Tenaha Timpson Bobo and Blair

On our last trip through East Texas, we took a route that we have not traveled in a long time.  Staying on US59 North of Nacogdoches, you pass through these small towns Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair not necessarily in that order.  Going from North to South, you pass through Tenaha, then Bobo, then Timpson, then Garrison.  So the conductor on the old train took a little license with the order of the communities.  Tex Ritter wrote a song about the area.  He was from Panola County.

On the HE--WT line,
Old East Texas sure looks fine
Drop me off just anywhere (near)
Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair

Here those drivers pound the rails,
Takin' me back to Texas trails,
Bought my ticket, paid my fair,
Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair

Whooooo, waiting for the whistle,
Whooooo, when you hear the whistle,
It means that the stations not so far,
From where we are,

Let'er highball, engineer,
Pull that throttle, track is clear,
There's a gal just waitin' there,
Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair.


I used to drive the road a lot during my early days in Texas.  Not being familar with Tex Ritter's song, I would chant Tenaha, Bobo, Timpson, Blair and Garrison as I returned from my trips.  My brother would correct me.


Tenaha and Timpson are still small towns, Bobo has a marker for its location but not much more.  Blair has faded into obscurity having started as a switch location on the old railroad.


Just my day for trivia and memories.

Walldog, Willie and Jake