Houston Tap and Brazoria Railway Company

Houston Tap and Brazoria Railway Company. . , Incorporated on September 1, 1856, the Houston Tap and Brazoria Railway Company was authorized to run a line from Houston to Columbia, bridge the Brazos River and extend the line to Wharton. In June, 1858 the railway company bought the seven miles of track from Houston to Pierce Junction and by 1860 had opened the 50 miles of track to Columbia with the terminus on the east bank of the Brazos River. Bonds and loans were used to finance the railway with field hands from the different plantations building the grades. Known as the "Sugar Road" the rail line was disrupted by the Civil War and fell into disrepair. During the Civil War years service came to a stop and the tracks were used to make weapons for the Confederate Army. With many financial difficulties the line was sold to the Houston and Great Northern Railroad in 1873. Eventually the line was abandoned between Arcola and East Columbia., Track laying and grade engineers , Benjamin F. Terry · William J. Kyle, Houston Tap and Brazoria Stations: , Houston · Pierce Junction · Arcola ·Sandy Point · Bonney · Chenango · Hind's · East Columbia