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The Houston street car book has route maps, but I wasn't able to find a copy at Brazos. I haven't tried the library yet. I can buy a copy directly from the author but it's a bit pricey. Does anyone have a map of the original routes? Galveston-Houston Electric Railway Co. Electric Interurban Railway Streetcar Map from the Stone & Webster Management Association, 1922, and 1923.

Morning everyone! So I thought it would be fun to challenge the community a bit. As a community that discusses so much about architecture/infrastructure it really seems a bit odd that I don't see a lot of forum submitted proposals or ideas for Houston, but not just some description of it or a post from a news source, but actual drawings or planning of these ideas. I know it's in there somewhere lol Everyone is very passionate about this city with an enormous amounts of opinions on how Houston should function going forward. I would really like to see this in action, and tap into that! Whether you are an architect, designer, engineer, student of some kind, or work in another field everyone has a voice that can shape Houstons future reality. This should be a fun exercise. The only thing you can not do is simply describe it in words! You need to provide visuals. I want to see maps, route plans, potential stations, maybe the actual trains themselves and what they look like, ideas for a train station?, the name of the system? lol. It can be very simple looking to very professional, it doesn't matter to me....your ideas are what matter. The scope can be large or huge. It could include everything from all lightrail to a combo of lightrail and commuter. Maybe someone has an idea for a subway. Monorail? lol Maybe its all that new people mover system they are going to build in Tel Aviv! Maybe you not only have ideas for Houston, but Texas in general. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. You also don't have to do a bunch of work and then post it all at once. In fact I would encourage that you just post drawings/sketches or plans as you go. Now for critique. No bashing of others ideas! If you don't have a sound critique in mind (that means finding at least one small thing you like even if you hate everything about it lol) then don't say anything at all. Make critiques constructive. I want this to be sort of a think tank for all ideas associated with the future of mass transit in houston. I really hope I'm not asking to much from everyone here >.> I think stuff like this would be fun for the community to do. If this one works out I would like to create other design challenges. Good luck everyone

All in favor of changing our lightrail cars to these....say I !!! http://imgur.com/a/kNnzB Seriously these are freakin awesome lol.

If you look at maps of Houston dating from the 1910s and 1920s, you'll notice a rail spur from the old SA&AP (later Southern Pacific) mainline down to the Rice campus. [The San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway paralleled today's Southwest Freeway.] One purpose of the rail spur was to service a coal power plant on the campus. Anyone seen old photographs of the rail line or the Rice power plant? It would appear the spur left the mainline and traversed what later became Greenbriar Dr.

In the Dallas Public Library's digital photograph collection---of all places!--- are 25 photographs of the construction of the Southern Pacific passenger depot in 1934. The images include exterior and interior views of the structure including the historical murals. In some views you can see the older Grand Central Depot dating from the 1800's. http://dallaslibrary.org/CTX/photogallery/searchguide.html Search the digital collection using the keywords "Southern Pacific Passenger Railroad Station." I believe the general contractor was a Dallas firm, thus a possible reason for the photos ending up there. P.S. The site of Grand Central is now occupied by the downtown post office.

There is really no comparisons. I just came back from Vegas and well...WOW their monerail may have some small problems but were fixed fast. Also provides ease on congestion on the Strip whereas our monerail just causes congestion! I REALLY wish we had an above ground monerail. Why is Houston so stuck in the past its SO sad!