My Trip to Dallas is full of Trains... LOL

Nice pics TMack!  The 'Trainmen Only' sign is cool, which hotel did you find that at?  I work not much more than a stones throw from the West End over in the Earl Cabell Federal Building.  The West End leading out to Dealey Plaza and 'Old Red', the Hisotric Dallas Courthouse, is one of the more picturesque areas of downtown in my opinion.

 

While the DART light rail resembles more the old trolley systems, there is a commuter passenger train that runs from Dallas to Fort Worth called the TRE (Trinity Railway Express).  It's a nice quick means of traveling over to Cowtown (aka Fort Worth) to see some sights if you have the time.  It operates on a line that I believe was exclusively freight before the formation of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).  It departs out of Union Station in Dallas.  A very nice historic station that now resembles more of a ghostly monument to the old Dallas-Fort Worth passenger train days.  Although it does see a good bit of commuter traffic from some of the light rail lines and the TRE.  There is even a 'part-time' Amtrak office there, given it's sparse service out of that station.

 

Unfortunately my non-progressive burg (Grand Prairie, TX...among others) voted themselves out of DART from the beginning.  Otherwise the TRE would likely have run on what I guess is the old Texas & Pacific mainline from Dallas to Fort Worth.  It cuts right through the center of our town, and I can routinely see and hear what I guess is BNSF diesels rolling through and the occasional Superliner (just heard the sound of the diesel off in the background while typing this).  Makes me think of what might have been

 

If you ever found yourself out in rural East Texas, you could visit Jefferson, Tx.  The town that 'missed' the railroad.  It's an interesting story, speaking of what might have been, as Jefferson was at one time much more a mecca when Dallas was but a fledgling town.  One last destination, although I'm ashamed to admit I don't even know for sure it has moved already or not, is the American Railroad Museum at Fair Park (another cool historic site, now accessible by lightrail).

http://www.dallasnews.com/ente...e-time-from-7714.ece

 

Enjoy your stay!

Robert

That cited article is almost three years old! For current information, google Museum of the American Railroad. The new museum is virtually completed at this point, and most of the collection has already been moved to this big new site in Frisco, Texas, a northern suburb. There have been threads here with pictures as the movements have taken place since last Fall.

 

One of the last moves left is a big one - the movement of the Big Boy to the new museum, which will be occurring this spring. They're expecting a large crowd from all over the country, even foreign countries, to witness that when it happens.

 

Actually, that's probably not exactly the way most people would describe the modern DART rapid transit light rail system!

As I mentioned sir, I did not know that state of the museum move.  I realize now that the move is all but completed, thank you for pointing that out.  Although I do realize 3 years is almost an eternity ago, I am relatively new to the site and would not neceessarily know of the prior postings you reference.  I do not profess to be any type of train buff, and while the move is likely best for the collection and Frisco, I still find it regrettable for Dallas nonetheless which is why I chose to cite that particular article.   Sorry if others feel my characterization of DART light rail is a misrepresentation, but that is 'my' take on it.  Merely attempting to point out some of the little train subject matter I have to offer to the gentleman while he was in Dallas.

My apologies if I mispoke.

 

EDIT: Again my apologies as my comments were not intended to be controversial, and here is the current link for the Museum:

http://www.museumoftheamericanrailroad.org/

I live about a half hour away from the Jefferson Historic Railroad.

We try to ride it on:

New Years Eve & the Ghost Ride through the Bayou,

and when we have out of state visitors.

Oh, my goodness!  I was intending to travel by automobile to see that collection at Fair Park.  Thought I mistakenly had entered a NASCAR event the last time I traveled on the North Central Expressway to reach Plano on a Friday night.  Is the North Tollway to Frisco any better?




What, me worry?

The DNT (Dallas North Tollway) is a little better than 75 (Central Expressway), but every road is a NASCAR event around the DFW Metroplex.  If you're driving too slow, you'll get run over.  Drivers from Oklahoma often tend to hug the left lane in Texas at speeds way under the limit and never seem to understand to change lanes or simply don't care.  BTW, any major highway on a Friday is a nightmare around here during the rush hours. 

With everything so spread out in the DFW Metroplex, *I* prefer to get where I am going in a "timely" manner. 

 

Speaking of 75 Central Expressway... Here is some interesting information for non-Dallas folks.

 

What is now 75 Central Expressway used to be the tracks and right-of-way for the Houston and Texas Central Railroad (H&TC). Initially there was a dirt road that ran alongside the tracks, that was later "upgraded" to a gravel road, Central Avenue.  In 1911, it was proposed that the City of Dallas should purchase the H&TC right-of-way to build a new North-South boulevard to improve the flow of traffic from downtown to the northern suburbs.

 

However, the Southern Pacific had gained rights to use these tracks, and refused to allow the tracks to be removed to build the new Central Boulevard.  In a period of 30+ years, the City of Dallas and the Southern Pacific fought one legal battle after another one to force the railroad to give up the H&CT right-of-way.  The SP argued that it would be too costly for them to either move, raise, or lower the tracks to provide room for the boulevard.  The SP was using these tracks for passenger trains to the Union Terminal and for freight trains to their south Dallas switching yard.

 

The legal battles were many.  As time went on, Dallas constructed a lot of roads that crossed over the tracks, and forced the SP to build and maintain grade crossings.  Because the City owned the roads, they had jurisdiction over the tracks that were within the streets.  One one point, the Dallas City Council decided to force the SP's hand by declaring that they were going to remove all tracks that were within the roads that crossed them, because they were a "traffic hazzard", and gave the SP 150 days to remove the tracks. Ultimately, it was determined that this ordinance not hold up by the City Attorney, and would invoke another costly legal battle.

 

By the late 30's, the SP was only using these tracks to shuttle freight cars from their switching yard with their freight terminal in the city, as well as to service numerous team tracks and industrial sidings.  With the reduction in traffic, the SP became open to negotiations to give up their right-of-way.

 

In 1941, the SP agreed to sell the right-of-way for $50,000 and acquire in trade an alternate route to South Dallas.  In 1949, the road project name changed to the Central Expressway.

 

In 1950, the first phase of Central Expressway opened, with the full route completed in 1956.

Ted,

 

Nice pictures, I really like that train sign

 

Thanks,Alex

Robert, TRE runs over the former Rock Island line between Dallas and Fort Worth.  Before 1969, the FW&D (Burlington) Texas Zephyr and the Rock Island Twin Star Rocket, both used this track.  After the Rock Island ceased operation, Burlington Northern operated this track, which was, by then, freight only.

 

For those who are right of way savvy, you can see some bridges of obvious Rock Island design still in use, including a through girder bridge over I-35E and a through truss close to that location.  They still use RDC's on some trains, as they actually have only a modest roster of push-pull locomotive powered trains.  It's a good ride between Dallas' classic Union Terminal and Fort Worth's Texas & Pacific station.

Here is a shot form Tonight at the Market Center platform.  I will take the TRE from Union Station to Centreport  to get back to the airport. 

Nice photo, T Mack.  The blue hour . . .

Hey TMack,

Nice photos of Americana. Like you said, suitable for a scenic job. I like to observe signage. I like the painted signs on the Sonny Bryans building.

But, here's a detail for your scene...Did you happen to notice what kind of big ?"* bird was on the top near back. Looks like a hawk or buzzard to me.

Maybe one shouldn't eat at Sonny's  

Guys:  isn't the Mckinney Street Railway still running using antique and imported streetcars?  When I was there, maybe ten years ago, this was a real attraction for the downtown or near downtown area.  As I recall it was operated by volunteers who actually received a stipend for their services.  I believe that they had a fare arrangement with DART so that passengers could transfer from one to the other.  And, it provided a service to a restaurant/entertainment area of town.

 

It was a great ride, and I hope that it's still in service.  If it still operates, I'd sure recommend it for any rail or train oriented person.

 

Paul Fischer

Moonman "Did you happen to notice what kind of big ?"* bird was on the top near back"

 

Grackles - annoying and noisy

 

Fisch - Yeah the Trolleys are there, if I have time I am going to see them tomorrow.

 

Tom, Thank You

LOL I was comparing the bird to the HVAC equipment thinking it was sitting on the building-Bird on the wire was the song-wasn't it?  or movie.

 

Another cool pic TMack...great sunset shot

 

Thanks for the info on the Rock Island RR, Tom...TMack's thread has inspired me to plan some RR treks of my own, and to learn more about the train history of my own town.

Robert