Tracking the Railroads in Bastrop County

Railroads have played a very important role in the history of Bastrop County for more than a century and a half. Rail service essentially created the towns of Paige, McDade, Elgin, and Smithville and greatly aided Bastrop. Smithville in particular, has been a true railroad town. The speakers, local historian Ken Kesselus, Smithville’s retired Union Pacific Railroad Engineer, Bruce Blalock, and railroad historian and author Ken Stavinoha will trace the story of railroading in the county from 1870 to the present, touching on many cultural and economic aspects that have influenced local citizens’ lives.