208 Texas ST

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International & Great Northern (I&GN) Railroad • Completed its line from San Antonio to Laredo, added Galveston access, and built a main line from Houston to Fort Worth. • Dominated Texas railroads for years and was acquired by Jay Gould in 1880, briefly lost, and reacquired in 1891; his son George led it for 25 years. • Emerged from receivership in 1922 as the International–Great Northern (I-GN) Railroad. • Acquired by Missouri Pacific (MP) in 1925 and later by Union Pacific (UP) in 1982; merged into UP in 1997. • Most lines remain active under UP, except the abandoned Fort Worth route. San Antonio & Aransas Pass (SA&AP) Line • Became part of Southern Pacific (SP) in 1925. • SP abandoned the line from Giddings through Rockdale to Cameron in 1959, Decommission Tower 54. Rockdale, Sandow & Southern (RS&S) Railroad • Originated as a six-mile mine spur built by Federal Fuel Co. in 1919. • Became a common carrier in 1924 to support lignite shipments; sought ICC approval for interstate rate authority but was denied due to regulatory precedent from Tap Line Cases. • Continued local service until lignite use declined, ending in 1950. Rebirth for Aluminum Transport • In 1952, Alcoa built a smelter near the mine and upgraded RS&S for shipping aluminum and ores. • ICC approved interstate rate authority due to expanded operations. • The Rockdale smelter became the world’s largest but was shut down in 2008 due to pollution issues. Present Status • Alcoa sold the land in 2021 to developers; plans for a massive industrial complex were announced in 2023. • RS&S tracks remain intact but out of service.