I was wondering if the Milby Street shops are still in use in Houston? I remember going there in the late 70s early 80s day or night and taking many photos of the motive power coming in and out of Houston. I believe they even had a turn table.
In the day you would see Rock Island, BN, Sante Fe, HB&T, SP units and no one really was bothered with you hanging out taking photos. Those were the days.
I forgot exactly what street they were on to do a map search satelite view.
Anyone out there have any stories, photos, information on the Milby St Shops? Are they still in use or has the locomotive shops in Houston move?
Yep it’s still there in use as a loco shop. It’s pretty easy to find. It’s directly across the street from the Maxwell House coffee plant. You can see it for miles. The turntable is still there. I assume it’s still used although I have never seen it turn. Admittedly that’s not a part of town that I like to just hang out in.
On Milby Street, 2 blocks south of Harrisburg Blvd.
The Milby Street yard and turntable used to belong to the HB&T, and was used as an engine repair facility both for HB&T as well as for all of the member lines locomotives.
When HB&T was split up, Milby street yard went to the BNSF…currently it is leased to Motive Power Inc. and still used as a locomotive prepair facility.
The majority of the work done there is on BNSFs fleet of MK1500Ds, and UPs CEFX lease fleet of the Motive power version of the GP15 and the GP20…some repair to other locomotioves on a as need basis.
Thats so cool its still there. The area has never been very safe, even back 20 years ago or so. Im sure its worse now. Do the BNSF and UP still service there locos there? How is the railfaning there? When I was younger they let us have free access all over the place, they said just dont get hurt.
It is most likely a little more safe than it was, developers have pretty much taken over the area west of Milby…this is just east of Minute Maid Park in a now yuppie hood…
MK Rail, or Motive Power Inc has a service contract with UP, BNSF and CEFX to service/repair their locomotives, this is their major shop.
Access would be limited to public/streets and such areas, you would be questioned and detained if you went inside the fence.
If you do go there, and see any employees walking around outside, it wouldnt hurt to ask permission, but I doubt you would let inside.