Early Spring

Today's spring-like weather, a high of 78F, conjures up the memory of beautiful Texas wildflowers! In honor of this beautiful day, here are some beautiful memories of last spring.

Infamous Texas Bluebonnets

Butterfly Pea

Desert Marigold

Pink Evening Primrose

Field of Texas Toadflax

Alpine Vetch

Crimson Clover

Texas Paintbrush

 One of the best things about living in Texas is springtime wildflowers. However, wildflowers bloom almost all year long. There are some that are in bloom from spring throughout summer, and some that wait until the fall to bloom. I will be posting some of my best photographs of these beautiful seasons in the future.

Another RR Depot

The historic Gainesville Santa Fe Railroad Depot in Gainesville, Texas.

It has two historical plaques. The first plaque reads:

Santa Fe Passenger Depot

By the end of the 19^th century Gainesville was established as one of the state’s major rail centers.

This depot was built about 1902 to handle the increased traffic on the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad. The red brick structure contained a Harvey House Restaurant until 1931. Although railroad use declined after World War II, this depot stands as a reminder of Gainesville’s importance in Texas’ early economic growth. – Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1983.

Gainesville - Fort Sill Road

 The 2nd one shown here reads:

The U.S. Cavalry constructed roads to improve logistical routes in the west during the 19^th century. Henry O. Flipper, the first African American graduate of West Point, was an officer in the Tenth Cavalry Regiment “Buffalo Soldiers” at Fort Sill, Indian Territory (Oklahoma). By late 1879, Fort Sill required a more significant railroad town than nearby Caddo Station, and the army placed Flipper in command of building a road from Fort Sill to Gainesville. Two years later, the railroad reached Henrietta and replaced Gainesville as a Fort Sill supply town. Neverthe less, the construction of the Gainesville-Fort Sill road is a historic example of the Buffalo Soldiers’ contributions to the west’s economic development. 2006

Choo Choooo... Clickity Clack Down Track

Always loved trains!

On March 29, 2009, my family decided to go to the Red River Railroad Museum in Denison, Texas. I took several photos while there.

A little history of the Red River Railroad Museum & Katy Depot from the Museum's website:

The Katy Depot is the former passenger station and general office building of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. The depot was the center of operations for the railroad till it's merger with the Union Pacific Railroad on August 12, 1988. Also called Union Depot it was the transportation center of the city and was used by other railroads. These included the Frisco and the Houston and Texas Central later to become part of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Located one block east of downtown Denison off U.S. Business 69, the depot is opposite the highway overpass from the former location of the M-K-T Denison Carshops. The Katy Depot and a small part of the once huge Ray Yards are all that remain of a major point on the Katy System. The former site of the original Denison Union Depot is not far away, it was used till the opening of the Katy Depot around 1914. Every famous Katy passenger train used the depot, boarding passengers for travel from Denison to the many destinations throughout the Katy System. Although all passenger service ended on the Katy in the mid 1960s the depot remained the general offices for the railroad till the merger with the Union Pacific Railroad.

Here are some of the photos I took that day...

The engine as it comes down the track.
Denison, Texas was an important hub for railroads.

The MKT, Missouri-Kansas-Texas, line was infamous in its heyday.

The MKT was known as The Katy line.
It was so popular merchandise was sold commemorating the line.

The Katy in all its glory with the railroad depot in the background!

The Caboose: a much missed site along the railroads of today.

If you are a fan of the old railroads or a railroading enthusiast, please visit the Red River Railroad Museum's website.