Port Arthur-Beaumont Interurban Railway
Electric railways known as Interurbans existed in Texas from 1901 until the 1940s to provide frequent opportunities for the public to travel between urban centers. Interurban service between Beaumont and Port Arthur began on December 16, 1913, lasting until competition from automobiles and buses caused passenger use of the rail line to decline.
The Jefferson County Traction Company and the Beaumont Traction Company, subsidiaries of the East Texas Electric Company, owned and operated the Port Arthur-Beaumont Interurban Railway. Tickets were 90 cents for a round trip. Passengers departed from Port Arthur at a terminal station and maintenance facility at this site and could board or get off the interurban at any of 10 stops along the route. The electric rail cars seated 48 people, but often there were many more on board. The cars could also be chartered for group trips and were popular for weekend excursions. The interurban service was used to evacuate Port Arthur citizens fleeing the 1915 hurricane until the high water caused a power failure. Some passengers were stranded in the cars for 12 hours.
The last recorded trip of the Port Arthur-Beaumont Interurban was August 15, 1932. By that time, private automobiles had become the more popular mode of transportation, while increased consumption and new demands for electricity more
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Erected 2002 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12783.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is December 16, 1913.
Location. 29° 52.27′ N, 93° 56.056′ W. Marker is in Port Arthur, Texas, in Jefferson County. Marker is on Austin Avenue east of Procter Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 320 Austin Avenue, Port Arthur TX 77640, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Remembering Ancestors (within shouting distance of this marker); South County Office Building (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Francis John (Frank) Trost (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Kansas City Southern Railway in Port Arthur (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lakeshore/Lions Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Arthur Edward Stilwell (approx. 0.6 miles away); St. Paul United Methodist Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); Gates Memorial Library (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Arthur.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2020, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 353 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 24, 2020, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.
