At the Association of Tourist Railroads and Railway Museums Fall Confernce...
As the title suggests, I am currently at the ATRRM conference in Tyler, Texas. Today we had a visit to Dallas, Texas to visit the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority and the Museum of the American Railroad at Frisco, Texas.
McKinney Avenue Transit Authority provides electric street railway service on a daily basis using a fleet of restored vintage trolley cars. The service is funded by a special tax district which pays for the operation. No fare is charged, though donations are encouraged. The line is operated using both paid and volunteer staff. It is a very well run operation. The line was the vision of the late Ed Landrum and his son John continues to be involved in the management of the organization. John is a rather interesting fellow to say the least.
The visit to the Museum of the American Railroad was quite interesting. The museum was originally located in Dallas at Fair Park-the Texas State Fairgrounds. In 2006 the museum began strategic planning and the City of Frisco, Texas made an offer to the museum to relocate to their community. They have a forty year lease on fifteen acres with the City and are fundraising to construct permanent buildings to house their vast collection. Bob LaPrelle, (President and CEO of MAR) gave a presentation on the museum's activities and planning for the development of their new site, which was followed by a tour of the site itself. The site is a short distance from the museum's current temporary home in the Frisco Heritage Museum. It should be stated that the Town of Frisco (incorporated in 1908) is VERY proud of their railroad heritage. The town is on a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway subdivision that was formerly the main line of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad (known as the Frisco Railroad). In fact, the Town is an official licensee registered with the BNSF and uses the logo of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad as their official logo.
Tomorrow we visit the Texas State Railroad, which transports passengers along a railroad line built by the State of Texas in the early 1900s using convict labor. It connects the towns of Rusk and Palestine (25 miles apart) and is the centerpiece of the Texas State Railroad Historical Park. The passenger trains are operated with vintage coaches and vintage steam and diesel electric locomotives. We have a full tour of the line, including a lunch. Then it's back to the hotel for the opening reception. Then we have a couple of days of presentations with official dinners. The presentations look to be very good subjects and I look forward to learning much.
As usual, I've been catching up with friends from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (where I got my start in railway preservation) and other organizations. I am fortunate to have personally known Mr. Landrum and Mr. LaPrelle for many years, as well as many other fine folks. Some of our friends from the United Kingdom are here as well. In other words, for those in the tourist railroad and railroad museum trade, this is the place to be.
McKinney Avenue Transit Authority provides electric street railway service on a daily basis using a fleet of restored vintage trolley cars. The service is funded by a special tax district which pays for the operation. No fare is charged, though donations are encouraged. The line is operated using both paid and volunteer staff. It is a very well run operation. The line was the vision of the late Ed Landrum and his son John continues to be involved in the management of the organization. John is a rather interesting fellow to say the least.
The visit to the Museum of the American Railroad was quite interesting. The museum was originally located in Dallas at Fair Park-the Texas State Fairgrounds. In 2006 the museum began strategic planning and the City of Frisco, Texas made an offer to the museum to relocate to their community. They have a forty year lease on fifteen acres with the City and are fundraising to construct permanent buildings to house their vast collection. Bob LaPrelle, (President and CEO of MAR) gave a presentation on the museum's activities and planning for the development of their new site, which was followed by a tour of the site itself. The site is a short distance from the museum's current temporary home in the Frisco Heritage Museum. It should be stated that the Town of Frisco (incorporated in 1908) is VERY proud of their railroad heritage. The town is on a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway subdivision that was formerly the main line of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad (known as the Frisco Railroad). In fact, the Town is an official licensee registered with the BNSF and uses the logo of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad as their official logo.
Tomorrow we visit the Texas State Railroad, which transports passengers along a railroad line built by the State of Texas in the early 1900s using convict labor. It connects the towns of Rusk and Palestine (25 miles apart) and is the centerpiece of the Texas State Railroad Historical Park. The passenger trains are operated with vintage coaches and vintage steam and diesel electric locomotives. We have a full tour of the line, including a lunch. Then it's back to the hotel for the opening reception. Then we have a couple of days of presentations with official dinners. The presentations look to be very good subjects and I look forward to learning much.
As usual, I've been catching up with friends from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (where I got my start in railway preservation) and other organizations. I am fortunate to have personally known Mr. Landrum and Mr. LaPrelle for many years, as well as many other fine folks. Some of our friends from the United Kingdom are here as well. In other words, for those in the tourist railroad and railroad museum trade, this is the place to be.