About Us
Steve Allen Goen
Steve Allen Goen has been documenting the railroads of Texas since 1967, the same year that the FW&D's TEXAS ZEPHYR was discontinued. Since that time he has taken thousands of still images and miles of movie film and video from all across Texas. As a boy his love for Texas railroad history led him to begin collecting newspaper articles about the state's final passenger trains as well as the closings of hundreds of train depots. In college he started collecting info and photos of the ghost railroads of North Central Texas which ultimately became the first of his many written histories.
In 1996 Steve published his first book, "Fort Worth & Denver Color Pictorial". In the years that followed Steve published seven more titles including "Texas & Pacific Color Pictorial", "Cotton Belt Color Pictorial", Kansas City Southern Color Pictorial", "Santa Fe in the Lone Star State", "Down South on the Rock Island", "Texas & New Orleans Color Pictorial" and "Miss Katy in the Lone Star State".
Steve has been the guest speaker at numerous museums and universities across Texas including Texas A&M, Southern Methodist University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M-Commerce, Midwestern State University, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and the Allen Public Library.
Goen is considered one of the state's leading railroad historians, with a special interest in the Lone Star State's one time network of passenger trains.
Relive the Glory Days of Texas Railroading
Steve has a vast railroad photograph collection numbering in the thousands. The majority of these photos were taken between 1940 and 1970 during the glory days of railroading in Texas when streamliners crossed the state each day. Trains like the TEXAS SPECIAL, SUNSET LIMITED, CALIFORNIA SPECIAL, THE ANGELO, SAM HOUSTON ZEPHYR, VALLEY EAGLE, TEXAS CHIEF, SUNBEAM and the Cotton Belt's LONE STAR. His series of books bring this period of Texas history back to life.
A time when the arrival of the passenger train was the high point of the day for towns across Texas
At one time almost every city and town in Texas was served by some type of passenger train. From the streamlined "name trains", to the makes-all-stops mail and express trains, to "doodlebugs", to "mixed trains", Texas had it all. Join Steve as he takes you back in time when the arrival of the passenger train was the high point of the day for countless towns across Texas.
Passenger trains of Texas - Rock Island
Passenger Trains of Texas - Rock Island
In the days when the Texas Rocket was the way to travel in style
In the days when the Texas Rocket was the way to travel in style
In Steve's tenth book overall, and second volume showcasing the passenger trains of Texas, we feature the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. In this exciting new book by Steve Allen Goen he features the operations of 14 different Rock Island passenger trains that once operated in the Lone Star State. Chapters include the Graham Branch, the A
In Steve's tenth book overall, and second volume showcasing the passenger trains of Texas, we feature the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. In this exciting new book by Steve Allen Goen he features the operations of 14 different Rock Island passenger trains that once operated in the Lone Star State. Chapters include the Graham Branch, the ACR Line, the Short Line Flyer, Arizona Limited, Texas Rocket, Choctaw Rocket, Memphis-Californian, Oklahoma Rocket, the Fort Worth to El Reno RDCs, Choctaw Rockette, Twin Star Rocket, Imperial, Cherokee and the Golden State.
It's all here in one great book!
In the days when the Texas Rocket was the way to travel in style
In the days when the Texas Rocket was the way to travel in style
In the days when the Texas Rocket was the way to travel in style
Although high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston is a hot topic today, Texas once had an earlier version over the same route. Between August 1937 and January 1945 the Texas Rocket was the way to travel in style with speed between Fort Worth, Dallas and Houston. Imagine what it was like to speed down the old B-RI behind a sleek TA passe
Although high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston is a hot topic today, Texas once had an earlier version over the same route. Between August 1937 and January 1945 the Texas Rocket was the way to travel in style with speed between Fort Worth, Dallas and Houston. Imagine what it was like to speed down the old B-RI behind a sleek TA passenger diesel hitting 100 mph.
The entire history of the Texas Rocket is included, from its earliest days behind TA 602, to operation with a Budd Zephyr, to its reassignment between Dallas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Remembering the Twin Star Rocket
In the days when the Texas Rocket was the way to travel in style
Remembering the Twin Star Rocket
Named for Minnesota, the "North Star State", and Texas, the "Lone Star State", the Twin Star Rocket was one of the most glamorous passenger trains to have ever crossed the Mid-West. Operating daily between Minneapolis and Houston, the Twin Star was one of the most famous, yet little known streamliners that served Texas.
This chapter alone
Named for Minnesota, the "North Star State", and Texas, the "Lone Star State", the Twin Star Rocket was one of the most glamorous passenger trains to have ever crossed the Mid-West. Operating daily between Minneapolis and Houston, the Twin Star was one of the most famous, yet little known streamliners that served Texas.
This chapter alone includes 51 extremely rare B&W and color photos of the Twin Star Rocket between its premiere in January 1945 and its final run in September 1966.
passenger trains of texas volume one - cotton belt
Passenger Trains of Texas - Cotton Belt
Remembering when Mount Pleasant was the heart of Cotton Belt's passenger ops
In the days before the Dallas North Tollway was constructed
In the first of a series of books showcasing the passenger trains of Texas, Steve features the passenger operations of the St. Louis Southwestern Railroad, or more commonly known as the Cotton Belt, between the Victorian Era of the 1890s up to its final mixed train in 1958. In this 144 page hardback book Goen offers an in depth look at th
In the first of a series of books showcasing the passenger trains of Texas, Steve features the passenger operations of the St. Louis Southwestern Railroad, or more commonly known as the Cotton Belt, between the Victorian Era of the 1890s up to its final mixed train in 1958. In this 144 page hardback book Goen offers an in depth look at the passenger trains that once operated on each SLSW line in Texas. The book features both B&W and color images of the LONE STAR and MORNING STAR trains, the JITNEY in East Texas, gas electrics on the Stephenville, North & South Texas Railroad, mixed trains to Sherman, Gatesville and more.
In the days before the Dallas North Tollway was constructed
Remembering when Mount Pleasant was the heart of Cotton Belt's passenger ops
In the days before the Dallas North Tollway was constructed
It's hard to believe but prior to the construction of the Dallas North Tollway Cotton Belt passenger trains once entered Dallas from Addison over their own trackage and down this same right of way. Our book features many scenes taken along this now abandoned line, including numerous images of the LONE STAR and MORNING STAR at University Station.
Remembering when Mount Pleasant was the heart of Cotton Belt's passenger ops
Remembering when Mount Pleasant was the heart of Cotton Belt's passenger ops
Remembering when Mount Pleasant was the heart of Cotton Belt's passenger ops
Goen's new Cotton Belt book takes you back to the glory days of Mount Pleasant, Texas when four different passenger trains all arrived in town each afternoon within the span of just thirty minutes. Trains to and from Dallas, and between Tyler and St. Louis, all made the historic Mount Pleasant depot the main place to visit to see Cotton Belt trains in action in the 1940s and 1950s.
reviews
Featured Review in the Cowcatcher Magazine
DVDs
UP 4014 - Big Boy to the Big Easy
Our newest product... An 85 minute long DVD documentary featuring Union Pacific BIG BOY 4014's August 2021 trek across Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. From Parsons to Houston, New Orleans and Shreveport, it's all here on one great DVD. See the 4014 passing Tower 55 and crossing the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans.