Texas Transportation Company
Encyclopedia
The Texas Transportation Company was a Class III
short-line railroad in San Antonio, Texas
that serviced the Pearl Brewery and several other businesses. The company operated for more than 113 years, starting as a private company in 1887. It was chartered on 24 September 1897. Service ended when Pabst Brewing Company
closed the Pearl Brewery in early 2001.
. In the first conversion the boxcar was horse drawn, later it was converted to an electric engine—setting the standard for all subsequent engines. Little is known of the next two engines to carry the designation of Engine #1, we have photos but that seems to be the extent of general knowledge. Both where electric locomotives, as seen in the pictures, but beyond that little is recorded of their specifications or history. The biggest question would be where both engines came from. Pearl didn't build trains, they bought them.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
short-line railroad in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
that serviced the Pearl Brewery and several other businesses. The company operated for more than 113 years, starting as a private company in 1887. It was chartered on 24 September 1897. Service ended when Pabst Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company is an American company that dates its origins to a brewing company founded in 1844 by Jacob Best and by 1889 named after Frederick Pabst. It is currently the holding company contracting for the brewing of over two dozen brands of beer and malt liquor from defunct companies...
closed the Pearl Brewery in early 2001.
Engine #1
Over the course of TXTC's life, there were actually four engines to carry the designation of Engine #1. The very first engine was actually a twice converted boxcarBoxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
. In the first conversion the boxcar was horse drawn, later it was converted to an electric engine—setting the standard for all subsequent engines. Little is known of the next two engines to carry the designation of Engine #1, we have photos but that seems to be the extent of general knowledge. Both where electric locomotives, as seen in the pictures, but beyond that little is recorded of their specifications or history. The biggest question would be where both engines came from. Pearl didn't build trains, they bought them.
External links
- Don's Rail Photos: Texas Transportation Company - Complete history of the brewery's electric rail line.
- Handbook of Texas Online: Texas Transportation Company
- TXTC's Short-Line Information
- AAR Markings - Texas Transportation's listing as TXTC