Union Pacific 8310, Brauntex Theatre, New Braunfels, Texas
Image by myoldpostcards
A view of Union Pacific 8310 southbound in New Braunfels crossing W. San Antonio St. In the background is the Art Deco-style Brauntex Theatre.
UP 8310 is a diesel-electric locomotive produced by Elecro-Motive Diesel, an Illinois-based company owned by Caterpillar. The locomotive entered service in 2005.
The Brauntex Theatre opened in 1942. It was design by by Jack Corgan, best known for the theaters he designed in the southwest United States, and the Corgan copied the design for the Brauntex from one of his earlier works, the Washita Theatre in New Cordell, Oklahoma.
The Brauntex was integrated during the 1960s. After integration patrons could sit anywhere in the theater; 40 cents upstairs or 50 cents downstairs. In late 1999 the by then run-down Brauntex came under the ownership of the Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association. WIth community contributions, renovation of the Brauntex began almost immediately and the theatre reopened in 2000 as a performing arts venue. Since then the theatre has undergone several phases of renewal. The Brauntex Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
New Braunfels is the seat of Comal County. A suburb of San Antonio, New Braunfels is located 32 miles northeast of San Antonio and 48 miles southwest of Austin. The Gruene Historical District is located within the city limits of New Braunfels. The city has a strong German heritage. According to the U.S. Census, the population of New Braunfels increased from 57,740 in 2010 to 90, 403 in 2020 making it the third-fastest growing city in the United States during this period.
