Near Albany in Shackelford County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Bud Matthews Switch of the Texas Central Railway

Photographed By Duane Hall, November 18, 2014

1. Bud Matthews Switch of the Texas Central Railway Marker

Inscription. In 1900, the Texas Central Railway extended a line northwest from Albany across this portion of Rose Ella (Matthews) Conrad’s cattle ranch. Ella and her brother John A. “Bud” Matthews, for whom this site is named, promptly constructed cattle pens and a loading chute at this location. Surrounding ranchers soon were shipping their cattle from this switch to markets in Fort Worth. As many as 105,000 head of cattle were shipped annually until the railroad ceased operations in 1967. Since that year, local ranchers have continued to load cattle onto trucks from this site.

Erected 1992 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 557.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 32° 44.162′ N, 99° 31.046′ W. Marker is near Albany, Texas, in Shackelford County. Marker is on U.S. 180, 1.8 miles east of Bluff Creek Road (County Road 201), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Albany TX 76430, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Butterfield Overland Mail (within shouting distance of this marker); Cold War Hardline Communications Pit (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Cable Tool Oil Field

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(approx. 2 miles away); Smith's Station (approx. 2.1 miles away); Lueders Cemetery (approx. 6.2 miles away); Big Country Baptist Assembly (approx. 6.7 miles away); Fort Phantom Hill (approx. 11.4 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Phantom Hill (approx. 11.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Also see . . . Bud Matthews Switch - Chimney Creek Ranch. From the Chimney Creek Ranch website. Includes additional information from the Texas Historical Marker application and video on the marker dedication in 1993. (Submitted on November 26, 2014.)

Photographed By Duane Hall, November 18, 2014

2. Bud Matthews Switch of the Texas Central Railway Marker

The marker is made of Lueders limestone

Marker and Rolling Stock of the Texas Central Railway image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, November 18, 2014

3. Marker and Rolling Stock of the Texas Central Railway

Marker and Cattle Pends of the Chimney Creek Ranch image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, November 18, 2014

4. Marker and Cattle Pends of the Chimney Creek Ranch

View to Northwest Along US 180 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, November 18, 2014

5. View to Northwest Along US 180

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 833 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 26, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.