Here are photos (reduced in size for the web) of the Blacklands Railroad Tejas Rail Excursion from Commerce to Sulphur Springs, Texas and return on Saturday, April 17, 2004 on former Cotton Belt tracks, the first passenger train on this route in 48 years. The excursion was arranged through the courtesy of Frank Turner of the Blacklands Railroad operating on rails of the Northest Texas Rural Transportation District with vintage 1955 former Santa Fe Hi-Level passenger cars supplied by John Radovich, owner of John's Cars in Dallas. It was a scholarship fund-raiser for Texas A&M-Commerce.
   This train used Blacklands Railroad locomotive 201, a DALT generator/power car, and these coaches: former Santa Fe/Amtrak Hi-Levels Dorm/Coach 39918, Coach 39963, Coach 39947, and Coach 39949. There were some delays on Saturday due to bad fuel problems, but they were fixed and nobody seemed to mind.
      According to Dan Monaghan of Garland, Texas, passenger service on the Cotton Belt ended 48 years ago. The segment covered by this excursion is a portion of the St. Louis – Southwestern Railroad's main line between Dallas and St. Louis/Memphis. The passenger trains that served the route were the "Lone Star" which departed from Dallas in the afternoon and the "Morning Star" which departed in the morning. Their trains were never as fast or as elegant as those of the Missouri Pacific and Katy and did not compete heavily for the long-haul, but they handled the mail and served the small towns along the route with dependable local passenger service.   Their  day coaches were the well known Pullman-Bradley coaches or "American Flyer" cars, as they were more commonly labeled, made famous by the model train manufacturer of the same name. They usually carried a heavyweight 12 -1 Pullman and a diner-lounge.
   Most of the trains divided at Mt. Pleasant to go to Dallas or to Tyler and Waco and even as far as McGregor in earlier times. Their passenger trains were some of the earlier casualties, as the Cotton Belt began to come under Southern Pacific ownership in the early 1930's and by 1950 was wholly owned and subjected to the hostile attitude of the SP that developed about that time toward passenger service. Motive power for the passenger trains in steam days was some high stepping 4-6-0 ten-wheelers and, in later steam days, five former Florida East Coast 4-8-2 Mountains appeared on the scene to create what was probably the most overpowered short passenger trains in the country.
   They finally fell prey to ALCO RS road switchers and a couple of ALCO PA units painted in Daylight colors but with silver roofs. For a while the Cotton Belt trains served as commuter trains picking up passengers at a shed built on the main line in the vicinity of Lovers Lane and carrying them to Dallas Union Station.  The schedule happened to be just right for the purpose. The railway mail clerks in the RPO cars were so efficient that they would pick up a sack of first class mail in Nevada and four miles down the track and six minutes later it would be broken open and the letters resacked to be kicked off at Josephine. Compare that to todays' practices which would probably haul it by truck to Texarkana and haul it back again to its destination.
   For me, it will indeed bring back memories, as on June 15th of 1952, my late wife, Ruth, and I departed from Sulphur Springs at 7:30 in the evening on the "Lone Star" riding in an American Flyer car at the beginning of our honeymoon trip.  Mischievious friends and kinfolks were feverishly searching for an automobile to decorate. They should have know that we would be on a train. A couple of them figured it out and went to the station to check, but all they saw were the marker lights disappearing around the bend.” (Dan Monaghan)
   My email: trains@trainweather.com


The early morning sun glistens off the four ex-Santa Fe/Amtrak coaches in Commerce, Texas at 752 a.m. April 17, 2004. These cars are owned by by John Radovich, owner of John's Cars in Dallas. Left to Right: Dorm/Coach 39918, Coach 39963, Coach 39947, and Coach 39949.


I remember riding in these Santa Fe coaches back in the 1960s. RIGHT-Preparing the generator car before departure.


LEFT-A jazz band played before the morning departure in Commerce (there was also an afternoon departure). RIGHT-Nathan Bailey.
For a brief sound MPEG movie of the band, click HERE or click the band image.


Boarding the first train in Commerce at 8:44 a.m.


Texas Bluebonnets and Hi-Levels, what a combination! (there aren't too many bluebonnets this far north)


This boy lives only a few blocks away from the Blacklands Railroad and his mother said he rushes out of the house every time he hears a train whistle in Commerce. This was his first viewing of a passenger train.


Leaving Commerce 9:05 a.m. destined for Sulphur Springs, 20 miles east.


A couple of miles west of Ridgeway, Texas, 9:38 a.m.


Same scene west of Ridgeway.


Santa Fe/Amtrak Hi-Levels in northeast Texas.




At Ridgeway, Texas, April 17 at 10:13 a.m. To see a sound MPEG movie of it running by, click HERE or click on the photo. This MPEG movie is rather large, about 3/4 MB.


Downtown Commerce.


This line in Commerce was the old Texas Midland that ran to Paris. The Texas Midland Freight depot still stands.


Dr. Dan Monaghan, right, waits to board the special at 1:21 p.m.


Ready to board the afternoon departure to Sulphur Springs.


Train awaits departure from Commerce at 1:28 p.m. You can see the old Texas Midland Freight depot to the left. According to Jim Woodfield, BLR Conductor, it is one of a very few still standing and if they ever decide to destroy it the chore will be more than bargained for.  There is is a solid cement foundation to be dealt with. Col.  EHR Green made his mark and those who wish to altar it will have to reckon with the structure of the times that were designed to last forever. The old Cotton Belt depot (no longer there) stood where the people are standing.


Inside the Hi-Level coaches on our way to Sulphur Springs.


Looking out the rear car at the lush greenery and trees along the line. For a brief sound MPEG movie of this view, click HERE or click the Right photo.


Arrival in Sulphur Springs at the Church Street Station was at 3:34 p.m. There were cold soft drinks waiting.




At the Church Street Depot. The right shot is looking out the station window.


Getting cold drinks.




Conway Scenic RR tender at Sulphur Springs. When was this placed here?




Pulling into the Sulphur Springs station at 4:02 p.m., ready to head back west toward Commerce.




Back in Commerce at 5:45 p.m.

Feel free to use these photos anyway you want, including copying and printing, using on your own website, or just linking to this page. All photos by Ken Ziegenbein, Arkansas Railroad Club, EMAIL