Is there any information regarding the type of rails used in the building of that road, and what was torn up?

A number of years ago, I did a little digging at the site of the Field Transportation works in Tyler [now covered by a subdivision] and what was apparently the site of a large blacksmith shop, found what appears to be pieces of "I" railroad iron used for grating under a large forge.

The "I" rails had no transverse bottom piece, and were secured to the cross ties by wooden rails that prevented the iron rails from falling over.

As Tyler had no railroad at the time, my surmise is that they would have possibly come from the railroad between Marshall and Shreveport. However, in light of you comment that rails were torn up around Beaumont and sent to Shreveport, I wonder if these rails might be from the Texas and New Orleans.

Any thoughts?

Randy Gilbert