Texas and New Orleans Lines

Southern Pacific’s Texas and New Orleans Railroad Company (T&NO) operated lines of railroad in Texas and Louisiana.   

Until the Huey P. Long Bridge was opened in December 1935, Southern Pacific provided ferry service between New Orleans and the west bank of the Mississippi River.  In addition, T&NO was either a part-owner or merely a user of terminal railroad companies in Dallas, El Paso, Galveston, Houston, New Orleans, and Shreveport.  On November 1, 1961, T&NO would be merged with Southern Pacific.  Much of the T&NO story revolves around the explosive growth of the petrochemical industry between the greater Houston area and eastward to Lake Charles, Louisiana, and what was known internally at the company as “World War III”.

Southern Pacific ferries and barges operated between New Orleans and the west bank of the Mississippi River prior to its rail operations over the Huey P. Long Bridge.  Photo from the Library of Congress.

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