How railroad stop turned into one of Houston area's most close-knit cities

Tuesday, September 3, 2019
TOMBALL, Texas (KTRK) -- Tomball may be a bustling city now, but what you might not know is that it started out as a railroad stop.

"This was dairy farms, lumber, and then it became oil in the 1940's," explained John Lockwood, a volunteer at the Tomball Railroad Depot Museum.
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The historic museum is located in downtown Tomball, at 201 South Elm Street.

It's full of history, and contains train memorabilia, original art, antiques, and two highly-detailed model railroads.

Back in the early 1900's, the city was called 'Peck,' named after a local train engineer.

But, in 1907, the city was renamed "Tomball" after a man named Tom Ball.



If he sounds familiar, Ball is also the man who had a major role in the development of the Houston Ship Channel.
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"He was a lawyer for the railroad," Lockwood said. "He became a representative for the state of Texas in Washington."

Passenger train service ended in the 1960's. But if you're a fan of Texas nostalgia, visitors can hitch a ride back in time by visiting the original train depot with a free tour.

To schedule a tour, click here.

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