Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Texas |
| Dates of operation | 1859– |
| Successor | Missouri Pacific Railroad |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad was a very important railway in Texas. It was the first train line to connect the cities of Houston and Galveston. People sometimes called it the "Old Reliable Short Line." This railroad started running trains around 1859. It operated for a very long time, 136 years, under its first official permission. Later, the Missouri Pacific Railroad bought it. Today, parts of its old tracks are used by the Union Pacific Railroad.
History of the GH&H Railroad
The Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad got its official permission on February 7, 1853. It was named after its main destinations: Galveston, Houston, and Henderson. Building the railway began in 1857. Trains started running between Virginia Point, Texas and Houston about two years later. This part of the track was very flat and straight.
The railway got help from Galveston County. The county helped pay for a special bridge. This bridge, called a causeway, crossed the wide water channel. It connected Virginia Point to Galveston Island. The railway started its full service between Galveston and Houston in 1860.
The Railroad During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the railway mostly stayed under the control of the Confederate States of America. The Confederacy was a group of southern states that separated from the United States. They used the railroad for their needs during the war.
The Railroad Today
Today, most of the original Galveston, Houston and Henderson tracks are owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. This part is known as the Galveston Subdivision. It is about 47 miles long. The tracks run next to Interstate 45 (I-45).
The Galveston Subdivision connects to Houston's main freight train network. It links up with the West Belt Subdivision and another Union Pacific line at Virginia Point. Even though it mostly has one track, many trains use it. In 2005, the Union Pacific reported that about 15 to 25 trains used this line every day.
