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 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.

The three speakers at the event will be local historians and railroad enthusiasts Bruce Blalock, an expert on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, plus a certified steam engine driver, Ken Stavinoha, a collector and author on railroad history, and Ken Kesselus, a local historian on Bastrop County.