Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railroad

Building of a railroad from here to the Brazos, to handle commerce of rich plantations, was attempted unsuccessfully in 1840-41 by early merchant Andrew Briscoe and the Harrises who founded Harrisburg. Their holdings, including Harrisburg townsite, were sold in 1847 to a group of bostonians and Texans-- headed by San Jacinto hero Gen. Sidney Sherman-- who succeeded in building the first railroad in Texas. The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railway was chartered Feb. 11, 1850. Construction materials, shipped from Boston to Galveston, came up Buffalo Bayou by barges. Chief engineer John A. Williams began survey in May 1851. When a few miles of track were laid, the first passengers ever to ride a train in Texas went to Thomas Point (3 mi. W), April 21, 1853, to a celebration featuring salutes from "Twin Sisters" cannon used in 1836 Battle of San Jacinto. Four months later tracks reached Stafford's Point, and B. B. B. & C. operations officially began, with Harrisburg as the terminal. One block north of here were depot, roundhouse and docks; a half block south, site of 1836 Texas Capitol. The road was sold in 1870, and name was changed to Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio. It eventually became part of the Southern Pacific system.

Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railroad is a historical marker in Houston, Harris County, dedicated in 1967. It is one of 422 historical markers documented in Harris County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 849 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.7237, -95.2778 near Houston. The nearest cataloged historic site is Tod-Milby Home Site (historical marker), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church, Sherman, Gen. Sidney, Home of, and Holy Cross Mission (Episcopal).

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5201010621. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.