The Texas Central RR was formed in 1892 to take over the trackage of the Texas Central Ry between Ross and Albany, TX. It was later extended west to Stamford and east to Waco. A branch was also built between DeLeon and Cross Plains. In 1914 it was leased to the Missouri-Kansas-Texas for 99 years and operated as a Katy branch until 1967, when the Katy applied to abandon the line. The Gorman Peanut Co. decided they could not be without rail service and purchased the Texas Central, but only kept the trackage from Dublin to Gorman and from Rotan to Stamford. They acquired 4 Alco switchers from the Houston Belt and Terminal, using 2 at Dublin and 2 at Stamford. The Stamford operation was later abandoned in the 1980s.

In 1969, the Trinity Valley Railroad Club set up a tourist operation using a couple of their coaches behind a TEXC diesel. Opening day saw a visit from the private cars of John Brigham. The wife of the General Manager was shocked when she saw a party in the observation with music and adult beverages. With the death of the general manager, the new manager was not interested, and the project slowly fell apart. He was the son of the wife of the deceased general manager and much influenced by her. The cars went to the Texas Export for awhile until it was abandoned.

Cen-Tex Rail Link took over the Santa Fe connecting line thru Dublin in 1994. This was an affiliate of the South Orient which had earlier taken over the Santa Fe south of Brownwood. The operation was combined the following year, and South Orient took over operation of the Texas Central as a branch line. The remaining Alcos were sold. In 1999, the Fort Worth & Western purchased the South Orient line from Fort Worth to San Angelo and now operates the Texas Central as well.

1, S2, was built by Alco in October 1946, #74803, as Houston Belt & Terminal 16. It was acquired in November 1967.

2, S2, was built by Alco in September 1944, #72750, as HB&T 13. It was acquired in July 1968.

3, S2, was built by Alco in August 1948, #76158, as HB&T 19. It was acquired in January 1970.

4, S2, was built by Alco in August 1948, #76157, as HB&T 18. It was also acquired in January 1970.

AMDG

6/25/2021

Memorial of Saint Domingo Henares de Zafra Cubero, martyred in Vietnam in 1838

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