Remembering the Southern Pacific Railroad in Brownsville

By Diego Garcia III | Editor of The Brownsville Beacon

The Southern Pacific Railroad was an extensive network of rail lines that was established at the end of the Civil War and would eventually stretch from California to South Texas. 

The Southern Pacific would make its way to Brownsville in 1927. Along with the railroad line, a beautiful Spanish-colonial revival style train station was built and began operating in November of the same year. A fancy event was held at the new Southern Pacific railyard. Southern Pacific dignitaries from Houston along with Brownsville city government leaders held an event complete with a driving of a ceremonial golden railroad spike into the ground.

Even though the Missouri Pacific line had come to town in 1905 and set up their rail lines and train station on Levee Street to the left of where the Hotel El Jardin would be built, the Southern Pacific station was built closer to Washington Park. The Southern Pacific Railroad had secured the rights to purchase the San Antonio and Aransas Pass railway, which had lines running to the Rio Grande Valley and Brownsville. 

The Southern Pacific had success operating in Brownsville. Several passengers took advantage of their passenger rail service to Houston. Once in Houston, they could board another train to all points west or east. In 1929, Southern Pacific would bring a new fleet of locomotives down to Brownsville, shaving the travel time to Houston by an hour.

When Brownsville's young men went off to war to fight the Nazis and the Japanese, many of them boarded Southern Pacific trains to training bases in San Antonio. My grandmother would tell tales of beautiful young maidens waving goodbye from the platforms as the brave men went off to war, some never to return home.

After the war, as the interstate highway system became more prevalent, and as automobiles became more affordable, Southern Pacific began shifting their priorities from passenger rail service to commercial transportation of freight and produce. Postwar Brownsville, and the Rio Grande Valley as a whole, was still a go-to spot for citrus. Brownsville oranges and grapefruits rivaled Floridian crops, and Southern Pacific wanted to ensure the produce would reach northern distribution points.

In 1948, Southern Pacific invested hundreds of millions of dollars in new faster diesel locomotives and the newest refrigerated railcars. The produce would make its way to St. Louis and Kansas City where the American Northeast could enjoy the Magic Valley's fruit.

Brownsville's Southern Pacific train station also had segregated water fountains and toilets, a throwback to the sad and regretful practice of segregation.



Eventually, the ornate train station would be left to decay and fall in disrepair. By the late 1960's the station was boarded up and abandoned. Several of the local youth would use the train station as a popular hangout spot. Several other miscreants would dangerously weave in and out of the rows of boxcars and other freight cars as they made their way towards Ringgold Park. 

By the 1980's the station had really fallen on hard times. Even as the city was busy building a new, modern police station right next to it, the train station was in a sad state. Many around town believed the old depot was doomed for a date with the wrecking ball.



However, those interested in local history began a campaign to restore and refurbish the aging structure. Due to the efforts of different local historical associations, the train station saw new life as a museum. 



The Historic Brownsville Museum now occupies the old train station. In addition to several pieces dedicated to railroad history, the museum rotates several exhibits throughout the year. Among one of the nicest exhibits I had ever seen was an exhibit displaying artifacts of local professional baseball teams that existed in Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley, including the original Brownsville Charros.



The train station is no longer an eyesore at the entrance to Brownsville's historic Downtown. It's restored Southern Pacific roundel now shines as a welcoming beacon to those who want to experience a bit of Old Brownsville.

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