Name
GWR Trestles
Viewing Options
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Viewability
Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
Overview
Description
125 acres of open area supporting numerous small lakes and the remains of a major rail line yard. The main Trinity River trestle is still in remarkable shape with its iron construction and passable on foot if your careful. The southern trestle is not complete but still in very good condition considering its mainly wooden construction.
Please note that throughout this area are some illicit fishing camps, and a few homeless living in the wild.
There is some graffiti around the trestles but amazingly enough not as much as you would think with over 20 years of non-use.
Please note that throughout this area are some illicit fishing camps, and a few homeless living in the wild.
There is some graffiti around the trestles but amazingly enough not as much as you would think with over 20 years of non-use.
Basic Information
Type: Outdoors
Status: Abandoned
Accessibility: Moderate
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
Status: Abandoned
Accessibility: Moderate
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
Hazards
- unsafe flooring
- flooding
- water
- Wild Animals (Boars), Reptiles (Snakes and Lizards) and Insects (Fleas, Tics and Spiders).
Security Measures
- fences
Required Equipment
- gloves
- long pants / sleeves
Physical Information
Address
Grand Prairie, Texas
United States
Owner: Chesapeake Land Dev Co LLC (Land); Trinity River Authority (Waterways)
Grand Prairie, Texas
United States
Owner: Chesapeake Land Dev Co LLC (Land); Trinity River Authority (Waterways)
Interesting Features
Intact former train trestle bridges.
Historical Dates
Built: 1959
Closed: 1991
Closed: 1991
Recommended Equipment
Bug Spray
History
The Great Southwest Railroad was a small yet vast switching railroad, chartered on May 7, 1957, to serve industries in Arlington and Grand Prairie, TX. The line was built and operations commenced two years later. It connected to the then-Texas & Pacific line in Arlington, and meandered northward to a connection with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific at a small community called Tarrant.
Just a year after it started operations, in 1960, 90% of the GSWRR was purchased by its two connecting railroads, the T&P and the CRI&P, each with a 45% share. In 1985, the Missouri Pacific, which had purchased the T&P, purchased the Rock Island's shares outright, giving MP complete 100% control; the GSWRR was subsequently merged into the MP in 1987.
Today, some of the tracks are still used to serve local industries by Union Pacific. While its northern connection has been severed (Shutdown and dismantled in 1991) with the Rock Island (which is now owned by the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, on which their Trinity Railway Express commuter trains run), the southern connection with UP still sees about a train daily. Some of the spurs have since been abandoned.
Just a year after it started operations, in 1960, 90% of the GSWRR was purchased by its two connecting railroads, the T&P and the CRI&P, each with a 45% share. In 1985, the Missouri Pacific, which had purchased the T&P, purchased the Rock Island's shares outright, giving MP complete 100% control; the GSWRR was subsequently merged into the MP in 1987.
Today, some of the tracks are still used to serve local industries by Union Pacific. While its northern connection has been severed (Shutdown and dismantled in 1991) with the Rock Island (which is now owned by the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, on which their Trinity Railway Express commuter trains run), the southern connection with UP still sees about a train daily. Some of the spurs have since been abandoned.
Media Coverage
Future Plans
None at present can be found.
Stories
Sun, Apr 29th, 2012
Photo Galleries
Web Links
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Moderator Rating
The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.
Category | Rating |
Photography | 5 / 10 |
Coolness | 3 / 10 |
Content Quality | 5 / 10 |
Validation
This location's validation is current.
It was last validated by
Opheliaism on 4/30/2012 3:15 AM.
Latest Changes
- on Apr 30 12 at 3:15, Opheliaism validated this location
- on Apr 30 12 at 1:47, TexasMike changed the following: Latitude, Longitude
- on Apr 30 12 at 1:42, Opheliaism validated this location
- on Apr 30 12 at 0:49, TexasMike changed the following: History
- on Apr 30 12 at 0:32, TexasMike changed the following: Recommended Equipment
- on Apr 30 12 at 0:31, TexasMike changed the following: Year Built, Year Closed
- on Apr 30 12 at 0:30, TexasMike updated a story
- on Apr 30 12 at 0:29, TexasMike made this location available
- on Apr 30 12 at 0:29, TexasMike updated a story
- on Apr 30 12 at 0:24, TexasMike created a new story
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