Texas Transportation Museum
11731 Wetmore Road, San Antonio, TX 78247
(210)490-3554
The Longhorn Chapter of the N.R.H.S.,
The National Railroad Historical Society
San Antonio's chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society is the
Longhorn Chapter and was formed in 2000. It is based at TTM, where it exists as an autonomous
division of the museum. The N.R.H.S. was formed in 1935 and has over 180 chapters and 20,000
members.
As a city that was largely created by the railroads, and which has a very rich railroad history,
it could be said that such a chapter in San Antonio was long overdue. The aims of the national
organization and the local chapters are the same: To preserve what remains of our railroad
heritage and to inform the community of the essential role that railroads have played, still
play and will continue to play in our lives. In these modern times, when getting on an airliner
is about as exciting as getting on a long distance bus, not everyone has forgotten about the
railroads and for them the grace and romance of the railroads are something to be treasured.
The chapter meets every second month usually, but not always, at the museum at 7:30 PM. Chapter
meetings are held in odd numbered months, January, March, May, July, September and November.
Railroad Service began in 1977 with the arrival of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad,
which would become part of the Souther Pacific. The Internationl & Great Northern Railroad arrived in 1881.
The I & GN later became a part of Missouri Pacific. The only railroad to begin in San Antonio was the short lived
San Antonio & Aransas Pass which began in 1884. It would open up service to Corpus Christi before being
subsumed into the S.P. The Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad began service to the city
in 1900, and it has the distinction of having used three different depots in the city. The original S.P. depot until it was
replaced in 1903 by the very much grander Sunset Depot. The M.K.T. opened their own depot in 1917.
There have been no less than nine different railroads opearting in San Antonio and we are working
to provide as much information about all of them as possible.
Click here for a full San Antonio Railroad History Timeline
AMTRAK began passenger service to San Antonio in 1970, and replaced remaining MOPAC & S.P. services.
Union Pacific began its total ownership of all the rails in the city on 12/22/1982, when it acquired the
Missouri Pacific. In 1988, they took over the Missouri Kansas Texas. In September of 1996, they
"merged" with the Southern Pacific. The Burlington Northern was given trackage rights as part of
the deal, in order to mainatin some semblance of competition, but so far all they use the rails for is to travel
through the city. They have no local customers, yet.
For pictures of the Longhorn Chapter trip to Fort Worth on AMTRAK, Click •AMTRAK 3/27/04•
For a detailed report on a trip from San Antonio to New Jersy on AMTRAK, Click •EAGLE•
For a trip to Corpus Christi following the S.A.& A.P. and back via the S.A.U. & G., Click
•The 'SAP'and the 'SAUSAGE•
To send an e-mail for information about the Longhorn Chapter of the N.R.H.S., the 'National
Railroad Historical Society' click on "N.H.R.S." below:
N.R.H.S.
Please be sure to add a subject for your message
San Antonio Railroad History Pages
•San Antonio & Gulf Shore•
•AMTRAK•
•Burlington Northern Santa Fe•
•Artesian Belt Railroad / San Antonio Southern•
•Missouri-Kansas-Texas•
•Missouri Pacific / International & Great Northern•
•San Antonio & Aransas Pass•
•San Antonio Uvalde & Gulf•
•Southern Pacific / Galveston Harrisburg & San Antonio•
•Union Pacific•
•Uvalde and Northern Railway•
Just added
•San Antonio Streetcars•
Site Navigation & Links
Many of the pages below will have sub-directories of their own.
•Main Page•
•Hours of Operation & Location•
•The Longhorn & Western Railroad•
•S.A.G.R.E.S. - San Antonio Garden Railroad Society•
•TTM'S Road Vehicle Collection;
•A.M.R.E. - Alamo Model Railroad Engineers•
•The Longhorn Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society•
•Private Parties at TTM•
•School & Private Group Visits•
•Santa's Holiday Depot;
•Big Engines, Small Engines•
•History of San Antonio Transportation•
•Links to Other Related Web Sites, Books, Videos, Etc•
•Contacting the Museum;
Site Established: June 13, 2002
copyright ©2001