A Crossing of the Fort Worth & Denver Railway and the Panhandle & Santa Fe Railway
In 1928, the FW&D completed a branch line
between Silverton and Lubbock, crossing the P&SF at Tower 141. The branch was
constructed under the charter of
the Ft. Worth and Denver South Plains Railway which had embarked on a strategy
of gaining access to agricultural business in the South Plains area. They had
previously
built a branch line under this same charter from the FW&D main line at Estelline
to Quitaque, and this line was extended to Dimmitt in 1928. The extension
crossed
the Silverton-Lubbock branch at the community of Sterley, but a numbered
interlocker was never placed in service at that crossing. The section from
Sterley to
Silverton was abandoned in 1978. The remaining lines between Sterley and
Lubbock, and between Estelline and Plainview, were abandoned in 1989. In 1993,
the Caprock Canyons Trailway was opened as a
64-mile hike
and bike trail on a segment of the former FW&D line between Estelline and
the town of South Plains.
We do not have any information about the structure that may have been at
Tower 141, or
the date it was placed in service. It was most likely a cabin
interlocker
since both rail lines were lightly used branches.
Although both lines have been abandoned, the former crossing is visible in
the center of this satellite image.
