Kenedy to Houston - Southern Pacific Lines

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This line was established as the San Antonio and Aransas Pass, Houston Branch.  It ran between Kenedy, TX, and the Union Station in downtown Houston.  The line reached Houston in about 1890.  It was acquired by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1925 and was made part of SP's Texas & New Orleans Railroad in 1934. The line has been dormant for a few years now.  Traffic has been limited to locals switching a few cars near the junction with the UP double main line that leads into Houston.  Houston Metro (the mass transit system of Houston) bought the line recently and plans to use the land for a high occupancy vehicle route.  In June 2001, Houston Metro began dismantling the line.

Looking east towards Houston on the W side of the UP double track main.  The ties and rails are in the process of being removed. (Photo by Jason Rose - June 2001)

Abandoned crossing signals!  On the section being abandoned W of the UP main.  Evidently, the City of Houston abandoned the road before the rail line was abandoned. (Photo by Jason Rose, June 2001)

Special thanks to Jason Rose for the information and pictures on this page.

The end of the line to the E of the UP main, looking back W towards the UP main.  This one mile section will apparently remain for the time being, although there is no business and no workable spurs.  The line used to continue into downtown Houston, but was abandoned years ago.  This section used to be continuous with the section being abandoned on the W side of the UP main, but has been split for several years at the UP main.  The only traffic seen on this section recently has been the Barnum and Bailey Circus train once per year. (Photo by Jason Rose - June 2001)