Third Street Railroad Trestle
historic place
The Third Street Railroad Trestle is a historic place located in Austin, Travis County. This wooden railroad trestle was constructed around 1922 or 1925 by the International-Great Northern Railroad. It replaced an earlier bridge from 1876, which served Austin's first railway connections. The trestle spanned Shoal Creek and was a vital part of the International-Great Northern Railroad system. For decades, it was integral to Austin's transportation history, carrying all freight and passenger rail traffic into and out of the downtown warehouse district and to the passenger depot. By 1935, the trestle was at the center of a busy cargo district, facilitating the trade of supplies for Austin's growing businesses, homes, and public infrastructure. It also served as a landmark for arriving passengers, signaling the train's approach to the depot. The bridge was used by the International-Great Northern, Missouri Pacific, and Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroads. Commercial rail traffic over the trestle ceased in 1964, and the structure was abandoned after 1991. Today, the Third Street Railroad Trestle is significant as the last remaining early 20th-century wooden railroad trestle in downtown Austin. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 2021, recognizing its importance in the economic history of the city.