Houston, Tx

Tower 26 is the extremely busy Junction point of the UP West Belt Sub and UP Houston Sub (part of the UP Sunset Line). At this location trains come from all directions. Amtrak trains #1/#2 “The Sunset Limited” comes through here. Amtrak is Daily Except Thursdays

CPKC trains are regular here as they have trackage rights from Rsoenburg to Beaumont to link to Mexico. There are approx 10 CPKC trains a day.

Trains coming and going from the UP West Belt Sub south of Tower 26 go by our Sampson Street and TN&O Jct cameras

This is a great location to watch trains as there is lots of action. With lots of variety in motive power and roads. The area is very picturesque with downtown Houston as the background

Tower 26 East cam permanently faces the east direction towards Englewood Yard

TN&O Jct is located in South Houston by BNSF’s New South Yard. TN&O is a junction point between UP’s Harrisburg Sub, UP’s West Belt Sub and BNSF’s Mykawa Sub. The West Belt Sub Terminates just south of the diamond and BNSF’s Mykawa Sub begins.

BNSF Mykawa Sub runs all the way to Alvin Texas. UP Trains have trackage rights all the way to Algoa where UP’s Angleton Sub links up with BNSF Galveston Sub.

Most UP Trains along the Harrisburg Sub are locals assignments, rock trains, ethanol trains or BNSF Grain trains or manifests departing New South Yard. Any other trains are detours. The Harrisburg sub connects to the UP Glidden sub at Willows Meadow Houston suburb.

Most trains off the Harrisburg sub come to and from the UP West Belt Sub. Very seldomly do trains cross the diamond east to west across the West Belt Sub. The usual trains that cross the diamond on the Harrisburg Sub are ethanol trains to and from Galveston Tx. All other trains are reroutes or extra BNSF transfers which will back into New South Yard

TN&O is a very unique and one of a kind junction location in the United States. This is due to 3 major road ways intersecting right in the middle of the junction.

Sampson Street North camera is facing north along the Union Pacific West Belt Subdivision. Sees a variety of different train hauling everything you can imagine. Mostly petrochemicals, aggregate and general merchandise.

Baer Jct is located in the 5th Ward of Houston. Near Tower 26 and just south of Englewood yard.

It is the junction point between the UP Strang Sub and the UP Bell Line Industrial Lead.

This line is only used for staging trains waiting to Yard in Englewood or need a crew change. The only local that works this line comes from Basin Yard to service scrap industries on this industrial lead.

UP and BNSF Unit Trains to and from Galena Park come along this line as well. They are either Grain trains or drill pipe trains.

Traffic levels on the Bell Line are never consistent as trains are routed in this direction only on a needed basis. Some days its back to back trains others barely any.

Tower 86 is also visible from this camera when fully zoomed in. Seeing trains along the UP East Belt Sub

Sampson Street East camera is looking East at the Union Pacific Galveston Subdivision. This line connects directly to the UP West Belt Sub at GH&H Jct, then to Tower 26.

The line only sees UP and BNSF.

Regular Southbound UP/BNSF Trains are bound for Galveston/Texas City Tx. Regular Northbound UP Trains are bound for Englewood Yard (Houston). Sometimes detoured UP trains are routed this way.

Northbound BNSF trains are bound for BNSF’s Houston Sub at Belt Jct

Sampson Street South camera is facing south along the Union Pacific West Belt Subdivision. This line connects directly to TNO Jct and Tower 26.

The line mostly only sees UP and BNSF. Any CPKC trains on this line are detours off the UP Glidden Sub.

Regular Southbound UP Trains are bound for Angleton Tx, Corpus Christi Tx and the many industries on the way there. Regular Northbound UP Trains are bound for Englewood Yard (Houston), Dayton Tx or Lufkin Tx

Most BNSF Trains on the line terminate and begin from BNSF New South Yard a few miles south of here. The only through BNSF trains are either grain or rock trains

Sampson Street is a very picturesque location to railfan with downtown Houston’s skyscrapers in the background and the venerable classic searchlights soon to be replaced.