Laredo in Webb County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Rio Grande and Eagle Pass Railroad
(Pecos and Rio Grande Railroad)
Photographed by Richard Hawkins, June 1, 2026
1. Rio Grande and Eagle Pass Railroad Marker
Alexander Cameron Hunt, former territorial governor of Colorado, built the Pecos and Rio Grande Railroad northwest from Laredo to the coal mining region along the Rio Grande. Construction of the narrow-gauge line began in March 1882 as 100 men cleared the brush with picks and shovels and built a bridge over Santa Isabela Creek.
Col. W. W. Hungerford was hired as general manager of the rail line, and by September trains were running to the coal mines. By June 1883, Hunt began to lay a third rail. Standard-gauge coal cars were then connected to the International and Great Northern Railway and avoided costly reloading of coal at Laredo.
Hunt overextended the financial resources of the company and by 1885 had declared bankruptcy. Charles Barstow Wright, president of the Northern Pacific Railroad, purchased the reorganized Pecos and Rio Grande. By 1895 the line was renamed the Rio Grande and Eagle Pass Railroad.
Improvements to the line were made in 1910 totaling $132,000. Carloads of vegetables were also shipped on the line in the 1920-40s. By World War II the coal mines closed, and in 1947 the Rio Grande and Eagle Pass abandoned the line and tore up the tracks.
Erected 1997 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4271.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1882.
Location. 27° 39.718′ N, 99° 38.824′ W. Marker is in Laredo, Texas, in Webb County. It is on Mines Road (Farm to Market Road 1472) Ό mile west of Phelps Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25434 Mines Rd, Laredo TX 78045, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South Texas. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort McIntosh Cemetery (approx. 13 miles away); San Bernardo Avenue (approx. 13.1 miles away); Fort McIntosh (approx. 13.2 miles away); Raymond and Tirza Martin High School (approx. 13.2 miles away); Hispanic Medal of Honor Recipients (approx. 13.3 miles away); Fort McIntosh Barracks (approx. 13.3 miles away); Pvt. David Bennes Cantϊ Barkley (approx. 13.3 miles away); All U.S. Veterans Memorial (approx. 13.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laredo.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2026, by Richard Hawkins of Phelan, California. This page has been viewed 28 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on June 1, 2026, by Richard Hawkins of Phelan, California. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
