Missouri Pacific (Houston North Shore)
Flag Stop from McNair, Texas.
By Paul DeVerter.
A product of Port City Car Company
Copyright (C) 2003 Paul DeVerter
BACKGROUND
The Houston North Shore Ry. was constructed between Houston, TX and Baytown and Goose Creek, about 30 miles. The railroad was completed in 1927 and taken over officially by the Missouri Pacific immediately before the first official run in 1927. Electric cars ran originally almost every hour during the day, and late at night, all before hard surfaced roads were built in the area North of the San Jacinto River and the Houston Ship Channel. Flag Stops were built at locations where the number of patrons justified their construction. This structure was built at a largely colored housing development for the protection of workers going to and from the large Baytown Refinery of the Humble Oil & Refining Co. as well as the residents going to Baytown, Goose Creek, and Houston. The structure had no base that I remember, other than probably oyster shell. Colors were typical MP, and the roof is believed to have been sheet metal.
The structure was used throughout the period of electric service, which ended in 1947, as well as during the continued passenger service with unique railbuses, which ended in 1961.
Additional information may be found in the book: Houston North Shore by Charles C. Robinson and Paul L. DeVerter II, Bulletin #133 of the Central Electric Railfan's Association (2000)
http://www.cera-chicago.org/
