Abilene & Southern information

[mopac]

I’m looking for any and all information regarding the Abilene & Southern RR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the T&P, and later, the MP. The A & S ran from Abilene south to Ballinger, which had a very distinctive stone depot; there was also a brief extension north through Anson to Hamlin. It began operations in 1909; most of the line was abandoned in 1972-1989. Today, only about 7 miles are still in service within the city of Abilene, operated by Southern Switching Company.

I’m interested in operations of the line, which I hope to model someday. I know the main commodities hauled were grain & cotton, and they also ran a “mixed train” well into the modern era. They owned their own steam locomotives back in the day, but later, used T&P/MP-owned equipment.

I have the very fine issue of “Journal of Texas Shortlines” devoted to the A & S, as well as a copy of “Colonel Morgan Jones,” the biography of the line’s colorful founder. The T&P books which I have unfortunately provide very little information about the line, but I have tracked down a few newspaper articles in the archives of the Abilene Reporter-News; I’ve also done a Google-search to get the limited information that’s available online.

Does anyone have suggestions for more information on this line? Are there any other published sources that can help me? Is there anyone on this forum that had firsthand experience with the A & S? I’d really love to get a “feel” for what daily operations on the line were like, especially the mixed train service.

I know it’s a long-shot, but any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
Dusty Garison
Abilene, TX

[mopac]

Dusty I think you have hit all the spots on the A&S.

[luisflierl26]

Good sources of information for Texas Railroads are:

The DeGolyer Library Archives
http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/all/cul/rwy/index.asp

Gulf Coast Chapter NRHS / Texas Railroad Heritage Museum, however they have limited access to their archives while they are moving to a new location.

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