www.txrrhistory.com - Tower 137 - Big Sandy
A Crossing of the Texas & Pacific Railway and the St. Louis
Southwestern Railroad
In 1873, the Texas & Pacific (T&P) Railway built west across
northeast Texas from Marshall to Dallas. A few years later, the
Tyler Tap Railroad was organized to "tap" the T&P
main line at a location near Big Sandy Creek. This would provide
the citizens of the thriving town of Tyler with rail service over
a 21-mile narrow gauge line. Because the lines were of different
gauge, there was no direct connection. Instead, the Tyler Tap
paralleled a T&P siding for some distance, providing a means
of exchanging cargo with the T&P. In 1880, under the new ownership
of the Texas & St. Louis Railway, the Tyler Tap was extended
northward, crossing the T&P line and proceeding to Texarkana
via Mount Pleasant. In 1886, this line was converted to standard
gauge and rail connections with the T&P were established at
the crossing, which became known as Big Sandy Switch. The Texas
& St. Louis Railway eventually became part of the St. Louis Southwestern
Railroad, nicknamed the "Cotton Belt" for its extensive
network in the cotton growing regions of Texas and Arkansas.
Railroad Commission records indicate that an
electric interlocker, numbered 137, was established at Big Sandy in 1928. This
late date is somewhat surprising; the laws regulating interlockers were passed
at the turn of the century and most major rail crossings had been upgraded to
meet the interlocking requirements within a few years thereafter. It is apparent
that extensive traffic on both lines was common for the entire history of this
crossing. Since a union depot was built at the crossing, it is likely that
interlocker controls were remoted there in lieu of a manned tower. Today, both
lines are operated by Union Pacific which sends dozens of trains daily across
the diamond at Big Sandy.
Modern Photo - Tower 137 Site
Looking south toward the
interlocker cabinet, the crossing diamond at Big Sandy is almost invisible due
to
the acute angle at which the two lines crossed. This is due to the Tyler Tap
being a narrow gauge line when
originally constructed. freight was offloaded between rail cars on the adjacent
lines since the cars could
not be interchanged. (Jim King photo)
Below: John Winfield's
beautiful painting of the junction at Big Sandy shows the union depot that
was located
there.
The passenger diesel is southbound
on the Cotton Belt. The hut across the tracks from the depot is for
the Railway Express Agency, and is depicted on the 1928 Sanborn map of Big
Sandy.
Location Map - Tower 137
