| History: | The Texas, Louisiana, & Eastern Railroad was chartered on April 2, 1891. Webb records that the Texas, Louisiana, & Eastern sold a 21-mile stretch it built from Conroe to Cleveland to the Gulf, Colorado, & Santa Fe Railroad in 1894. In fact, according to Zlatkovich, The T L&E built twenty-two miles from Conroe to Cleveland in 1892, more than five miles from Cleveland to Meriam in 1893, and a bit more than two miles to Milepost 29.6 from Meriam in 1894.
Having reached the Trinity River, the railroad built no more mileage. It went into receivership on July 1, 1895. The Texas Legislature, with almost unanimous support, although without the Governor's signature, approved the sale of the T L&E to the Gulf, Colorado, & Santa Fe for $150,000. The Legislature, interestingly, had appraised the road's value earlier at $234,027.02. The GC&SF bought the TL&E at a foreclosure sale on July 26, 1897, at the legislature's price.
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