Silhouettes

I love the way the insulators look like birds silhouetted against the cloudy sky in this one... Hearne Depot, Hearne TX.

First Class

If you look closely, the middle trunk has a British Railways "First Class" label on the end.  Oh, the places my imagination takes me!  If this trunk could talk, I would expect it to have some great stories to tell...

Streamliner

This is Union Pacific's 1955 EMD E-9 passenger diesel 951, in an A-B-A consist with 963B and 949. They were visiting the Hearne, TX UP yard as part of the UP 150th Birthday tour, from Little Rock, AR to New Orleans, LA. Steam engine 844 was supposed to be on point of this train, but had mechanical problems (as old ladies tend to) near Mount Pleasant and didn't make it in time.  But these beauties were a superb stand-in- easy elegance on the Route of the Streamliners...

Crossing

Texas 21 crossing the Trinity River, Houston/Madison County line.  The river was way up that day, after a week's worth of heavy rain.  The boat ramp just to the left was almost totally covered with water.  A great sight, after seeing it so low last summer and fall from drought.

Downtown Small Town

Old department store in Downtown Palestine, TX.  I love the Deco font and the angle of the shadows in this one.

No Trespassing

Duly noted.  Long lenses are highly useful... Old SP Freight Depot, Jacksonville, TX

Waiting...

This is the former Administration Building of Mary Allen College in Crockett, TX.  It was originally founded by the Board of Missions for Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church to educate black women in Houston County.  It was named for Mary Allen, the late wife of the first president of the seminary.  The school opened in 1886, and over the years went from a women's seminary to a coeducational, two-year junior college to a fully-accredited, four-year institution.  However, enrollment, at one time as high as 130+ students, declined, accreditation was lost due to scandal, and finally the 92-year old college was forced to close in 1978.  This structure is all that remains, and it is waiting... 

Young 'un

Young longhorn, Midway, TX; March 2012

107

Nailed above a doorframe at the former Southern Pacific freight house in Jacksonville, TX... the tracks are gone (only UP still uses their line, and it's not close to this building) and the freight house looks to be not far behind.  Looks like it was, at one time, an antique store, but now it sits empty and waiting...

The Beast

This is The Beast, a nasty hill, masquerading as a pleasant country backroad... it is about a 60 degree slope, and in a car isn't bad.  On a bike, it's a whole 'nother story.  It was the final hill to conquer in the Beauty and the Beast Bike Ride I participated in two weeks ago in Bullard, TX.  I made it...barely!