The Train

By Marolyn and Skeeter Lasuzzo, Photo by Skeeter Lasuzzo

Marolyn and I like to hike at Hagerman Wildlife Refuge. One of our favorite hikes is the trail along Deaver Pond, Meadow Pond and on to a train trestle at the end of the trail. This hike is a little over 5 miles round trip. One can usually see shorebirds along the ponds and numerous songbirds in the trees along the trail. On a number of occasions, we have seen deer, turkeys and wild hogs. The trail is wide and flat and makes for a nice stroll. One of the things you will see is the train that comes along periodically. The train tracks run along the south side of both ponds. The trail and the tracks intersect at the end of the trail near the trestle. While not wildlife, the train does make for an interesting image, especially in black and white.

Ed Note: Additional information, from the "Guide to the Hiking Trails at Hagerman NWR", by Doug Raasch: [To reach Meadow Pond Trail] From the visitor center go south along the lake, about two miles, until the road makes a “T.” You will be looking straight down Meadow Pond trail as you approach the “T.” You can park at the trail head or in the day use area on the right. A restroom is available. (ED: PLEASE do not block the gate!)

After passing through the turnstile… The trail is perfectly flat … because we are following the rail bed that once was the lifeblood of the village of Hagerman. The berms that occasionally shelter the trail are left over from rail bed construction.

(ED: The track now in use belongs to the Union Pacific Railroad, and was previously part of the M-K-T or “Katy” Railroad lines; the track was relocated from the original route through the town of Hagerman when Lake Texoma was built.)

Links:

For more railroad history, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri%E2%80%93Kansas%E2%80%93Texas_Railroad and

http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/index.shtml.

The official Refuge website is http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/hagerman/index.html

And for information about the activities of the Friends of Hagerman, please see http://www.friendsofhagerman.com.