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Railroads played a major role in the development of
Trinity area. Not long after the turn of the century, Trinity was the hub
of more than 160 miles of track serving upwards of 30 busy sawmills and
other business and industrial segments, as well as passengers.
Reaching this stage of rail activity had been a
gradual process. Early in 1872, the then Houston and Great Northern line
reached out from Houston into Trinity and before the year was out had
extended its rail service through the county.
A decade later, the Trinity and Sabine Branch of the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas (known locally as the Miss Katy and Tom)
Railroad was constructed from Trinity in an eastward direction through the
county to Corrigan and Colmesneil. Following completion of this line, the
town of Groveton was established along the route and named the county
seat.
By 1910, the Texas Southeastern, originating in
Lufkin, had more then 40 miles of track, one branch extending into Trinity
County and furnishing transportation to the lumber mills along the Naches
River valley. Meanwhile, the Groveton-Lufkin and Northern established a
line connecting with the Texas Southeastern branch in Groveton.
Also during this period, the Beaumont and Great
Northern extended from Livingston to Trinity and continued west to Weldon.
This busy branch later became the colorful Waco-Beaumont-Trinity and
Sabine Railroad Known locally as the Wobbly-Bobbly-Turnover and Stop.
Recounting the area’s railroad experiences years
later, Guifford Gibson recalled:
“For many years the railroad station in Trinity was
the center of much of the town’s activity. In the days when there were two
daily trains to Groveton and Colmesneil and to Livingston and to Weldon,
the station was a busy place in the morning. As a small boy, I was
impressed by the noise of the steam engines as preparations were made for
the eight o’clock departure.
“The passenger traffic to all points was heavy and a
standard service on each train was the ‘butch’ who sold sandwiches, fruit,
candy and such enroute. The butch kept his supplies in a room in the back
of the old National Bank building; He had a two-wheel pushcart that he
used to transport his provisions to the trains. Everything he had was out
of this world in terms of quality. The bananas on the cart can never be
equaled.
“The most thrilling time of all was when the bell
began to ring and the wheels began to turn with steam hissing from the
cylinders. With the ground shaking from the weight of the engine and cars
and the conductor calling ‘all aboard.’
“You just knew that another great adventure was about
to take place. Derailments were common. These train crews were real
experts in getting trains back on the track and going again. This
expertise served the ‘Wobbly’ crews well.
“Uncle Jack Wagner, the conductor, was one of the
outstanding characters that made the railroad a lively part of our
community.” |
