www.CottonBeltRoute.com
Preserving the Legacy of the railroads throughout
Ark-La-Miss-Tex-oma's Cotton Belt Region

 

Cotton Belt Depot, Commerce, Texas
Robert McFatridge engineer | Ed Cooper photo 

The 20th and Final
Cotton Belt REGIONAL Railroad Symposium

Saturday, August 1, 2026.

Sam Rayburn Student Center
East Texas A&M University
Commerce, Texas

The formal event will be held on Saturday, with a program consisting of railroad presentations, railroadianna displays, and other activities to be announced.  Audience participation is encouraged.

If you have items of railroad interest you would like to display, please bring them.  We have arranged for plenty of table and display space.  Please note that this is NOT a swap-meet.

An informal dinner gathering will be held at Lu Lu's Burgers about 6:00pm for anyone who would like to visit casually on Friday evening.

Directions & Parking Information

All guests parking on campus are now required by the university to purchase a Visitor Permit.  Follow this link to Get Your Visitor Permit.

Can't make it to the event in person?
We're sorry.
But, if the technology planets align, you can watch it live, or later, on our YouTube Stream.

Luncheon & Reservations

The luncheon is free, but prior reservations are required so we have an accurate meal count to provide our food-services personnel.

Luncheon meal requests may be submitted using the Cotton Belt Regional Railroad Symposium Luncheon Reservation Request form or by contacting Jason directly, prior to the reservation deadline at noon on Tuesday, July 28:

If you made reservations and later learn that will be unable to attend the luncheon, please notify Jason or use the form above so your meal(s) may be reallocated to someone else who may wish to dine at the luncheon.

Presented by

ETAMU Department of Engineering & Technology

ETAMU College of Science & Engineering

ETAMU Velma K. Waters Library Special Collections

Commerce Public Library
Cecil W. Standefer photo, Commerce, TX, 1953
Commerce Public Library Collection
used with permission

2026 Sponsors

Sponsorships are not being solicited for the 2026 event.  Our heartfelt thanks is extended to all our prior sponsors.

Symposium History

• Information and media galleries for some Previous Symposium Events
  
  

Everyone Welcome

Please join us for this free, public event to honor, document, and preserve the legacy of the current and "Fallen Flag" railroads and railroad families of the Ark-La-Miss-Tex-oma's geographical "Cotton Belt" Region.

Texas Midland Motor Car #5001 builders photo, Sept. 1912 Commerce Public Library Collection | used with permission

A special invitation is extended to all former and current railroad employees and their families to come and share recollections of their railroad days.  Everyone is encouraged to bring and display artifacts and historical photos depicting people, places, equipment, and rail operations.  We would appreciate the opportunity to make arrangements to scan images or photograph artifacts for historic preservation and inclusion in the Digital Library.

Anyone interested in the history and operations of railroads in the Ark-La-Miss-Tex-oma region is welcome.  This is also a reunion opportunity for members of the railroad "family."

Conductor waving from SP Caboose #4701 on SB train departing Commerce on June 1, 1982  |  Jason Lee Davis photo

Agenda

Friday, July 31, 2026 – 6:00pm
Informal Social Dinner Gathering at Lu Lu's Burgers, 803 Culver St, in Commerce.

Saturday, August 1, 2026 – Sam Rayburn Student Center, Conference Rm. #213

  Program:  (Schedule subject to revision)

8:19a     Registration/Displays Open
9:05a     Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:10a     Morning Presentations
     Gerald Hook, Russellville, AR
      – Late 19^th Century Passenger Fares and
         Freight Rates – Stage Coach, Wagon,
         and Railroad
     Dr. Jim L. Gattis, Springfield, MO
      – Helena, Railroads, and Geography
         Gone Wrong
     Ken E. Stavinoha, Rosenberg, TX
      – Presidential Tours in Texas
         - 1891 to 1909
12:00p   Luncheon
1:00p     Afternoon Presentations
     Tony Wilson, Winona, TX
      – Cotton Belt's Unique Identity 1944 to 1949
     Randy Hees, Little Rock, AR
      – Motor Car, The Southwest Transportation
         Company, and the Eagle of the Rails
     William Osborn, Austin, TX
      – The Rise and Demise of the Cotton Belt’s
         Western Extremity
     Dennis Hogan, Frisco, TX
      – A Cotton Belt Tribute:
         Historical Images of the SLSW
~4:30p   Adjourn

After the activities at the student center, visit the East Texas Model Railroad Club Open House.  (Directions available at the Symposium.)

Event Participants

participants welcomed

For information on participation,
please contact Jason Davis

Lodging Accommodations

View Commerce Area Lodging information.

Commerce Public Library Collection | used with permission

Important Notice

As a significant purpose of this event is historic documentation, the events will be video taped and photographed extensively.  Attendees should be aware that they are subject to appearance in video clips and photographs that may appear in library archives, digital library collections, the symposium media galleries, and other vehicles of media dissemination on the Internet.  Attendance at this event signifies voluntary consent to be included in such documentation.