This was the last scheduled northbound passenger train through Brenham, Texas, Amtrak’s Inter-American, on September 30, 1981. (The Lone Star was discontinued in 1979, but Amtrak kept a Temple-Houston leg on by splitting the Inter-American at Temple for two more years - this train was the last of those split Inter-American's - Amtrak's timetables are reproduced below). There was a large group of school kids that rode to Somerville just for a last ride. It was on time at 1101 a.m.


Even though the press and people were there for the morning northbound Inter-American in Brenham, Texas on September 30, the true last scheduled passenger train to come to Brenham was the southbound train the next evening of October 1, 1981. I was the only one to record this event from the ground, but I did see a flash photo being made by someone who stepped off the train and got back on. You can see the highball signal being given by the conductor at the coach's door. I also made a super-8 sound movie of both events and transferred it to videotape. (Ken Ziegenbein photos)

Amtrak's 1980 Timetable for the Inter-American includes a split train (split in Temple), with part going to Houston through Brenham. Amtrak discontinued the Lone Star in 1979, but kept this Temple-Houston link on for 2 more years until September 30, 1981:



In 1979, just before the Lone Star was discontinued, both the Lone Star and Inter-American were completely separate trains: