I'm writing from Flatonia TX, about midway between Houston and San Antonio on Interstate 10, exit 661. Flatonia advertises its railfan platform in Trains Magazine. Given this is my last work week in these parts I had to come & check out Flatonia. My motel is 5 minutes away from the railfan platform & diamond - Grumpy's Motel. A clean, basic room with WiFi included was had for $40 a night plus about 12% tax.
Flatonia is a small, pleasant town of about 2,000 residents. Railfan eats are within 5 minutes. The town itself is three blocks east of the railfan platform, about a 7-10 minute walk. The tower that guarded the diamond was in active use from 1902 through 1996. Local residents petitioned to save the Tower, and Union Pacific gave the Tower to the town. The town has moved the tower 3 blocks east, along the tracks and visible from all parts of the village. through.
The sun is super right now (4PM), as the railfan platform was built in the NW quadrant of the diamond area. (The SE quadrant contains a private house, and the SW quadrant is an active hay field contained within a wye).
A E-W line crosses a N-S line at the diamond. Both lines are single track. The line east comes from San Antonio. Trains can proceed east to Houston, or take the NW Wye to the North track to Dallas. A less busy S track goes to Victoria. Noteworthy are the KCS trackage rights from Houston to Victoria.
This isn't the West Slope, or Fallston, but I'm told action can be good. At the moment the sky is azure blue and cloudless, temps are in the mid-80s, and I'm sitting in the shade, an easterly breeze blowing through my train nymph's golden tresses. A rooster is crowing in the pen of the farmer located adjacent to the area.
(The train nymph is firmly planted in my imagination and nowhere else.)
Arrive Flatonia @ 1600
1800 WB UP3992 9304, 68 empty autoracks for San Antonio @ beyond
1853 WB to SB KCS4699, 4680 106 cars of general freight for Victoria @ beyond (certified "luck of the Apollo" train)
Leave Flatonia @ 2000
No digital pictures - just slides. You'll have to wait for the slideshow...
Counties collected - 6
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