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M.E.F. & S.E. Railroad No. 5 at Marshall, Texas, 1938.

Information Wanted on Harrison County Shortline Railroads and Sawmills.

Murry Hammond is working to produce Rusty Rails & Dusty Trails history newsletters on the following Harrison County subjects. In general, I am looking for photographs to illustrate these histories, and surviving family stories to personalize them. If you have any pictures or stories on these old log railroads or sawmill life that you would be willing to let us copy for our publication, I'd love to speak with you by mail or e-mail or telephone. Contact: Murry Hammond (click for e-Mail) or call anytime at 818-653-4626.

Here are our needs:

Texas Southern Railway (1897 - 1908) and Marshall & East Texas Railway (1908 - 1918). Winnsboro to Elysian Fields, headquarters and shops at Marshall. Ceased operations in 1918, portions were sold to the Marshall, Elysian Fields & Southeastern, and the Winnsboro & Gilmer Railroad.

Winnsboro & Gilmer Railroad, 1922 - 1926. East Winnsboro to Rhonesboro, operating that portion of the abandoned Marshall & East Texas. As near as we can tell, the W. & G.'s sole piece equipment was a Model-T or similar highway truck that was converted to run on rails, and it's sole freight was a large fruit farm at Rosewood or Rhonesboro, and also cotton, all of which it hauled to Winnsboro. We need to know who operated this line, who were its customers, stories from those who rode it, and any photographs of the line operating, including any photos in general of the towns of Rhonesboro and Rosewood during those years.

Marshall, Elysian Fields & Southeastern Railway, 1922 - 1940. Marshall, Blocker, and Elysian Fields, operating that portion of the abandoned Marshall & East Texas. Depot buildings stood at all three points. This line operated a fleet of converted automobiles, tractors and highway trucks to run on rails. In the late 1930's it acquired a small steam engine and a small gasoline locomotive to deal with occasional heavier trains.

Marshall, Elysian Fields & Southeastern Ry., Elysian Fields, 1924.

Log Trams: The Texas Southern was constructed primarily out of the following existing logging railroads:

Commercial Lumber Company (Gilmer)
W. R. Ragley Lumber Company (Winnsboro)
Glen Lumber / Lodwick Lumber Companies (Harleton)

Thank you!

Eagleton, Texas, 1912 Soil Map
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Survey.

Elysian Fields, Texas, Showing the Marshall, Elysian Fields & Southeastern Railway. 1936 Highway Map Composite.
Source: Texas Highway Department, 1936.

Marshall, Elysian Fields & Southeastern Railway, 1936 Highway Map Composite.
Source: Texas Highway Department, 1936.

Harleton, Texas, 1912 Soil Map
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Survey.

Logging Railroads of East Texas, 89-Page Magazine on CD-Rom Format.
The history of the logging railroads and tram operations in East Texas between 1840 and 1964. PDF file containes 100 photographs in 89 pages, on a CD-Rom.