Burlington-Rock Island Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Burlington-Rock Island Railroad officially came into existence on July 7, 1930, through the reorganization of its parent road, the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway Company (T&BV), AKA the “Boll Weevil".
Like its predecessor, the BRI was jointly owned by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
(CB&Q) and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
(Rock Island), with each company owning half of the railroad. "It took its new name from the two owning systems and operated 303 miles (487.6 km) of track in 1930".
The ancestor of the BRI, the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway (T&BV), originally was chartered on October 9, 1902, its first trackage consisted of an 88 miles (141.6 km) line from Cleburne, Texas
to Mexia, Texas
, and was finished in January 1904. Due to a shortage of operating capitol to complete the project, the railroad was acquired by the Colorado and Southern Railway
in August 1905, which later sold a half interest in its investment to the Rock Island. The Colorado and Southern was bought by the Burlington in 1908. Due to the influx of funds from these well-heeled financial partners, by 1907 the T&BV line had been extended to Houston from the Mexia terminal, with a line also added between Waxahachie
and Teague
. Trackage rights
were also soon arranged with other railroads linking the T&BV with Waxahachie and Dallas, Cleburne and Fort Worth
, and Houston and Galveston
.
With ongoing financial problems resulting from inadequate revenue, the Trinity and Brazos Valley went into receivership in 1914. A series of receivers were appointed including John W. Robbins (1914), L.H. Atwell, Jr, and in 1919, Gen. John A. Hulen. Hulen eventually became the first president of the BRI when the T&BV reorganized.
Hulen had begun improvements on the Trinity and Brazos while he was receiver, and this trend was continued after the reorganization. The two parent companies rotated their management of the BRI in 5 year intervals; the Rock Island started first and controlled the BRI until 1935. Soon after the reorganization an abandonment of the original right of way between Mexia and Cleburne began and was implemented in three stages, the first being the 30 miles (48.3 km) Cleburne to Hillsboro
section (1932), next the 35 miles (56.3 km) section from Hillsboro to Hubbard
(1935), and finally in 1942, the 23 miles (37 km) of track from Hubbard to Mexia.
The BRI, along with their partner the CB&Q, inaugurated the first streamlined passenger train service
in Texas on October 1, 1936, the Sam Houston Zephyr
, running from Dallas-Fort Worth to Houston, it was actually listed as a CB&Q train. Not to be outdone, Rock Island in cooperation with the BRI inaugurated its own named streamlined passenger train in 1937, the Texas Rocket. The Rocket was replaced in January 1945 by the Twin Star Rocket
, actually listed as a Rock Island train, running between Houston and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
A major change in the BRI landscape came in 1950 when the Rock Island partnered with the Fort Worth and Denver Railway
to lease the BRI's line section from Teague to Houston which they called the Joint Texas division.
The BRI never lived up to its financial promise, finally succumbing to foreclosure in April 1964, with its assets being purchased by the owning partners, each receiving an uncontested half interest in the property. The railroad's tangible assets became part of the Fort Worth and Denver and Rock Island railroads in 1965 and the Burlington-Rock Island Railroad was no more. Rock Island went out of business on March 31, 1980, leaving the Fort Worth and Denver in sole control; it in turn merged into the Burlington Northern
system on December 31, 1982.
Like its predecessor, the BRI was jointly owned by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
(CB&Q) and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
(Rock Island), with each company owning half of the railroad. "It took its new name from the two owning systems and operated 303 miles (487.6 km) of track in 1930".
The ancestor of the BRI, the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway (T&BV), originally was chartered on October 9, 1902, its first trackage consisted of an 88 miles (141.6 km) line from Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne, Texas
Cleburne is a city in Johnson County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. According to 2007 United States Census Bureau estimates, the population is 29,050. It is the county seat of Johnson County. Cleburne is named for a Confederate General, Patrick Cleburne...
to Mexia, Texas
Mexia, Texas
Mexia is a city in Limestone County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,552 at the 2008 census.The city's motto, based on the fact that outsiders tend to mispronounce the name , is "A great place, no matter how you pronounce it."...
, and was finished in January 1904. Due to a shortage of operating capitol to complete the project, the railroad was acquired by the Colorado and Southern Railway
Colorado and Southern Railway
The Colorado and Southern Railway was a railroad company in the western United States that operated independently from 1898 to 1908, then as part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad until it was absorbed into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.The railway began as the...
in August 1905, which later sold a half interest in its investment to the Rock Island. The Colorado and Southern was bought by the Burlington in 1908. Due to the influx of funds from these well-heeled financial partners, by 1907 the T&BV line had been extended to Houston from the Mexia terminal, with a line also added between Waxahachie
Waxahachie, Texas
Waxahachie is a city in Ellis County, Texas, United States, and a southern suburb of Dallas. The population was 21,426 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ellis County....
and Teague
Teague, Texas
Teague is a city in Freestone County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,557 at the 2000 census.-Settlement:The area was first settled around the time of the Civil War. During the latter...
. Trackage rights
Arrangements between railroads
Railway companies can interact with and control others in many ways. These relationships can be complicated by bankruptcies.-Operating:Often, when a railroad first opens, it is only a short spur of a main line. The owner of the spur line may contract with the owner of the main line for operation of...
were also soon arranged with other railroads linking the T&BV with Waxahachie and Dallas, Cleburne and Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, and Houston and Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
.
With ongoing financial problems resulting from inadequate revenue, the Trinity and Brazos Valley went into receivership in 1914. A series of receivers were appointed including John W. Robbins (1914), L.H. Atwell, Jr, and in 1919, Gen. John A. Hulen. Hulen eventually became the first president of the BRI when the T&BV reorganized.
Hulen had begun improvements on the Trinity and Brazos while he was receiver, and this trend was continued after the reorganization. The two parent companies rotated their management of the BRI in 5 year intervals; the Rock Island started first and controlled the BRI until 1935. Soon after the reorganization an abandonment of the original right of way between Mexia and Cleburne began and was implemented in three stages, the first being the 30 miles (48.3 km) Cleburne to Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County in Central Texas. The population was 8,232 at the 2000 census.Hillsboro, located on Interstate 35 where I-35E and I-35W meet south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the primary center for trade and commerce in Hill County...
section (1932), next the 35 miles (56.3 km) section from Hillsboro to Hubbard
Hubbard, Texas
Hubbard is a city in Hill County in Central Texas. It was named for Texas Governor Richard B. Hubbard. The population was 1,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hubbard is located at ....
(1935), and finally in 1942, the 23 miles (37 km) of track from Hubbard to Mexia.
The BRI, along with their partner the CB&Q, inaugurated the first streamlined passenger train service
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
in Texas on October 1, 1936, the Sam Houston Zephyr
Sam Houston Zephyr
The Sam Houston Zephyr was a named passenger train operated by the Burlington-Rock Island Railroad, a subsidiary of both the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad...
, running from Dallas-Fort Worth to Houston, it was actually listed as a CB&Q train. Not to be outdone, Rock Island in cooperation with the BRI inaugurated its own named streamlined passenger train in 1937, the Texas Rocket. The Rocket was replaced in January 1945 by the Twin Star Rocket
Twin Star Rocket
The Twin Star Rocket was a passenger train operated by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Introduced on January 14, 1945, it was the only new streamlined train permitted to enter service in World War II by the U.S. Government...
, actually listed as a Rock Island train, running between Houston and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
A major change in the BRI landscape came in 1950 when the Rock Island partnered with the Fort Worth and Denver Railway
Fort Worth and Denver Railway
The Fort Worth and Denver Railway , nicknamed "the Denver Road," was a class I American railroad company that operated in the northern part of Texas from 1881 to 1982, and had a profound influence on the early settlement and economic development of the region....
to lease the BRI's line section from Teague to Houston which they called the Joint Texas division.
The BRI never lived up to its financial promise, finally succumbing to foreclosure in April 1964, with its assets being purchased by the owning partners, each receiving an uncontested half interest in the property. The railroad's tangible assets became part of the Fort Worth and Denver and Rock Island railroads in 1965 and the Burlington-Rock Island Railroad was no more. Rock Island went out of business on March 31, 1980, leaving the Fort Worth and Denver in sole control; it in turn merged into the Burlington Northern
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
system on December 31, 1982.
Burlington-Rock Island Zephyrs and Rockets
- Sam Houston ZephyrSam Houston ZephyrThe Sam Houston Zephyr was a named passenger train operated by the Burlington-Rock Island Railroad, a subsidiary of both the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad...
(Dallas-Fort Worth–Houston) (with CB&Q) - Texas Rocket (Dallas-Fort Worth–Houston) (counterpart to the Zephyr with Rock Island)
- Twin Star RocketTwin Star RocketThe Twin Star Rocket was a passenger train operated by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Introduced on January 14, 1945, it was the only new streamlined train permitted to enter service in World War II by the U.S. Government...
(Houston–Minneapolis-St. Paul) (with Rock Island)