Flatonia RHS

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT...
Hi there, I’m Tommy A. Shults, President of the Flatonia Railroad Historical Society, Dalsa Sunset Chapter, located in historic Flatonia, Texas. We would like to invite you to visit with us or join our club; everyone is welcome! We always meet at 1:00 p.m. at the Photo Pavilion adjacent to the interlocker, about 2 blocks west of downtown Flatonia. We meet on Saturday, every 2 months. The pavilion is always open for your train watching enjoyment. Dues are $12 and are collected annually. On April 10, 2005 we received our official chapter in the National Railway Historical Society, NRHS; DALSA/Sunset Chapter #173. We have 35 members and still growing.
Another new feature is our new website, Ms. Shanna Price, as webmaster; and is doing a great job.
We are making plans for our first club fun day rail trip (see Entertainment section below for more ideas). Mr. Jim Vollmar is heading up this program. One of the places he is looking into is The Union Pacific, Dispatch Center, located in Spring, Texas; maybe in spring of 2006, or sooner.
We are also starting to work on a power point program, starting in Harrisburg to San Antonio; from the start it was known as the BBB&C, later was The GH & SA. This program, when complete, could be shown in members’ home towns, such as schools, clubs, etc. This being part of our education program, part of our mission statement.

For exact dates of meetings or other events you may email me at tas@pcguns.net or call me at (979)743-5366. We look forward to visiting with you in the future!

Next Meeting: August 20, 2005
Tommy A. Shults
Located at M.P. 119.80 on the Sunset Route

The creation, development and perpetual operation of a historical and educational railroad club, dedicated to the teaching of the history and growth of the GH & SA and the SA & AP Railways of Texas, through a systematic collection of maps, photographs, artifacts and other memorabilia.

SOUTHERN PACIFIC'S ROCKPORT BRANCH Tommy Shults
Gulf Coast Railroading, March 1997

The Rockport Branch, which runs from Gregory to Kosmos, Texas, is one of the last sections of the original San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad in this coastal bend area that is still being operated by Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific). The branch, which runs from about 3 miles west of Sinton eastward towards Kosmos, about 5 miles south of Rockport, is still a very active line.
Operations for this line are based out of the original depot located in Gregory, Texas. This is one of a few remaining historical structures still being used by Southern Pacific in the south Texas region.
Locations along the line which are served are listed below, in order of location along the line leaving from Gregory and traveling eastward towards Kosmos. The sites on the following list are shown on the map below.
Site 1 Unloading site for road materials at Gregory, TX
Site 2 Reynolds Metal Co.; they have their own yard and 2 switches
Site 3 Oxychem Plant; they have their own yard and 2 switches
Site 4 Dupont Plant
Site 5 Unloading facility for road materials at Ingleside. These cars are unloaded the same day they are spotted, to keep the main line to Kosmos open. This is because cars must be spotted on the main line for unloading.
Site 6 The Dequssa Corp. This is the end of the line, 13 miles from Gregory.
Site 7 Location of Interest: the trains pass through one of the old flood gates at Aransas Pass
Site 8 Old original depot at Rockport
Site 9 Old original deport at Gregory
Most of the time the power from Gregory is a pair of 4-axle locomotives. They are usually Southern Pacific or Cotton Belt units, however, foreign power is occasionally spotted from roads such as CSX, Family lines and Santa Fe. Thanks to the UP/SP merger, Union Pacific power was recently spotted in Kosmos. Also, 6 axle power will occasionally find its way down to this branch.
At Sinton, there is a yard for switching and turning power. The rock trains that bring road materials to Ingleside and Gregory are now delivered by Southern Pacific, as opposed to back in 1993-94 when the Georgetown Railroad would perform this operation. Most of these locations can be seen from the adjacent highways: Nos. 181, 361, and 35 south of Rockport.
The SA&P Railroad, when completed, began in San Antonio and reached as far south as Corpus Christi and Rockport. This line was built by Mr. Uriah Lott, also the builder of the Texas-Mexican Railroad, which still operates today. He also was the builder of the line from Robstown to Brownsville.

Schematic Layout of SP's Rockport Brach-Gregory to Kosmos- not to scale
Note: This is one of about 3 sections of the original SA&P Railroad that is still in use today. There are 2 others: one south of San Antonio and the other running from Cuero to Flatonia.

ENTERTAINMENT
Here's a list of possible trip locations for the club. Think them over and let us know what you think...at this point these are just suggestions; no dates or times have been set. If you have a suggestion for a trip location let us know! You can either contact the newsletter via email or guestbook or Jim, Entertainment Director.
     1. Union Pacific Dispatch Center in Spring, Texas
     2. Union Pacific Hardy Street Shops, Houston, Texas
     3. Temple Railroad Museum and BNSF Shops, Temple Texas
     4. BNSF Facilities, Fort Worth, Texas
     5. Union Pacific Shops, San Antonio, Texas

FROM THE WEBMASTER... We're in Oregon and loving it! We've got tracks one street over from our apartment and an amazing trestle bridge about 10 minutes away (I'll get pictures up as soon as I get them)! Our internet is up and running so you will still be able to send to the regular email account. I'll eventually change over the website to a new address/email account because I'm not able to send anything at the moment from that account, just receive. If you don't hear from me it's because we're settling in, you can contact Tommy or Matt Balboa (my Dad) if you need something..