Houston Belt and Terminal

[Inde_Joe]

Hello Listfolks,

I am interested in the Houston Belt and Terminal Railroad, but there is very little online about the company. (Other than a few pics)..

They do not have a historical society or something?

How about equipment rosters online?

Seems like its almost a forgotten railroad.

Joe.

[GOLDEN-ARM]

I didn't forget, the "Hobo's, Bums & Thieves" railroad, as we on the SP, in Houston called it. Here is a roster page, for you

http://www.ole.net/~rcraig/HBT.HTML

http://www.thedieselshop.us/HBT.HTML

[txbritt]

Goldenarm,

Did you know a guy named Tony Harrison? He worked on the belt, but then hired out with SP. He's a good friend of mine that is a conductor on the UP, and holds a regular job over at Booth yard ( west of the shipchannel, at the turning basin ) Its been a while since I've talked to him actually

The Gulfcoast Railroad Museum up off of Mesa drive has the belt #14. We stripped the yellow equity grain paint off of the HBT lettering, and you can see it pretty clearly. Unit needs injectors to run. Its an S2, with a 539 plant.


Britt

[griffindepot]

Goldenarm, I know Tony Harrison very well. He never hired out with the SP. He just went through the merger. He's still working and is # 3 on the old HB & T sen. roster.

Did you know a guy named Tony Harrison? He worked on the belt, but then hired out with SP. He's a good friend of mine that is a conductor on the UP, and holds a regular job over at Booth yard ( west of the shipchannel, at the turning basin ) Its been a while since I've talked to him actually

The Gulfcoast Railroad Museum up off of Mesa drive has the belt #14. We stripped the yellow equity grain paint off of the HBT lettering, and you can see it pretty clearly. Unit needs injectors to run. Its an S2, with a 539 plant.


Britt

[rlsteam]

I have available a 20-page 80th year commemorative booklet with history and contemporary description of HB&T, with photos in B&W and color, published in 1985. It is looking for a good home. For information go to www.railarchive.net/rriana .

[yahola]

Did anyone here know a Guy Sampson (nickname: Mule)?
He was an engineer for the HB&T for about thirty years.
He retired around 1977.

[Allan270]

I worked for the Houston Belt & Terminal RR from 1970-1980.

Allan

[Robojoe56]

I worked with Tony Harrison from 1978 through 1982. I hired on in August 6th of that year and Tony was in the hiring class a few weeks after me. Had an older brother that was in the railroading business as well. If I recall, his Dad was a preacher. Caught a good number of jobs with him working the extra board for a majority of my career at HB&T. We seemed to be awarded the "Gold Harriman" award every year during my short tenure, receiving a award gift, from commemorative plates to class rings, etc., which I still have today. I eventually sold my seniority after almost a year of being laid off back then. I had secured a more stable position during the layoff but still think about my times there. My times there made a lifelong impact which I still cherish now. Good group of old timers from the steam engine days that I enjoyed conversing and working with. The greatest generation, the last of the Mohicans, the WWII era, their careers coming to a close. And mine just beginning. Even had a chance to meet "Bozo Tejano", catching his relative chalk art deco at South Yard on Sunday afternoons. He was a Hughes Tool retiree, in his late eighties at the time, claiming to be the famed artist. There was a book published years ago depicting the numerous chalk artists from the 1930's through the 1970's. I recognized a good number of chalk trademarks. I never had the opportunity to see any of my class comrades or HB&T employees after my '82 departure. Use to get the HB&T newsletter only for a few months after I left. Not sure if it's even published anymore. I know the HB&T credit union exists but doubt if anyone employed there would be current with former employees. Anyways, love to hear back from any former employees.