the gulf coast lines was projected originally by b. f. yoakum, chairman of the board of the rock island and frisco lines. yoakum's plan envisioned using the rock island and frisco, together with.several railroads to be built in texas and louisiana and now known as the gulf coast lines, to form a continuous line of railroad extending from chicago, st. louis and memphis to baton rouge, houston, brownsville, tampico and mexico city.