to do was sleep and play with my son. However, my buddy, Everett, asked if I wanted to go exploring the Trinity Division of the Waco, Beaumont, Trinity & Sabine Railway. This has been on my bucket list for years, so I couldn't say no. And, it was the right decision. We had a heckuva good day!

We met at Everett's office at 0800 and set out for Livingston.

This Timetable from 1917 shows the bulk of our route for the day, though in reverse order.

Livingston

Google Map

Looking west towards Blanchard, Onalaska, and Trinity from the corner of Ogletree and S Brock streets.

This is where the Wobbly yard and wye in Livingston began.

Just west of the previous photo, you can see the grade in the park along S Matthews street.

It took several minutes of walking around the park to locate the grade,

during which time we nearly froze in a rare Texas cold snap.

I'm standing on the grade and it proceeds directly away from the camera towards the Livingston Yard about a half mile east.

Everett surveys the nearly indiscernible grade of the long-gone Wobbly. This section was abandoned in 1949.

Driving south on Tyler Ave. This was the north tail of the Livingston Wye

Further south on Tyler

Google Map

After our second pass of this structure it hit me that it just might be the Livingston Depot or perhaps a Section House.

Close examination of the map above indicated that it likely is the Depot, but was moved about 60 yards south, outside the wye.

No period photos have yet been located, so a definitive answer will have to wait.

Sure looks like a railroad structure to me.

Looking east on De La Morton street. This was the eastern tail of the Livingston Wye.

Furthest eastern point on the Beaumont Division of the ol' Wobbly

Looking west from the approximate location of the eastern switch of the wye: corner of De La Morton and S Houston Ave.

Likely some old lumber mill structures, but could be railroad-related: on De La Morton.

Colmesneil

MP ~67

Google Map

SP Line - Beaumont to Lufkin/Dallas.

In 1900-1903, the Texas & New Orleans built 160 miles of railroad connecting Rockland and the Sabine & East Texas Railroad with the Texas Trunk Railroad, also owned by the T&NO. This formed a through route between Dallas and Beaumont, although it was never considered an important main line. Early on, the railroad featured a pair of passenger trains each way, but by the mid 1930's passenger service was an overnight mixed train between Dallas and Beaumont, which for a time, even carried a Pullman sleeper. This run was scheduled at 13.5 hours, and was usually entrusted to an MK-5 2-8-2, like the 773 in Grapevine, the 786 in Austin and the 745 in New Orleans. By 1940, the Pullman had been taken off although the mixed train survived into the early 1960's, I think. In the mid 1980's the entire line was rebuilt from dirt ballast, jointed 90# rail line to welded rail, 115-121# line for chemical tonnage from Beaumont direct to Dallas and for drop off at the Rabbit Line connection in Nacogdoches to go to Shreveport. Lack of any local traffic by this time and the SP's desperate financial straits resulted in the abandonment of the line in the early 1990's and by 1995 the rail had been pulled.

-Everett Lueck

The Colmesneil Turntable may have been located in the distant far right... if it existed. On the map above it isn't clear whether the turntable was planned for the future or previously abandoned. However, the lack of any other turning arrangement seems to indicate the turntable likely existed. No evidence either way has yet been located.

Not sure what this was, but it's on the ROW and sure looks like it has a railroad heritage.

The front half of this structure is likely the Colmesneil Depot. We can't be sure, but it certainly looks like a depot and is in exactly the right location for it. Someday, perhaps we'll locate photographic evidence to support this ascertain.

Another view of the Depot

This is the former Southern Pacific line in Colmesneil, looking north.

Remnants of ties just off the SP ROW

Looking south along the SP ROW

Base for Crossing Guard Lights

Another base for Crossing Guard Lights

East of Colmesneil / Billiams Creek

Google Map

Just east of Colmesneil, FM 1745 diverges from the Wobbly grade and is separated by a cow pasture.

Surprising, the grade is clearly visible just inside the treeline across the pasture.

The Wobbly grade... clearly defined and easily visible through the limited winter foliage.

Wider angled shot of the grade

County Road 2810 - Old Mobile

MP ~61

Google Map

Here is the WBTS grade, looking east towards Colmesneil from a place the topo maps call "Old Mobile."

"Old Mobile" is nothing more than a bend in a dirt road known as CR 2810 today.

Not sure what this was. It's located in the corner of CR 2810 and the ROW.

Remnant of a telegraph pole. This is the only one I've ever found on the Wobbly.

Chester

MP ~54

Google Map

This may be a Section House, located on the grade in Chester. No way to know for sure until we locate old photos.

Barnum

Google Map

From the Texas State Historic Association

BARNUM, TEXAS. Barnum is on U.S. Highway 287 seventy-five miles northwest of Beaumont in northeast Polk County. The community was founded in 1881, when W. T. Carter built a sawmill at the site on the Trinity and Sabine Railway. The Carter and Brother operation at Barnum eventually included a sawmill, a planer, storage bins, seven miles of tram roads, and two locomotives. By 1889 Barnum had a hotel, a post office, a general store, a school, a public hall, and about 350 residents. A fire in 1887 consumed the sawmill and planer, causing an estimated $10,000 worth of damage. Another fire in 1897 again destroyed the Carter facilities at Barnum. After the latter blaze, Carter decided to reestablish his Polk County mill at Camden. Although many residents subsequently left Barnum, the settlement continued to be a stop on the railroad, which became part of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas system in 1882. The Barnum post office also remained open. The small rural community still had two businesses in 1984 and twenty-nine residents in 1990. In 2000 the population was fifty.

Looking north on Barnum Blvd (right) and the WT Carter Railroad grade (left) about .5 miles north of Highway 287

Looking south from the same spot.

Corrigan

MP ~38

Google Map

This is the approximate location of the WBTS / TNO grade crossing. Looking west on Ben Franklin Ave

Same spot, other direction: looking east on Ben Franklin Ave

Corrigan City Hall

The ROW is just behind this structure

The spur on the right was likely once part of the Wobbly interchange.

Looking south on the TNO/SP/UP

The WBTS/TNO diamond would have been between where I'm standing and the next grade crossing.

Old gas station

Local museum. Unfortunately it was closed.

Mural on the museum

Standing on the grade just west of City Hall, looking west towards Groveton.

Possible Section House

This is nearly identical to a house in Groveton that is also along the Right-of-Way.

Everett and I are of the opinion that this isn't a coincidence.

Brooks Road

Google Map

Wobbly ROW, looking west from Brooks Road

ROW Along Highway 287

Google Map

We made a u-turn just west of Bull Creek to get the following shots.

The grade is on the right, just off the highway.

The elevated grade is just inside the treeline.

More grade. No ties were evident, which isn't surprising after 81 years.

Looking east over Bull Creek. We were pleasantly surprised to find a few pairs of bridge pilings.

More piles in the creek.

Last bit of grade on the east side of the creek.

Groveton

MP ~19

Google Map

Looking east on Old Railroad Street.

Unfortunately there was no trace of the Wobbly Depot, but there were several structures that certainly dated from the era where two railroads met in Groveton. I doubt there are any residents remaining that remember that time.