Photograph of Union Pacific Caboose 25739 on display near
the T&P Depot in Grand Saline.
A Crossing of the Texas Short Line Railroad and the Texas & Pacific
Railway
This interlocker was located in Grand Saline at the crossing
of the Texas and Pacific and the Texas
Shortline Railway. There is a nice tribute to the Texas Shortline
Railway on the side of former UP Caboose 25739 located about 1
block north of the ex-T&P depot that is now used as a public
library and community center. The text from the display, compiled
by the Grand Saline Historical Association reads as follows:
This tribute is dedicated to the Owners, Employees and Customers of the Texas Shortline Railway.
| 1845 | Salt Industry begins in Grand Saline |
| 1901 | Incorporated on February 28, 1901 to build a railway from Grand Saline to Alba, 10 miles, to carry coal to Grand Saline Salt companies. $200,000 Capital. |
| 1902 | Roadbed completed with use of as many as 100 mule - fresno teams. |
| 1909 | Short Line into receivership. |
| 1909 | Shortline purchased by local investors. Principal tonnage: Coal and Cotton. Passenger service extended. |
| 1929 | Texas Shortline Railway purchased by Texas and Pacific Railway. |
| 1930 | Railway extended to Van (~10 mi. south) to serve development of oil field. |
| 1941 | Morton Salt converts to natural gas. |
| 1959 | Railway discontinued to Alba. |
| 1962 | Railway service discontinued to Van. All discontinued right-of-way sold. |
Photograph of Union Pacific Caboose 25739 on display near the T&P Depot in Grand Saline.
Charles P. Zlatkovich's book "Texas Railroads, A record of Construction and Abandonment" mirrors the above data with the following. It is interesting to note that he does not show control by the T&P.
| 1902 | Grand Saline to MP 4.5 (+4.5 mi) |
| 1903 | MP 4.5 to Hoyt (+4.86) |
| 1922 | Grand Saline to Salt Works (-1.41) |
| 1922 | Alba to Coal Mine (-1.41) |
| 1930 | Grand Saline to Van (+11.51) |
| 1959 | Alba to Grand Saline (-9.79) |
| 1962 | Grand Saline to Van (-11.39 abandoned) |
Modern Photographs - Tower 130
Facing north, the water tower in the distance marks the TSL north/south right-of-way. Interlocker 130 at the T&P crossing would have been somewhere in the foreground. The field between the water tower and rails was probably the TSL yards. At least one sizeable concrete foundation is located along the west edge of the field. Photo by Jim King.
The Grand Saline water tower was built in the abandoned swale of the Texas Short Line Railroad right-of-way a few dozen yards north of US80.Location Map - Interlocker 130
