TEXAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY. The Texas Electric Railway was chartered on July 15,
1916, to consolidate the Texas Traction Company and the Southern Traction
Company, effective as of January 1, 1917. The merged company operated three
routes out of Dallas, one to Sherman and Denison, one to Ennis and Corsicana,
and one to Hillsboro and Waco. With a length of 226 miles, the Texas Electric
was the longest interurban between the Mississippi River and California. The
company was a local Dallas undertaking promoted by J. F. Strickland. Although
built to high standards, the company used streetcar tracks to reach its terminal
in downtown Dallas. The Texas Electric was primarily a passenger carrier,
although it also handled mail and express. Local streetcar service was also
provided in several towns served by the interurban. In 1928 the company began to
develop a carload freight business, but was hampered by its inability to handle
freight cars through Dallas. By 1942 the Texas Electric was the last independent
interurban line operating in Texas. In 1941 the light-traffic Corsicana branch
was abandoned. The rest of the system operated through World War II,qv
but patronage declined thereafter due to the increased use of private
automobiles and trucks, and the Texas Electric was abandoned on December 31,
1948*.
George C. Werner
"TEXAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY." The Handbook of Texas Online.
Notes:
- * Corsicana Line abandon in 1941 and the rest in 1948 - Rox Maxfield
Corsicana Local - 309
Texas Electric Railway Token
Texas Electric Stock Certificate
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