Tomball Reviews Design For Texas Railroading Heritage Museum

TOMBALL, TX — Members of the Texas Railroading Heritage Museum provided the Tomball City Council with an update on plans to build a museum in Tomball.

Bill Capdevielle, who is president of the organization's board of directors, said much of what was accomplished in 2018 centered around the creation of bylaws as well as a proposed design for the planned Texas Railroading Heritage Museum.

“We believe our vision of the museum matches the fantastic location that the city of Tomball has given its use of; we believe it matches the enthusiasm that we’ve seen in the community of the people around here, for railroading and railroading history,” Capdevielle said.

The Texas Railroading Heritage Museum had been a fixture at an industrial park in downtown Houston for many years, but in 2010 that changed when museum officials learned the property had been sold.

The museum negotiated a lease with the new owners, but they were told they needed to find a new home.

Plans to relocate the museum from downtown Houston to the Tomball Depot began in 2013 when the approval of a memorandum of understanding, followed by council approval of a contract with the Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in May 2015, and approval of the master plan two years later.

The museum will be located next to the red caboose at the depot on Market Street, along the BNSF tracks, stretching to McPhail Street, and would include a collection of vintage rail cars, library, and other railroading memorabilia.

Travis Gendel with Gendel Architect in Houston, said the inspiration for the project came from Union Station and Grand Central Station.

Officials said if council ultimately approves the construction, it would cost about $10 million to build the 13,300 square foot building, which could be paid with grant funds.

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