The Cotton Belt, called the first railroad to go all diesel
The Cotton Belt Building’s National Register nomination, citing the memoir of Tyler-based Cotton Belt president H. J. McKenzie, says the Cotton Belt was the first railroad to convert completely to diesel operations.
Note
The claim rests on McKenzie’s own account and carries no date.
Sources
- National Register nomination: Cotton Belt Building (NR 05001405, 2005; THC Atlas)atlas.thc.texas.gov
The Cotton Belt was the first railroad to completely convert to diesel operations
Checked October 15, 2026. How the cards are filed