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            Last update: Sept. 14, 2007
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Gulf
Coast Chapter NRHS welcomes the National Railway Historical Society
National Board of Directors to Houston October 18-21, 2007! Gulf Coast Chapter NRHS will be hosting the Fall 2007 NRHS National Board of Directors Meeting in Houston, the city "Where 17 Railroads Meet the Sea." Click here to download the Registration Form! In addition to addressing the business of the NRHS, our agenda includes tours of the chapter’s own Houston Railroad Museum and the light rail maintenance facility of the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority. We will visit Galvestion Island and its varied historic sites, which include the Galveston Railroad Museum; the Texas Seaport Museum, featuring the tall ship Elissa; the Ocean Star offshore drilling rig and museum; the Lone Star Flight Museum; the Island Trolley; the ornate Bishop’s Palace and more. Houston is home to NASA, world class museums and exciting shopping, so everyone in your family can find something of interest in our city! Venue The host facility for the fall NRHS Board meeting is the Crowne Plaza Hotel Houston Downtown. The hotel is offering a special rate to NRHS members of $99 per night single or double, and free parking. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Houston at 1700 Smith St. Room reservations must be made by calling the hotel directly at 1-713-739-8800. The deadline to receive the special room rate is September 27. A variety of restaraunts, theaters and museums are located within walking distance, by hotel shuttle or via MetroRail, the city’s first light rail line. Registration Registration details can be found on the Registration Form. Transportation Houston is served by Amtrak (Sunset Limited and motor coach connection to the Texas Eagle), Greyhound Bus Lines and major airlines. The hotel is a short taxi ride from the Amtrak and Greyhound stations. Shuttle, taxi and bus service are available from Houston’s two major airports; for info, see: http://www.fly2houston.com Individuals with special needs should contact us to make alternative arrangements. Preliminary Schedule Schedule is subject to change Thursday, October 18 Regional Vice Presidents Meeting Texas-theme Slide Show Friday, October 19 MetroRail Shop Tour Houston Railroad Museum Officers and Staff Meeting Houston-area Railroading Presentations Saturday, October 20 Galveston Railroad Museum and other island attractions Board of Directors Planning Meeting Banquet Dinner Our dinner speaker is Dr. Robert F. Holzweiss, Supervisory Archivist, George H. W. Bush Presidential Library. Sunday, October 21 Board of Directors Meeting Additional Information As more information and registration information becomes available, it will be posted here. To contact Gulf Coast Chapter, email info@houstonrrmuseum.org or telephone 832-463-3017 during business hours. |
 Houston's Chamber of Commerce for many years touted the city as the place
"Where 17 Railroads Meet the Sea" but the railroad references were less than precise. Thanks to Texas railroad historian George Werner, we can offer these possibilities, based on companies in operation ca. 1926. Those with rudimentary math skills will note that George has come up with 18 possible candidates for inclusion in the list of 17! Southern Pacific Lines Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Dayton-Goose Creek Railway* Houston East & West Texas Railway Houston & Texas Central Railroad San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway Texas & New Orleans Railroad Missouri Pacific Lines Beaumont, Sour Lake & Western Railway Houston North Shore Railway International-Great Northern Railroad St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway Sugar Land Railway Others Galveston-Houston Electric Railway Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway Houston Belt & Terminal Railway Missouri-Kansas-Texas RR Co of Texas Port Terminal Railroad Association Trinity & Brazos Valley** *Reached Houston Ship Channel **Burlington-Rock Island Railroad after July 7, 1930 Image provided by Doug Weiskopf courtesy Texas Room, Houston Public Library |