Longhorn Railway
Based out of the small town of McNeil, the Longhorn Railway operates approximately 162
miles of ex-SP trackage in central Texas. Capital Metro, the Austin company which owns the
line, has employed Longhorn as the line's operator since
spring of 1996. The line's previous operator was RailTex's now-defunct Austin &
Northwestern.
The line runs from a connection with the former SP Flatonia Sub at Giddings, west through Elgin
and McNeil to Burnet. Trackage continues west to Marble Falls and Llano, although the railroad
hasve suspended operations west of Marble Falls. Operations are based out of Longhorn's small
yard at McNeil, located on the far north side of Austin, just south of the town of Round Rock.
Longhorn interchanges with UP at McNeil and UP and BNSF (via BNSF's trackage rights over the
UP) at Elgin. The Austin Steam Train Association runs weekend passenger excursions on the
line as well.
Interestingly, as I work to publish this page on March 22, 2000, Capital Metro is attempting to
remove Longhorn as the line's operator on the basis of an alleged breach-of-contract.
Capital Metro charges that Longhorn defaulted on its contract by failing to properly maintain
the line, failing to provide financial and business records, and failing to pay taxes in a
timely manner. Capital Metro has cancelled its contract with Longhorn, and plans to
bring in Econorail as an "emergency operator" for a six-month period while it re-bids
the contract. Meanwhile, it appears that Longhorn will protest the cancellation. In a
March 9 newspaper article, the Austin American-Statesman quoted Longhorn President
Don Cheatham as saying, "They've got a fight on their hands now".
Expect an ugly legal battle before this thing gets resolved.
Please click on any picture below to see a larger image.
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Longhorn Railway's hand-painted sign is prominently displayed at the railroad's
small yard in McNeil, Texas on May 7, 1996, during the company's first month of operation.
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Longhorn Railway GP9 2003 was at UP's Centennial yard in Ft. Worth, Texas on April
16, 1996, en route to McNeil for delivery to the new shortline operator.
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Longhorn Railway GP35 # 2006 was at McNeil, Texas on May 7, 1996.
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Longhorn Railway SW1200 2008 switches cars at the east end of Longhorn's yard at
McNeil, Texas on May 23, 1996.
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Longhorn's McNeil yard in this January 1999 photo reveals that the line has
undergone a dramatic transition in motive power. The Omnitrax power is gone, replaced by
ex-Juniata Terminal SW1500 9275 and ex-Oregon, California & Eastern U25B
(model TE53-1-4E, an MK rebuild of an ex-UP U25B for you rivet counters)
7603, leased from Econorail.
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Longhorn 4518, leased from Econorail, leads a westbound train near the western end of
Longhorn's trackage south of Burnet, Texas in January 1999.
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A Longhorn train has arrived at the Pioneer limestone quarry south of Burnet, Texas on January
12, 1999. To expedite switching, the crew has split the consist and the 4518 is pulling loads
while the 4472 prepares to spot empties.
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All images on Wes Carr's Southwest Shorts © 2000 by Wes Carr. All rights reserved.
Wes Carr claims no affiliation with the Longhorn Railway or
any other shortline railroad.
