Galveston-Houston Electric Railway
Encyclopedia
The Galveston–Houston Electric Railway was an interurban railway between Galveston and Houston, Texas
from 1911 to 1936. The railway was recognized as the fastest interurban line in 1925 and 1926.
to downtown Galveston
in as little as 75 minutes. The track
roughly followed the current path of Interstate 45
(Gulf Freeway), and is now used as a utility right of way for high tension power lines. The Galveston Bay
causeway
was considered a great feat of engineering and cost about US$2 million (US$ in present day terms) to build in the late 1910s.
While most of the original stations
have been demolished to make room for new structures, several artifacts remain. Minute Maid Park
was built from Union Station, and features a railway theme. Before Interstate 45, a small, two-story interurban station was located on College Ave. which crossed Airport Blvd. This crossing was not at right angles but like an "X" and would be located slightly east of I45 on the feeder street, if it still existed today. Airport Blvd. becomes College Ave. in South Houston @ I45. The original causeway in Galveston can be easily seen to the east from the interstate highway causeway.
Other stops include Park Place, City of South Houston (formerly City of Dumont) College Ave.-Airport Blvd. @ Gulf Freeway-Interstate 45, Clear Creek Crossing (the power station), and the Galveston Terminal on 21st Street, between Church and Post Office streets.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
from 1911 to 1936. The railway was recognized as the fastest interurban line in 1925 and 1926.
Route
The Interurban ran the 50 miles (80 km) from downtown HoustonHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
to downtown Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
in as little as 75 minutes. The track
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
roughly followed the current path of Interstate 45
Interstate 45
Interstate 45 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston over the Galveston Causeway to the Gulf of Mexico...
(Gulf Freeway), and is now used as a utility right of way for high tension power lines. The Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay is a large estuary located along the upper coast of Texas in the United States. It is connected to the Gulf of Mexico and is surrounded by sub-tropic marshes and prairies on the mainland. The water in the Bay is a complex mixture of sea water and fresh water which supports a wide...
causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
was considered a great feat of engineering and cost about US$2 million (US$ in present day terms) to build in the late 1910s.
While most of the original stations
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
have been demolished to make room for new structures, several artifacts remain. Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
was built from Union Station, and features a railway theme. Before Interstate 45, a small, two-story interurban station was located on College Ave. which crossed Airport Blvd. This crossing was not at right angles but like an "X" and would be located slightly east of I45 on the feeder street, if it still existed today. Airport Blvd. becomes College Ave. in South Houston @ I45. The original causeway in Galveston can be easily seen to the east from the interstate highway causeway.
Other stops include Park Place, City of South Houston (formerly City of Dumont) College Ave.-Airport Blvd. @ Gulf Freeway-Interstate 45, Clear Creek Crossing (the power station), and the Galveston Terminal on 21st Street, between Church and Post Office streets.