Houston New South Yard & Old Yard History

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Dear Train Members,

I am inquiry on any known history, pictures, and other archives reguarding both New and Old South Yard in Houston. This terminal is currently operated by BNSF, with prior rights belonging to Houston Belt & Terminal (HB&T) from as far back as the1930s, that I can track.

As a current switchman in the yard, I am helping some other employees in creating a timeline of documented history on the yard for display in our new terminal building. I have come to find little to no information on the two yards, other then it housed two towers (81 & 117) on both the North and South end of New Yard. Old Yard provided service to Port City Stockyards long before University of Houston was built on what was the old stockyard grounds. Much of anything else on the yard, has been hard to find.

I hope this post finds some members amongst our group that can provide a little more information surrounding the yard and its history. Any help in our project would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all.

Team SOYD - Houston Terminal

2

There isn’t a lot out there, you have to research HB&T to find anything on the yards.

I work for the PTRA, and there is almost nothing out there on us either.

Railpics may have some photos, there are a few on the PTRA in there, and some on Milby Street.

3

[#welcome]

Would the Texas Railroad Commission have any documentation of the type you’re seeking ?

City Engineer’s (or Surveyor’s) Office ? Esp. utility records for connections to shop facilities ?

Recorder of Deeds/ Land Records Office ?

Old Interstate Commerce Commission “Valuation Maps” and Reports from the 19-teens ? (Might have to go to Denver or Wash. D.C. to see them, though)

  • Paul North.
4

Pls. pardon my inclusion of this: somewhere I guess south of South yard is a crossing of another track that was there in 1979 that was or was close to “Katyneck” (spelling? no idea.)

We, two barely over the derail (that new-hire 90 day probationary time) switchmen left Strang, weighed our 112 car train, and where after passing the Rock Island’s yard, agreed the next switch…

The train we had would be taken by a Houston-Glidden crew carryalled to, was it West Jct. south of Bellaire Jct.

Travesties like this happened during the crew shortage melt-dThe yardmsterown in east Texas and Louisiana. From "the land of fruits and nuts and the rest of SP’s Golden West officer-engineers were filling shortages and that trip I was called for a yard-engine…yeah…

We were instructed to double a few rails together,get an air-test, weigh it, and take it to the road crew via Katyneck. When I asked one of the crew if we were OK, with appropriate Texan’"s bravado the crew assured me…

When we got there it was "This is the switch, right?

112 cars, most of 'em hazmat loads, walking speed diverges into what looks to me like an industry spur.

Where i thought it appeared to end i saw it went through a hedge of brush, trimmed vertically but taken out horizontaly. by other flange wheeled brush mowers

Whilst travelig thru the jungle I looked down to see a dwarf signal and as i left the brush i was unpreventably going over a “diamond” crossing alighned geographically north-south.

Was that Katyneck, and was it south of South Yard?. .

5

http://historicaerials.com/

Try here for photos, you have to join, but its free.

You do have to purchase copies or prints, but looking is free, and its pretty wild seeing back to 1957, and what was there, and what was not, like the Dome, Astroworld, IH10 and 610 loop…

6

If you haven’t stopped by the Texas Interlocking Towers website- there is some good information to be had there about the functions of Towers 81 and 117-

http://www.towers.txrrhistory.com/117/117.htm

The site owner Jim King can be contacted via link on the website and he may be able to help you in your search for more information on the yards.

7

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=houston+texas&hl=en&ll=29.719029,-95.282621&spn=0.012523,0.030384&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=23.483917,62.226563&hnear=Houston,+Harris,+Texas&t=h&z=15

Its Katy Neck, a diamond/wye arrangement just west of PTRA’s Manchester yard, it connects the old GH&H with PTRA and UP( former SP) tracks.

8

I have seen a photograph of a wooden possibly two story wooden building ,before the concrete block yard office was built at New South Yard.

Michael Lowe