Day Trips: Texas Transportation Museum, San Antonio
Old Steam Engine No. 6 had a role in Texas history
By Gerald E. McLeod, Fri., Dec. 20, 2024
Old Engine No. 6 had a long and productive life. After a career pulling loads of lumber in East Texas, the barrel-chested, black-and-silver steam locomotive rests in retirement at the Texas Transportation Museum in San Antonio.
Built in 1911 by the Baldwin Locomotive company of Pennsylvania, Engine No. 6 served the W.T. Carter & Brother Lumber Company of Camden, Texas, for 45 years.
Camden was the company town for the Carter sawmill 33 miles south of Lufkin. It is considered the last timber company town in Texas. Now the population is around 140. Most of the employees of the modern Georgia-Pacific Wood Products plant commute to work.
William Carter chartered the Moscow, Camden and San Augustine Railroad in 1898. It was the heyday of steam engines fired by scrap wood from the sawmill (Engine No. 6 was converted to oil in 1929).
The MC&SA Railroad ran 7 miles carrying wood products from Camden to the main railroad line in Moscow and then returning with raw timber. The line was never extended to San Augustine.
Employees took the scenic train ride through the forest to the larger town of Moscow. A round trip was 50 cents. Riders could then buy lunch at the company cookhouse for $1. The trip became popular with rail fans until it was discontinued in 1973.
The Texas Transportation Museum purchased Old Engine No. 6 in 1970. It turned out to be too expensive to restore as a tourist train so the old workhorse went on display.
All is not lost for this relic of bygone days. During the museum’s Santa Wonderland weekends, Engine No. 6 is decked out in colorful lights.
The Texas Transportation Museum is in north San Antonio off Wurzbach Parkway. The volunteer-run museum is open on weekends, and has a variety of train cars, automobiles, and a wonderful collection of model railroads that are a favorite of children.
1,734th in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere: Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/daily/travel.
