The Portal of Texas History

 

[Collapsed railroad tracks near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Collapsed railroad tracks near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: Railroad freight cars loaded with wooden structures sit on raised railroad tracks leading to the docks. Part of the support structure for the tracks have collapsed underneath the loaded cars. The dock & pier structures closer to the water have been very heavily damaged.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Searching the debris near a damaged storage tank after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Searching the debris near a damaged storage tank after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: Four men walk through the debris near a ruined storage tank. Two of the men are in uniform. Wooden and metal debris is scattered and piled all over the area. On the right, in the background are a tanker car and a freight car. The word "Forward" can be read on the side of the freight car.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Damaged pipelines and railroad tracks near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Damaged pipelines and railroad tracks near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: A railroad freight car loaded with wooden forms sits amid the debris near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster. On the left, the support for the elevated pipelines near the port have collapsed, and pipelines lie on the ground. Metal, concrete and wooden debris are scattered along the pipeline route and the railroad tracks. In the distance can be seen the destroyed pier and dock structures. On the back of the photograph is written: "Loading Dock".
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Debris along the railroad tracks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Debris along the railroad tracks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: A long, large pile of pipe, metal and wooden debris covers much of a set of railroad tracks. On a parallel track to the right is a set of freight cars partially blocked from sight by the pile of debris. Two water towers stand in the background. In the foreground lies another heap of metal and wood debris. Heavy black clouds of smoke hang over the scene. Wooden utility or power poles with damaged lines can be seen along both the right and left sides of the photograph.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Debris along the railroad tracks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Debris along the railroad tracks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: At least five sets of railroad tracks run across the photograph. Debris lies scattered around the ground. What looks like two shovels from a crane lie face down on the ground along a track. In the background are a damaged round storage tank, a damaged building near the smokestack, two water towers, and a long pile of debris heaped in front of a train of freight cars. Lines sag in places from wooden utility or power poles. Heavy smoke hangs over the scene. The number "#33" is written in the lower right hand corner.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Damaged railroad tracks near the docks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Damaged railroad tracks near the docks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: Two damaged open-top freight cars (gondolas) loaded with rectangular wooden forms sit on a elevated wooden train track. The tracks appear to be on a wharf structure extending out to a dock. Wooden debris is densely scattered in the foreground in front of the tracks and is evidently floating in water in a channel. The front end of the track structure has collapsed and the front car is tilted downward. The forms in the freight cars have also been damaged. Two men are looking down from the raised part of the track.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Repairing the railroad tracks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Repairing the railroad tracks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: A group of about 15 men are working to clear and repair railroad tracks. Two parallel sets of tracks are visible. On the left, a flatbed rail vehicle holds railroad ties. Ahead of it on the tracks is a freight car holding several large rectangular forms. Small groups of men work along the other set of tracks, picking up debris, and replacing railroad ties. Some metal and wooden debris is visible along the tracks. Ahead of the workers on the tracks sits a badly damaged locomotive. To the right of the tracks are stacks of rectangular wooden structures stacked in piles. Some piles have been toppled. A large metal hook, suspended from a wheel and pulley, is visible on the far right. The number "#41" is written in the lower right corner.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library