Abandoned Rails of

Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth & Western Railroad

Fort Worth, Texas

Home | TX | AHSRy , AT&SF , BNSF , CRI&P , FWWR , FtWB , MKT , StL&SW , T&P , UP

Fort Worth has a vast railroad history, evidence of which can be found all over the city. This page and map highlights just the abandoned rights-of-way around town.

Today, Fort Worth is still a railroad town, and is home to the nation's busiest railroad crossing, Tower 55.

Meacham Industrial Spur: A short railroad spur once existed that served a small industrial district east of Meacham Airport in Fort Worth, Texas.

7th Street Spur: The 7th Street Spur was comprised of a grouping of several tracks along 7th street in Fort Worth in the 1950s. The Spur branched from Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific's main line at their Fort Worth yard, and served a hardware store, a furniture store and a storage facility. Today, only a single track is buried yet still visible in 7th Street.

Fort Worth Federal Records Center: The Fort Worth Federal Records Center, in south Fort Worth, is home to a small abandoned railroad yard with multiple stub-ended spurs accessing the various warehouses and buildings, most of which themselves are now abandoned. An eerie silence consumes the area, and one can't help but wait for that silence to be shattered by a GE 44-tonner going about its daily business of switching cars. But it is not to be.

But it once was. The Federal Records Center was originally built in 1941 as the Fort Worth Quartermaster Depot, a distribution point and supply center for the United States Army during World War II. Its location was chosen for many reasons, not the least of which was its proximity to two different railroads: The Missouri-Kansas-Texas (to the east) and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (to the west). Both railroads built short spurs to access the depot, with a small yard connecting them. Extending south from the yard were many short spurs and branches that served the various warehouses of the depot.

Activity at the depot declined after World War II, and the entire facility is now under the ownership of General Services Administration. Since there has been no need for the rail infrastructure anymore, access to both the MKT (now UP) and AT&SF (now BNSF) lines have been severed, and the yard remains as an isolated reminder of what once was.

Fort Worth Stockyards: In the last part of the 1800s through the mid-1950s, Fort Worth was one of the largest livestock centers in the United States. As such, Fort Worth was home to a large meat-packing industry, and hosted two of the largest packing houses: Swift and Armour. The Fort Worth stockyards thrived off livestock commerce well into the 1950s, and provided a considerable railroad presence in the area. However, as the livestock industry died down, so too did the local railroads.

Today, the Fort Worth Stockyards, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a famed tourist attraction providing shopping, dining and entertainment with a western flair. The Fort Worth Grapevine Vintage Railroad, a tourist railroad hosted by the local class III Fort Worth and Western Railroad, calls at the "Stockyards Station" on its trip between Grapevine and the 8th Avenue yards south of Fort Worth. The stop includes a turntable that turns the locomotive (a GP7, and on some occasions, a former Southern Pacific 4-6-0 steamer from 1896) that can be easily witnessed in action. The former Swift and Armour meat-packing houses, now abandoned and likely home to vagrants, loom over the area to the east on the other side of the abandoned railroad yard that once herded cattle to their slaughter; some rails of this former yard can still be seen today in Exchange Avenue.

FWWR Spurs: In Haltom City, Texas, just northeast of the Fort Worth & Western's Hodge Yard, along the ex-Cotton Belt trackage, lies two abandoned spurs, each on one side of the single track main line.

Long Avenue Crossings: Just west of Tower 18, a connecting track was in place between the Texas & Pacific Railroad and the St. Louis & Southwestern (Cotton Belt). The track crossed Long Avenue at one location (which isn't visible); however, there are two other tracks crossing Long Avenue on either side of the main track which do not show up on topographical maps, which were part of an industrial development that never came. Now both crossings are paved over, and shortly after I was able to get these pictures, the tracks across the medians were paved over as well.

Arlington Heights Street Railway: In the late 1880s, residential developers from Colorado created the "Arlington Heights" area, west of Fort Worth. In order to increase business in the area, the Arlington Heights Street Railway was built along an alignment west from downtown Fort Worth to nearby Lake Como. This alignment included four vehicular lanes, two in each direction, called Arlington Heights Street. During World War I, the US Army built Camp Bowie in the area adjacent to Arlington Heights, and Arlington Heights Street became known as Camp Bowie Boulevard. The trolley tracks along the street are long gone today.

See also Keller, Texas and the Bomber Spur.

*FWWR Spurs:* First, we'll start off with the northern spur, whi... — **FWWR Spurs:** First, we'll start off with the northern spur, which begins just west of the FWWR's crossing with Beach Street. Here we see the switch on the main line, and the governing signal.

*FWWR Spurs:* The lone signal controlling access to FWWR's main. — **FWWR Spurs:** The lone signal controlling access to FWWR's main.

*FWWR Spurs:* Here, the tracks have just diverged off the main l... — **FWWR Spurs:** Here, the tracks have just diverged off the main line and start their short journey into the overgrowth.

*FWWR Spurs:* The tracks lead around a bend after branching off ... — **FWWR Spurs:** The tracks lead around a bend after branching off from the main line.

*FWWR Spurs:* The tracks cross a dirt road at grade. — **FWWR Spurs:** The tracks cross a dirt road at grade.

*FWWR Spurs:* After crossing the dirt road, the tracks proceed t... — **FWWR Spurs:** After crossing the dirt road, the tracks proceed through the overgrowth to the industries they once served.

*FWWR Spurs:* Now we look at the second spur, which branches off... — **FWWR Spurs:** Now we look at the second spur, which branches off just east of Beach Street, which you can see in the background. The tracks make a slight bend to the left after crossing the street, and it is this angle at which the signal is aligned.

*FWWR Spurs:* I wonder when the last time this signal glowed was... — **FWWR Spurs:** I wonder when the last time this signal glowed was?

*FWWR Spurs:* The signal that protects a spur that is no more. I... — **FWWR Spurs:** The signal that protects a spur that is no more. It's curious to see it situated on the property of a new development (one that doesn't show up in the satellite photograph).

*FWWR Spurs:* The northern spur extends off into nothing. A coup... — **FWWR Spurs:** The northern spur extends off into nothing. A couple of years ago, I witnessed this spur being used as storage for grain cars. I doubt it will see any more rail traffic.

*FWWR Spurs:* A derail to protect the main from being fouled is ... — **FWWR Spurs:** A derail to protect the main from being fouled is left open. I doubt it will ever come to use.

*Long Avenue Crossings:* The connecting track begins with its co... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** The connecting track begins with its connection to the ex-Cotton Belt, now Fort Worth & Western. The track is usable for a short length, as the presence of this bulkhead flat demonstrates. The track ends just this side of the car (the bumping post is visible behind the weeds).

*Long Avenue Crossings:* After crossing Sylvania Avenue, the tra... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** After crossing Sylvania Avenue, the tracks reappear on the east side. They run through some overgrowth and begin the turn southward to the ex-Texas & Pacific, now Union Pacific.

*Long Avenue Crossings:* A closeup of the tracks covered by vege... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** A closeup of the tracks covered by vegetation. The fence on the right side of the picture prevented me from following it further.

*Long Avenue Crossings:* Continuing on private property, the tra... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** Continuing on private property, the tracks make their southward journey to the connection with UP on the other side of Long Avenue.

*Long Avenue Crossings:* The end of the extant track is barely v... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** The end of the extant track is barely visible; you can see a Union Pacific freight in the background, just outside of Fort Worth & Western's Hodge Yard. We will catch up to the right-of-way at Long Avenue.

*Long Avenue Crossings:* The first of many pictures showing the ... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** The first of many pictures showing the two parallel tracks that crossed Long Avenue on either side of the main connecting track (whose crossing is not evident).

*Long Avenue Crossings:* These tracks do not show up on the topo... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** These tracks do not show up on the topographical map, while the main connecting track does. However, while these tracks are clearly visible, the main connecting track is not where it had crossed Long Avenue.

*Long Avenue Crossings:* The right-of-way for these side tracks ... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** The right-of-way for these side tracks are not evident in the fields on either side of Long Avenue, but the main connecting track's ROW is clearly visible.

*Long Avenue Crossings:* The eastern track crosses Long Avenue. — **Long Avenue Crossings:** The eastern track crosses Long Avenue.

*Long Avenue Crossings:* The right-of-way provides enough cleara... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** The right-of-way provides enough clearance for a car to make a U-turn between the main lanes of traffic.

*Long Avenue Crossings:* Besides for the tracks in Long Avenue, ... — **Long Avenue Crossings:** Besides for the tracks in Long Avenue, it is hard to determine that rails once traveled across the fields.

*Meacham Industrial Spur:* The only area where the abandoned tra... — **Meacham Industrial Spur:** The only area where the abandoned tracks are evident are at their former grade crossing with Mark IV parkway, just south of Interstate 820. The crossing affords us this view of the tracks to the west.

*Meacham Industrial Spur:* The tracks cross over a small creek o... — **Meacham Industrial Spur:** The tracks cross over a small creek on a wooden bridge.

*Meacham Industrial Spur:* Another shot of the bridge, which loo... — **Meacham Industrial Spur:** Another shot of the bridge, which looks to still be in pretty good shape.

*Meacham Industrial Spur:* Beyond the bridge, the tracks take on... — **Meacham Industrial Spur:** Beyond the bridge, the tracks take on a more unused appearance.

*Meacham Industrial Spur:* The tracks continue westward through ... — **Meacham Industrial Spur:** The tracks continue westward through the foliage before turning slightly to the right.

*Meacham Industrial Spur:* Beyond the turn, the abandoned tracks... — **Meacham Industrial Spur:** Beyond the turn, the abandoned tracks continue westward until they meet up with BNSF's Fort Worth Subdivision, which was formerly the Fort Worth & Denver.

*Meacham Industrial Spur:* We now backtrack a bit and head for t... — **Meacham Industrial Spur:** We now backtrack a bit and head for the grade crossing with Mark IV Parkway. This view is looking east across the road.

*Meacham Industrial Spur:* Immediately across the street, the fo... — **Meacham Industrial Spur:** Immediately across the street, the former right-of-way is all but hard-to-see.

*Meacham Industrial Spur:* An addition to a nearby building is n... — **Meacham Industrial Spur:** An addition to a nearby building is now resting on top of the abandoned right-of-way. Most of the rest of the corridor is still visible in the satellite photographs, but cannot be easily determined today due to the growth of industries in the area.

*7th Street Spur:* The 7th Street Spur heads southwestwards into... — **7th Street Spur:** The 7th Street Spur heads southwestwards into downtown Fort Worth. Photo by Dave Matthews, 1/2/2008.

*7th Street Spur:* We start by looking eastward toward where the... — **7th Street Spur:** We start by looking eastward toward where the tracks once began. The CRI&P yard would have been beyond the bridge (ex-Santa Fe and carries BNSF traffic today) and just north of the building behind it.

*7th Street Spur:* The tracks from the former CRI&P yard to this... — **7th Street Spur:** The tracks from the former CRI&P yard to this point are obliterated. We'll pick up the tracks here where they become visible just east of Jones Street.

*7th Street Spur:* The tracks head west down 7th Street. The tra... — **7th Street Spur:** The tracks head west down 7th Street. The tracks themselves are in their own median, with 7th Street proper running to their north. A small curb separates the two.

*7th Street Spur:* The tracks cross their first of two streets: ... — **7th Street Spur:** The tracks cross their first of two streets: Jones Street. The strips of concrete surrounding the rails are ill-maintained. This view is looking west.

*7th Street Spur:* Another view of the Jones Street crossing, lo... — **7th Street Spur:** Another view of the Jones Street crossing, looking southwards down Jones.

*7th Street Spur:* We look back toward the east and see the Jone... — **7th Street Spur:** We look back toward the east and see the Jones Street crossing in the background. The building south of the tracks behind Jones Street was once Nash Hardware company, which was served by the tracks.

*7th Street Spur:* The tracks cross Calhoun Street. — **7th Street Spur:** The tracks cross Calhoun Street.

*7th Street Spur:* After crossing Calhoun Street, the tracks com... — **7th Street Spur:** After crossing Calhoun Street, the tracks come to an abrupt end. The building on the left was once "Binyon O'Keefe Fire Proof Storage", also served by the CRI&P via the 7th Street Spur.

*7th Street Spur:* An eastward view of the 7th Street Spur depic... — **7th Street Spur:** An eastward view of the 7th Street Spur depicting its short length (about 600 feet) of existing track.

*7th Street Spur:* The 7th Street Spur comes to an end. — **7th Street Spur:** The 7th Street Spur comes to an end.

*Federal Records Center:* Looking from nearby Felix Street, the ... — **Federal Records Center:** Looking from nearby Felix Street, the abandoned yard is easily seen. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* A spur runs alongside the warehouse it... — **Federal Records Center:** A spur runs alongside the warehouse it once served. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* These two spurs are beginning to give ... — **Federal Records Center:** These two spurs are beginning to give way to the landscape. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* Scenes like this are common at the For... — **Federal Records Center:** Scenes like this are common at the Fort Worth Federal Center. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* Some warehouses are still in use, as s... — **Federal Records Center:** Some warehouses are still in use, as seen here, but do not require any rail access. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* The "feeder" tracks approach the wareh... — **Federal Records Center:** The "feeder" tracks approach the warehouse in the previous picture. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* Some tracks are still obvious. — **Federal Records Center:** Some tracks are still obvious. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* The tracks appear to stop abruptly at ... — **Federal Records Center:** The tracks appear to stop abruptly at James Avenue. However, they originally continued on to their connection with the AT&SF (now BNSF). Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* The "feeder" tracks approach the main ... — **Federal Records Center:** The "feeder" tracks approach the main branch line. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* Note the derail still in place. — **Federal Records Center:** Note the derail still in place. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* The bridge in the background is Felix ... — **Federal Records Center:** The bridge in the background is Felix Street; the Union Pacific mainline (ex-MKT) is marked by the tank cars beyond the bridge. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* These warehouses serve the National Ar... — **Federal Records Center:** These warehouses serve the National Archives. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

*Federal Records Center:* Looking west, the abandoned tracks hea... — **Federal Records Center:** Looking west, the abandoned tracks head under Hemphill Street. Photo by Dave Matthews, 4/12/2009.

Fort Worth also had some street running, as these abandoned rail... — Fort Worth also had some street running, as these abandoned rails in Commerce Street demonstrates. Photo by Dave Matthews, 1/9/2009.

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Arlington Heights Street Railway

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