Photo & Media Gallery
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The first unit train to traverse the line in over 20 years makes its way
through Ridgeway on April 15, 2014 under the skillful control of
Blacklands Engineer, Mark Labrozzi. This 62-car, 8,000 ton, unit
asphalt train was destined for the Martin Marietta Materials transload
facility in Greenville, Texas. This was the first of an
anticipated regularly scheduled series of like unit trains to be
delivered via the NETEX/Blacklands Railroad.
L. Joyce Davis photo
The Honorable Paul Lovier (left), founding NETEX Board member, is
accompanied by his family at the dedication ceremony on February 27,
2012 naming the railroad location in downtown Mt. Vernon, Lovier, in
recognition of his service to the district and the northeast Texas
region. Board Vice-President Sam Young (on the right), Franklin
County Pct. 4 Commissioner, presented the declaration.
Jason Lee Davis photo
Ceremony
for the official naming of Dyer Junction in Downtown Commerce in honor
and memory of founding NETEX Board member, Winford Dyer, on September 9,
2011. Dyer Junction is the connection to the former Texas Midland
line to Paris, Texas which later became Southern Pacific Railroad's
Paris Branch.
Jennifer Davis photo
Participants in a motorcar run make a brief stop on the South Sulphur
River bridge between Commerce and Neylandville to take in the scenery
and replace a missing bolt on the newly restored "Rosenberg"
Fairmont S2-F car, December 27, 2009.
Jason Lee Davis photo
VIDEO
- View excerpts
of this run in High Definition on YouTube.
Crossing the South Sulphur River at the Hopkins-Delta County line east
of Commerce on a Fairmont motorcar, December 26, 2009.
Jason Lee Davis photo
VIDEO
- 5m12s, 40.6Mb, WMV format - CLICK to launch video clip
Excerpts of video from Motorcar run from Greenville (MP 551.32) to
Ridgeway (MP 527.91) and return on December 26, 2009. Jason Lee Davis
video
VIDEO - 11m6s, 86.6Mb, WMV format
- CLICK to launch video clip
Excerpts of video entering Commerce from west of the Loop 178 overpass
(approximately MP 540) to Sycamore Street (MP 536.6) in the Commerce
Yard on December 13, 2009. Jason Lee Davis
video
Out of service Hot Box & Dragging Detector near Neylandville, December
13, 2009. Jason Lee Davis photo
Myron Malone clearing overgrowth obscuring mileposts between Commerce
and Greenville on December 13, 2009. Jason Lee Davis photo
BLR 2036 eastbound approaching Ridgeway enroute to Sulphur Springs on
November 18, 2009. Jason Lee Davis photo
Cleanup by TxDOT along the NETEX ROW east of Ridgeway in preparation for the
expansion of State Highway 11, Nov. 18, 2009. Jason Lee Davis photo
Rail Partners, Inc. Motorcars and
Blacklands Locomotive on display for the
3rd Annual Cotton Belt
Railroad Symposium in Commerce, August 8, 2009.
Jason Lee Davis photo
Blacklands switching the CO-OP in Sulphur Springs, Texas, July 17, 2009.
Jason Lee Davis photo
Cars stored at the end of the existing trackage (MP 555) at Simtrott, viewed east
down ROW from Hunt County Road 2108, June 6, 2009.
Jason Lee Davis photo
The remains of Tower 64 at the SSW (NETEX) & MKT (DGNO) interlocker
in Greenville,
June 6, 2009. Jason Lee Davis photo
Blacklands power in Greenville during the KCS Historical Society
Convention,
June 6, 2009. Jason Lee Davis photo
Final chassis remains of BLR #2788 leaving Commerce for Mexico on a
three truck convoy, April 22, 2008.
Jason Lee Davis photo
Scrapping the BLR #2788 in Commerce, as seen on April 17, 2008.
Jason Lee Davis photo
Tie replacement in Commerce, Jan. 23, 2008.
Jason Lee Davis photo
Blacklands Railroad President, Wayne Defebaugh, providing an overview of
operations at the Cotton Belt
Symposium in Commerce on April 16, 2007.
L. Joyce Davis photo
Blacklands Railroad crew switching in the Commerce yard with BLR 2036 and 4601 on
Dec. 20, 2006. Jason Lee Davis photo
BLR 4601 & 201 pulling stored cars from the former Texas Midland line in
Commerce on April 18, 2006. Jason Lee Davis photo
Blacklands #201 pulling the Tejas Excursion east of Ridgeway on Apr. 17,
'04.
Jason Lee Davis photo
Passengers boarding the Tejas Excursion in Commerce, Texas, April 17,
2004.
Jason Lee Davis photo
Additional photos and historical information regarding this rail line may be found at Jason Lee Davis' RailFan HomePage.
rev. May 19, 2014.