Jason Lee Davis' RailFan Pages -
Railroading In and Around
Commerce, Texas

The Sherman Branch
Abandoned September 25, 1953

Photos of the Cotton Belt & Southern Pacific in and around Commerce Texas.
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This view shows the old Sherman Branch extending straight ahead and the active main curving to the left of the depot.  The Sherman Branch was abandoned after the last run on September 26, 1953.  The track at the time of this photo extended only about 1/4 mile ahead and was used for switching and as a lead to access the engine service facilities and the old Texas Midland/Texas & New Orleans branch to Paris, both to the right.

photo: Ed Cooper
The SSW's Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation #517 pulled the last train on the Sherman branch from Sherman to Commerce on September 26, 1953. 

The #517 (G-2 Consolidation built 1909, sold for scrap on 11/25/1953) and #502 (G-1 Consolidation built 1906, sold for scrap on 11/25/1953) were the last two active steam locomotives operating on the Cotton Belt.

The engine crew on the next-to-last run on Train 217(Commerce to Sherman) /218 (Sherman to Commerce) on Friday, September 25, 1953 consisted of C. W. "Red" Standefer, engineer, and "Smokey" Boyd, fireman.

photo: C. W. Standefer,  Commerce Public Library collection
SSW #517, circa 1953

photo: C. W. Standefer,  Commerce Public Library collection
Passenger train behind a B-2 American class steam locomotive on the Sherman Branch.

After its abandonment by the railroad, the right of way (ROW) of the Sherman Branch became the route of Texas State Highway 11.

photo: Commerce Public Library collection

 Page/Photographs ©2006 Jason Lee Davis unless otherwise credited.
(Otherwise credited refers to most of the photos on this page.  Thanks go to Ed Cooper and the Commerce Public Library!)

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WebMaster: Jason Lee Davis | Page hosted by TAMU-Commerce | Last update: August 19, 2012