Historical Marker

The Columbus Tap Railway

Columbus, Colorado County · Texas
Erected 1973

The charter gave the Columbus Tap a capital of $300,000 in $100 shares and the right to run a ferry over the Colorado until a bridge could be built. The commissioners bought a right-of-way 150 feet wide and two and a half miles long from William Harbert, and two miles had been graded by January 15, 1861. Newspapers of the time suggest the track was not finished until 1867, when Nathan Wheeler and John R. Brooks completed a bridge and the locomotive Austin became the first to cross the river into Columbus. The two lines merged in 1870.

What the plaque says

The Columbus Tap Railway The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado--first railway built in Texas--in the 1850s mapped its route from Houston to Austin through Alleyton (3 mi. E), bypassing Columbus. To retain their town's supremacy in its trade area, Columbus citizens projected a railway of their own, to tap into the B.B.B. & C., at Alleyton. Organizers were a A.M. Campbell, John G. Logue, George W. Smith, C.W. Tait, Isam Tooke, and J.W.E. Wallace--influential planters, merchants, physicians, and judges. Columbus Tap Railway was chartered on Feb. 2, 1860. John G. Logue became president, soon succeeded by E.P. Whitfield. C.W. Tait was treasurer; C. Windrow, clerk. Bonds were issued and construction plans made. The Civil War, beginning in 1861, disrupted plans. Although the railway proved to be needed by the Confederate army, and Gen. J.B. Magruder ordered (1863) impressment of 100 men to work on its roadbed, the project failed to reach completion in the war years. After war ended in 1865, the line was built to the river, where ferry gave the city rail service. Later the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio (corporate successor of the B.B.B. & C. and the Columbus Tap) ran its line from Columbus to San Antonio. In 1880s this became part of the Southern Pacific system. (1973)

Where it stands

29.70725, -96.53937 · Directions

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