Trinity in Trinity County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Waco, Beaumont, Trinity & Sabine Railroad
W.B.T.&S. never reached any of the locations in its title except Trinity, its point of origin. At its peak, W.B.T.& S. operated 115.2 miles of standard gauge, ballast-free track through east Texas Piney Woods in Trinity, Polk, Tyler and Houston counties. During its high point, W.B.T.&S. daily transported passengers, freight and mail. Timber, pulpwood, tomatoes, vehicles, and later oil from nearby Kittrell Oil Field, were also brought to market. Loggers along the route christened the W.B.T.&S. "Wobbly, Bobbly, Turnover and Stop" for its frequent derailments due to quickly-laid tracks. W.B.T.&S. Railroad was abandoned in 1961. Offices and the depot in Trinity were torn down in 1968-69.
Engine #1, an oil-burning Prairie type locomotive built in 1920 by Baldwin Locomotive Works operated on the W.B.T.&S. tracks. Galveston philanthropist Mary Moody Northen funded restoration of the engine for display at the Galveston Railroad Museum. The W.B.T.&S. was a major transportation link in the area and was one of Texas’ most interesting yet obscure railroads.
Erected 2018 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 20067.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is April 8, 1924.
Location. 30° 56.699′ N, 95° 22.654′ W. Marker is in Trinity, Texas, in Trinity County. Marker is at the intersection of West Main Street (Farm to Market Road 230) and South Maple Street, on the left when traveling west on West Main Street. The marker is located on the southwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 South Maple Street, Trinity TX 75862, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First United Methodist Church of Trinity (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Charles Nesbitt "Charlie" Wilson (about 600 feet away); I.N. Parker House (about 700 feet away); Dorcas Wills Memorial Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Red Schoolhouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of Gibson Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ranald McDonald House (approx. ¼ mile away); Cedar Grove Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Trinity.
Also see . . .
1. Waco, Beaumont, Trinity and Sabine Railway. Texas State Historical Association
Chartered as the Beaumont and Great Northern Railroad on June 22, 1905, the railroad was renamed the Waco, Beaumont, Trinity and Sabine Railway Company upon resumption of independent operation on April 1, 1923. Members of the first board of directors included R. C. Duff, J. L. Thompson, L. O. Jackson, A. M. Acheson, Alexander Thompson, W. W. Smithey, H. E. Kitcher, William A. Vinson, and Carter Stewart. The business office was in Trinity. The WBT&S operated forty-eight miles from Weldon through Trinity to Livingston. On April 8, 1924, the company purchased sixty-six miles between Trinity and Colmesneil from the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway Company of Texas (Katy), making a total system of 114 miles. The Katy had acquired the B&GN from Duff in 1912 and in 1914 leased the company for ninety-nine years. However, the Katy entered receivership in 1915, and the reorganized company, which emerged in 1923, had no need for the "orphan" lines in East Texas. Duff reacquired the B&GN stock held by the Katy and, for $100,000, purchased the Katy's Sabine Division from Trinity to Colmesneil.(Submitted on September 29, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
2. WBT&S History. The Wobbly - wbtsrailway.net
The Wobbly is a wonderful representation of most East Texas short lines from the boom of the 1880s to the Great Depression. Its story, like so many others, began with exuberant optimism and ended with abandonment following a long, slow decline and desperate struggle to keep it financially solvent. Today there's almost nothing left of this East Texas gem.(Submitted on September 29, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 172 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 29, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.