​The Railroad in Montgomery

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Marker Text: ​Problems with transporting farm crops to market, along with the growing importance of rail transportation were major factors that prompted area businessmen to organize the Central and Montgomery (C & M) Railroad in 1877. Completed by 1880, the C & M consisted of a 25-mile track connecting Montgomery with the Houston & Texas Central Railroad at Navasota.
 A combined passenger and freight station constructed near this site was often the center of social activity. After the county seat was moved from Montgomery in 1889, a small jail, moved to the railroad yard, held prisoners awaiting transportation.
  In 1882 the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad purchased the C & M, thus acquiring access to the prized timber trade of East Texas. By extending the rails east and west, this line became the Beaumont-Somerville Branch of the Santa Fe. The eastern extension joined the original C & M line a mile west of town at a point that became known as "The Junction." Travel delays resulted from trains backing to or from the depot to the main line.
​  Passenger service was discontinued in 1951. Later, the mile of railroad track from "The Junction: to the depot in Montgomery was removed. (1984)

Marker No: 7896

Aluminum 27 x 42 Subject Marker

Geographic: 30.387529, -95.696815

Location: 211 Liberty Street, Montgomery