Purpledevil

Yeah, the AppleTree/Kroger I worked at on W. 43rd is now part of the parking lot for the signature store. I was about to say, the old building was a Weingarten's, then Safeway, then AppleTree, then Kroger's, then a pile of rubble. It was an old store. Even had the old doors that would swing open when you stepped on the black mat in front of the doorway to enter or exit the store. Definitely not one that Safeway ever built. I don't remember the exact year it was torn down and replaced, but it was this century. Early 2000's, maybe as late as 2003. I know it was torn down before Oak Forest Bank, and that was in 2005.

To answer a previous question posted, the track gauge would be standard for high speed rail, which is 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches, the same used by Amtrak.

If there was a way to get the Galveston Railroad Museum involved, there might be a chance to extend the line to the Island. Not sure about track right of way down Highway 3 though. It's UP controlled these days, I believe, but also serves BNSF and I think KCS to give them access to the Island. Fort Worth would likely be pushed, as it has a pretty large amount of rail that can be used and is headquarters to Burlington Northern Santa Fe. I'm sure with their pull, they'd be supportive of getting a commuter rail tied in with them. I can see your point for a stop in the township. From just what I know of high speed commuter rail, it seems rather inconvenient and time consuming, both of which work against a high speed rail service and its success. I like the idea of a local service for The Woodlands from Houston. Something like Austin has with the Texas Central Railroad. Not so much an excursion line like it is, but a steady passenger service running back and forth between the two, or even down to Galveston.

Heh, I worked at the one on W. 43rd in Oak Forest. "Everything in this bag, is AppleTree fresh!" What is that building in the parking lot of 9510 N. Houston Rosslyn? I haven't been down that part of Bingle/NHR in years. It's directly in front of the grocery store's entrance, so I'm assuming that the AppleTree building is not accessible for public meandering?

Btw, that Hempstead route would be something else. Grab your popcorn. It's going to be quite a show when they hit tower 13 at 100+. Lol. That is not a straight away at all and wouldn't be a good line for high speed. The Hardy line is basically a straight line towards Dallas and would really only have the Lloyd Yard just north of the beltway to contend with holding it up. This line has always made the most sense to me and is why I agree with cloud that Hardy Yards would be the preferred choice.

I'm with cloud on this, with the exception of the Woodlands stop. I don't like the idea of a high speed commuter train having to stop that close to Houston. Once you get started back up and regain speed it'd be time to stop it again in the few minutes it would take to cover the distance from the Woodlands stop to Houston's. One stop in Houston, one stop in Galveston. That would seem the best use of the system connecting us with the Metroplex. Someone mentioned a line going southwest towards Corpus Christi. That would be an awesome idea, and the added bonus here is that Kansas City Southern recently rebuilt the old SP Macaroni line, which reopens a continuous ROW to the border of Mexico if it was ever necessary or desired to extend it that far.

Smh.

Your question IS a good one, IronTiger. I would like to know the answer as well. Iirc, the old Jeff Davis Hospital off Dart was pretty well gutted inside, but the exterior shell was left pretty well intact, when it was converted. Considering that building was saved (and God knows it was in baaaaad shape before the rebuild) I think there'd be hope in saving this charming structure. My Lord, JD had parts of the walls collapsing in on itself. This building doesn't appear to be nearly as damaged.

Yes, that's the one. Donovan runs smack dab into it. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, it has been in service as HSAA for around 4 school years.

One more question, IronTiger. Sorry to pester. 9510 Houston Rosslyn, is that the one that was at the intersection of W. Gulf Bank? Nicely done, btw. Thank you for taking the time to put this list together. :-)

Yes, I missed them both. Now, the store at Houston Rosslyn & 249, I know. That one was closed for a long time. I think, Kroger bought it and ran it with the AppleTree name very briefly, but after AppleTree closed it sat vacant. That strip had a Handy Dan and a old, old Kmart in it. The one you have listed I'm inquisitive about is listed on W. Montgomery. I never knew there was a grocery store of any kind along the stretch of road between N. Shepherd and Mount Houston.

The store you have listed for W. Montgomery, I believe, should be W. Mount Houston. State Highway 249 is the old Mount Houston Rd, and I don't remember Acres Homes ever having a big grocer on W. Montgomery. I may have overlooked it, but I didn't see a listing for the current Kroger at Yale and W. 20th, or the current Foodarama at W. 18th and Ella/T.C. Jester. Both were Safeway and AppleTree over the course of their history.

There was a Lewis & Coker at 1329 Arlington?? That'd be right across from Reagan, wouldn't it?

Has anyone noticed Alamo Elementary has been torn down on E. 27th? That was an old old school. Also, Cooley was over there off of Rutland and W. 17th(?). Last I saw of Cooley, it was in pretty neglected looking shape.

Not as an elementary school. Hohl is now "High School Ahead Academy". Hohl, as an elementary school, closed 4 years ago now.

I have interior pictures of the store in my grandmother's old picture album, but nothing of the outside that would show those rocks. I have one outside picture of me standing up in the guard shack in the main lot, but no rocks. Sorry I'm not more help. I saw the name Kaplan's and thought I could come to the rescue with my virtual library of old pictures. Wasn't meant to be...

They used to say the same thing about Kingwood, Trae. If Houston wants to annex Katy or Cypress, they will. I would not be surprised at all if Cypress gets taken before the end of the decade. Katy is a little less likely, as Houston could simply leap frog the actual city limits and start building up out there by Pedersen Rd, towards Igloo, as the metro progresses westward.

The Woodlands really took off in the 90's. It'd have to be one of the trendier picks of the decade.

BTW, sorry for going off of topic, never went to the Shamrock 4 or 6. I can tell you the Almeda and Northwest 4 were the first "multiplexes" in Houston. I believe Town & Country was right after them. Also, the poster stating the Kroger on W. Gray was originally a Weingarten's is absolutely correct.

I agree wholeheartedly. That Kroger needed "some work" when it was still a Safeway. Now, it needs a whole other building run up under it. Don't even get me started with the new location of the courtesy booth and the one door in and out now. Only reason I still shop there after all these years is the familiar, friendly faces within. Unfortunately, those too are disappearing a little at a time over the years...

KNDE was one of the more reliable Aggieland signals that showed up in Houston, citykid. That is, until the Sugarland translator showed up last year. I still get Candy up in north Houston, but it's a battle between them and KBRZ every day now. Amazing what a really tall antenna can do for such a flea powered signal!

The coordinates I gave for KBTX's location are what's filed as the main transmission site. I'd have to do some digging to find out what is housed behind the studio, but my best guess would be that it's an auxiliary.

I wonder if they've pulled out the old school shuttle bus/van from the garage yet? I'd love to get a hold of that beast and restore it.

Yes, I saw Baptist Temple is now missing the old church building and the new sanctuary building. Only building still standing is the one that houses the chapel now. This was my grandparents' church. I spent many days in those buildings. Would've never imagined it being downsized like it has been recently. Without the school, the gymnasium, and now the big sanctuary, it appears that Baptist Temple is coming closer and closer to its last days. What I meant in my last post was in response to the earlier question regarding the strip owned by Weingarten Realty across the street, which houses the Kroger and Goodwill. Most folks don't know or don't realize how close that building came to being a memory as well. Walgreens can be thanked for that not happening, as they held on to the lease at the old spot next to Kroger's, giving Goodwill enough time to get the space leased and stopping Kroger's from expanding. To think, W. 20th could've ended up looking a lot like W. 11th's or W. 43rd's store. Minus the alcohol.

I did not know they had burned. They are still standing though, no?