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Texas Crushed Stone and Georgetown Railroad

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Written by William B. Snead, President of Texas Crushed Stone Co. Saturday, 07 October 2006

Photo of Original Crusher used in 1958 which crushed in one day what today’s Crushers do in 20 minutes.

For the past 48 years, Texas Crushed Stone has operated a limestone quarry half way between Round Rock and Georgetown. This family-owned and –operated business has grown into one of the largest limestone quarries in the world producing more than 11 million tons of crushed stone each year.

On a typical day, more than 1,800 truckloads and 100 rail car loads are shipped to construction jobs in central and east Texas. Most of the stone is used as a key ingredient in concrete, hot mix asphalt and as a road base foundation.

Both Texas Crushed Stone and the modern Georgetown Railroad were founded by Edwin Brazelton Snead (1904-1982). Snead went into business for himself when he founded the E.B. Snead Construction Company in 1932. He incorporated Texas Crushed Stone in 1947, and in that same year opened a limestone quarry in Austin. The Austin quarry was located off the present MoPac expressway in Austin. Far West Blvd. runs through the old quarry. Murchison Middle School and a shopping center are located in the old quarry.

In 1958, with limestone reserves almost depleted at the Austin Quarry, Snead began looking for a new quarry site. At that same time, the Missouri Pacific Railroad was applying to abandon a branch line railroad running between Round Rock and Georgetown. A group of Georgetown businessmen wanted to ensure that Georgetown would continue to be served by two railroads. In those days a quarry that far from Austin would make shipping difficult, but Snead decided to locate his new quarry along this branch line so that he could haul into Austin using the rail cars. He and the Georgetown businessmen incorporated the Georgetown Railroad as a short line railroad.

Today, 165 people, including E.B. Snead’s son and two grandsons, earn their living working for Texas Crushed Stone and the Georgetown Railroad.

The Georgetown Railroad serves Texas Crushed Stone and eight other customers along its 20 miles of mainline track and 18 miles of side track. The railroad begins just north of Sam Bass Road in Round Rock and runs through Georgetown and Weir to Granger. The railroad’s fleet includes four locomotives and 739 freight cars.