MAR to move second set of cars today; first pieces to leave Fair Park location assembled

September 17, 2012 / Updated October 11, 2012

The second set of cars to be moved to the Museum of the American Railroad’s new location in Frisco, TX is expected to arrive later today.

The museum reported on its website late last week that a six-car consist mostly made up of passenger equipment was moved from Fair Park in Dallas to BNSF’s tracks in South Irving in preparation for the final move to Frisco. The equipment was inspected on Friday, but traffic levels prevented further movement.

A museum spokesman said that the group of Amtrak and Santa Fe cars is expected to arrive midday today. The consist is expected to leave Irving around noon and arrive in Frisco between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

On Wednesday, the Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad picked up the cars – Amtrak Slumbercoach No. 2090, Amtrak 10-6 Sleeper No. 2997, Amtrak Duplex Sleeper No. 2532. Santa Fe Lunch Counter Diner No. 1550, Santa Fe Lunch Counter Diner No. 1554 and Santa Fe Caboose No. 99931 – from storage near Fair Park. The consist departed the storage track in Southeast Dallas just before noon and arrived at DGNO’s Mockingbird Yard about 2:30pm.

After pulling onto Union Pacific’s main line at the original location of Tower 19 in Dallas, the train proceeded onto what was originally Dallas Union Terminal trackage. Numerous photographers and news media captured the move as it progressed through Union Station with the Dallas skyline and Reunion Tower in the background.

The train was placed on DGNO’s engine track at Mockingbird Yard (former Rock Island). DGNO moved the equipment from Mockingbird Yard to BNSF’s interchange point in South Irving on Thursday evening. The consist was reconfigured at Mockingbird and wyed at Irving to facilitate the correct orientation and placement at the Museum’s Frisco facility.

Meanwhile, the first pieces that will travel from MAR’s old facility in Fair Park have been assembled for a hospital move and are awaiting Federal Railroad Administration approval to proceed. The consist includes five heavyweight passenger cars. Additional cars will be added for braking requirements, including three Museum pieces.

“We are awaiting FRA approval before movement will take place,” MAR posted on its website. “We are in hopes it will happen sometime this week.”

MAR moved its first set of cars from its 40-piece collection in August. No timeline has been set for the completion of the move.

The Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad moves a six-car consist mostly made up of Amtrak and Santa Fe passenger cars through Dallas for the Museum of the American Railroad last week. The cars are expected to arrive at MAR’s new facility in Frisco today. – Courtesy Ken Fitzgerald

Spring is when large-scale model railroaders with their green thumbs plant and prune colorful foliage grown nearly to scale. In some areas, maintaining outdoor layouts is quite challenging because of changing weather. Nancy Norris, an author who builds garden railroads professionally, says some plant varieties have become more difficult to grow in certain Hardiness Zones. In some cases it means garden railroaders having to put more emphasis on growing native plants rather than relying on varieties more susceptible to extreme conditions. She recommends new gardeners consult with their local nurseries for the best choices for an outdoor layout. Norris also has a few recommendations of her own.

Sweeping tariffs imposed on goods imported into the United States are stirring model railroad manufacturers. As a result, model railroading and other hobbies will cost more. In February the U.S. applied a 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China, and the tax has since escalated. Suppliers – including Athearn, InterMountain Railway Co., Broadway Limited, Rapido Trains and ScaleTrains – have been putting dealers and customers on notice that prices will increase tariffs are implemented.

The first rule of railroading is “expect movement on any track at any time in any direction.” This may seem like an overabundance of caution, but railroading is a dangerous sport. Always expect a train when you’re around the tracks. The second rule of railroading is that there is an exception to every rule. The North American freight car fleet in 2023 consisted of 2.03 million rail cars, according to Railinc’s Umler Equipment Index. Rail car fleet management — how empty cars get dispatched to move to their next loading point — is an ever-moving process and often requires fleet car managers to be nimble.

MAR to move second set of cars today; first pieces to leave Fair Park location assembled

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