January 31, 2020:

 

            I got up and had breakfast. I got dressed and went online. I saw PCC #4614 was running again. I then left and walked to the DART station. I bought a Regional day pass but the machines wouldn’t take my credit card. I ended up missing a couple trains. I eventually got a day pass and rode two stops to the West End station.

 

            I got off and waited for a Proterra electric bus on route #749. In the time since my last trip, some of the TTC’s own Proterra electric buses have entered service. I was on the first day of Proterra service and the bus broke down! I didn’t get to ride another TTC Proterra until a couple weeks ago.

 

            I saw a Proterra bus heading westbound. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to the Victory DART/TRE station. I got off and filmed the bus pulling away. I took one more photo of the bus.

 

 

            I then walked to the station. I was going to ride TRE to Fort Worth to catch the Heartland Flyer arriving into Fort Worth. I saw the train that would eventually be my westbound TRE to Fort Worth heading east. It departed before I could photograph it.

 

            I saw there was 44 minutes before the westbound train would depart. I decided to ride one stop east on DART and then transfer to a train. I decided I would either go to Victory or Union Station based on what train came first.

 

            The next train to come was a Red Line train. I rode the train to Union Station and got off and photographed it.

 

 

            I filmed the train departing. The TRE train was at the station. I boarded the cab car. From the train I photographed a few Union Pacific freight trains as they passed.

 

 

 

 

 

            The train departed at 11:00 am. At one point, we passed a freight train that was being led by a CP Gevo! This is the third CP unit I’ve seen in the Dallas Fort Worth area in the past two days! However, either CP is paying Union Pacific back for “horsepower hours” owed or Union Pacific will be the one to owe CP horsepower hours in the future.

 

            As we passed the TRE yard past the West Irving TRE station, I filmed the equipment in the yard. We soon arrived at Fort Worth Union station. I photographed the interurban which is on display at the station.

 

 

 

 

            I checked the arrivals board inside the station. The Heartland Flyer was stated it would be a few minutes early. I went out onto the platform. The TRE commuter train I had arrived on returned heading back to Dallas. I photographed it.

 

 

 

 

            I figured that if the Heartland Flyer was close to on time, I would take Texrail out of Fort Worth and transfer to DART at DFW Airport. I photographed a Texrail train heading towards Fort Worth T&P Station.

 

 

            I saw Fort Worth’s transit system uses XE35s on a service called the Dash. I photographed one bus.

 

 

            The Heartland Flyer was now late. The Texrail train returned. I photographed it.

 

 

            I filmed the train departing the station. I continued to wait for the Heartland Flyer. The Heartland Flyer ended up arriving 26 minutes late. I photographed the train and filmed it pulling in.

 

 

 

            The Amtrak crew lined a switch and the train backed into the station. I filmed the train going past and took some more photos.

 

 

 

            While I never stepped on board the train, I could tell that like other Amtrak services that use push-pull operation such as the Downeaster, Vermonter (back in 2011), Keystone, and Wolverine service the seats in the coaches are arranged so half face forwards and half face backwards.

 

            I went back into the station to look into what would be my best option to get back to Dallas. I had three not counting the Texas Eagle: TRE, Texrail, or Greyhound. The next departure for Dallas was a TRE train. I then headed out and saw the Heartland Flyer deadheading to where the train is stored in between runs. I photographed it.

 

 

            I also photographed a Union Pacific freight train.

 

 

 

            I then photographed the Heartland Flyer and a BNSF freight.

 

 

 

            My TRE train back to Dallas arrived. I photographed it when it pulled in.

 

 

            I boarded the cab car and we soon departed. The ride back to Dallas was uneventful. I filmed the TRE yard when we passed. The freight with the CP Gevo was still there.

 

            We soon arrived back at Dallas Union Station. I got off and boarded a Red Line train for Westmoreland. I wanted to ride into Westmoreland because I had only ridden the line out of the station back in 2009. I had arrived into Westmoreland station on a bus back then and caught a train out of there.

 

            When I arrived at Westmoreland, I photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then walked to a nearby 7-11 and bought lunch. I walked back to the station. My train was still there. I boarded the front car. The train departed and I rode to 8^th and Corinth station. I then took a bus to the Bishops Arts station on the Dallas Streetcar.

 

            When I got to Bishops Arts, there was a streetcar there. I photographed streetcar #304.

 

 

            I boarded car #304 and we soon departed. At one point, we passed car #303 which I rode back in September. This time, I was riding the opposite direction as I did in September.

 

            As we passed over the line Amtrak uses, I saw the eastbound Texas Eagle pulling into the station. It was 30-40 minutes late at this point. I got off and photographed #304 and the Texas Eagle.

 

 

 

 

 

            I was hoping to catch #304 departing and then make my way over to watch Amtrak departing, but Amtrak was about to depart so I sprinted across the parking lot and photographed the Texas Eagle and filmed it pulling out.

 

 

            While I was filming the Texas Eagle departing, streetcar #304 departed. I decided to try to get it at a later time.

 

            A TRE commuter train was also in the station. I saw it had ex AMT (ex Amtrak) F40PH #310. I photographed the locomotive.

 

 

 

            I then boarded a DART light rail train and rode to Cityplace. When I got to where the McKinney streetcars load, I saw car #186; the Green Dragon pull in. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            I didn’t get on #186 and chose to wait for #4614 to return. #4614 was the next car to arrive. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            I filmed #4614 on the turntable and took one more photo of the car.

 

 

            I then boarded the car through its “controversial” left hand doors. I photographed a plaque commemorating the Trammel Crow Company and Big Outdoor Media for helping restore the car. 

 

 

Thanks Trammel Crow and Big Outdoor Media for allowing this trip to happen.

 

            I sat at the rear of the car and rode the length of the line. When we passed #186, I photographed it.

 

 

            I rode past the St. Paul DART station and got off two stops later. I chose to get off at a stop that would allow me to exit the car through its “controversial” left hand door. I got off and photographed Margaret.

 

 

            I filmed the car pulling away and walked two blocks to St. Paul. Between this ride and the ride I took yesterday, I have now ridden #4614 on the whole McKinney line. I then photographed XN40S.

 

 

            I waited for the next car to arrive. The next car to arrive was #636; Petunia. I rode Petunia back in September. I photographed the car before I got on.

 

 

            I rode #636 to St. Paul DART station. I got off and photographed the car.

 

 

            I then caught a DART train to the Park Lane station. I then walked a few blocks to a large mall. I looked around and had dinner in the food court.

 

            If you looked at the mall from above, it would resemble a donut. In the “hole” was an outdoor area which a sculpture that lights up at night. I photographed it.

 

 

            I eventually walked back to Park Lane DART station and caught a train back to St. Paul station. I then made my way back to where I was staying. I worked on this report a bit and went online. I eventually called it a night.

 

February 1, 2020:

 

            I got up and had breakfast. I got dressed and went online. I was looking for where I could get a front end shot of PCC #4613 without trespassing. After looking I found a possible location.

 

            I got my stuff together and walked to the St. Paul DART station. I bought a day pass. A Green line train arrived. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode the train to Fair Park station. I got off and photographed the train.

 

 

            I then filmed the train departing the station. I then walked over to Third Street under Interstate 30 and found an angle where I could take a photo of PCC #4613.

 

 

 

Here’s a shot of #4613 back in 2009 when I got to go into the DART yard.

 

            I then decided to walk over to where I had photographed PCC #4613 on my trip last September. On the way I stopped and photographed the coaches I found in 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            The cars are apparently owned by the Dallas Terminal Railway. I don’t know what their plans are for the coaches.

 

            I made my way to the overpass above the DART yard and photographed some of the cars in the yard from the overpass.

 

 

 

            I then headed to where I could get my best vantage point of cars 4613 and 143. On the way I photographed an old bus that was converted for use for a charity of some sort.

 

 

            I then made it to the fence close to where PCC #4613 and car #14; “Winnie” were located. I took some photos.

 

 

 

            It’s sad to see the cars out in this shape. However, #4614 had been parked here for over 10 years before it was restored and look at it now so there’s hope.

 

            I made my way back towards Fair Park station. I stopped at a McDonald’s for lunch. I noticed a sign at the McDonald’s reminding patrons that it’s a family establishment and to pull their pants up. While I’ve never seen signs like this before, I can understand where they’re coming from.

 

            After lunch I made my way back to Fair Park. I photographed the coaches owned by Dallas Terminal Railroad including former VIA Rail sleeper #2141.

 

 

 

The VIA sleeper is between the Amtrak car and the Chicago Northwestern business car.

 

            I then got to Fair Park and waited for the next train. When it arrived, I photographed it.

 

 

            I rode to Buckner station and got off and photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I then got back on the car that would be leading. I wanted to ride the Green Line into downtown because I had previously only ridden it out to Buckner.

 

            The train departed. I rode the train to Trinity Mills; the stop before the other end of the Green Line. I got off and walked over to a nearby level crossing. I wanted to see the A-train from Denton pass through.

 

            While waiting, I photographed the train that was behind the train I was on pass through the crossing.

 

 

            The A-train soon came. I photographed it and then filmed it as it passed by.

 

 

            I made my way back to Trinity Mills. I photographed the A-train again.

 

 

 

            I was hoping to film the train departing. However, the next DART train for downtown arrived. However, I was able to film the A-train depart as I hopped on the last car of the DART train.

 

            I rode the back car of the DART train one stop to Downtown Carrolton and then moved to the front car. As we passed Love Field, I photographed the Boeing 727 near the fence and a Southwest Boeing 737 as it was about to land at the airport.

 

 

 

            I rode to Market Center station and got off. I made my way over to the Hilton Anatole. On the way I photographed a DART Proterra electric bus on route #749.

 

 

            I soon got to the Hilton Anatole and went inside. I went to the courtyard and found what I was looking for: a propeller salvaged from the liner RMS Lusitania which was torpedoed and sunk in World War 1 killing almost 1200 people. The sinking angered the U.S. and was a major factor in them joining the war two years later. I photographed the propeller.

 

 

 

            I then left the hotel and walked back to the bus stop. There was a small crowd of people waiting for the next route #749 bus to downtown. Apparently the previous departure was a no show and some people weren’t happy.

 

            The bus came a few minutes later. It was another Proterra electric bus. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I rode to the West End station and got off. I photographed the bus before I filmed it pulling away.

 

 

            I then caught a DART train to Union station. I got off and walked to where the Dallas streetcar was boarding. I saw streetcar #301 was there. I photographed it before I got on.

 

 

            I believe #301 is the oldest car in the Dallas Streetcar fleet. I rode the car one stop and got off. I photographed the car before I filmed it pulling away.

 

 

            Streetcar #304 arrived. This was the car I rode yesterday. I photographed the car before I got on.

 

 

            I rode the car back to Union Station. I got off and photographed the car.

 

 

 

 

            I waited for the car to depart and filmed it pulling away. I then made my way back to Union station and caught a Red line train to St. Paul station. I decided I was going to ride the McKinney line.

 

            When I got there, no McKinney streetcars showed up. I phoned John Landrum at one point to see if he knew anything. He said there was an accident.

 

            I ended up catching a DART bus to the St. Paul station and rode a train to Cityplace. Car #168 was there. I photographed it.

 

 

            Car #186 departed. I waited for the next car which was none other than PCC #4614. I photographed the car as it pulled onto the turntable.

 

 

            #4614 was spin around and prepared to depart. I boarded the car. At the first stop after leaving Cityplace, we stopped so the driver could run into a restaurant and pick up some food.

 

            I rode the car to one stop past where I would get off to get to the car barn because I didn’t know what street it was off hand. I filmed #4614 departing. As it went around a curve, I saw McKinney uses the car’s turn signals. Only 19 PCCs in Toronto got the rear turn signals; the A-15s which were rebuilt between 1986 and 1991. Even though 19 cars were rebuilt, the other two were rebuilt to look the way they looked when new. These two are the ones the TTC kept. In addition to the 17 cars, the two PCCs that were used as a rail grinding train were also equipped with turn signals after they too were rebuilt following PCC #4618 in 1991.

 

            I then made my way to the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority’s car barn. I saw the barn was closed. I also noticed car #754; “Betty” was in McKinney’s new barn across the street. The new barn can only accommodate one car and presently doesn’t have any overhead leading into the barn. Betty is the only car in the active fleet I haven’t ridden. It doesn’t look like I’ll get to ride her on this trip as well.

 

            I also saw car #7169; “Emma” was over the pit in the car barn.  I took some photos.

 

 

 

            I saw that only Emma and Rosie were in the car barn plus Betty was in the other barn. That meant that four cars were running: #4614 (Margaret), #186 (The Green Dragon), #636 (Petunia), and #369 (Matilda). McKinney usually runs three cars at a time so one car was presumably out testing or on a charter. Back in September, Matilda was undergoing work alongside Rosie.

 

            I then went back to the stop to wait for the next car. The next car to arrive was #186. I rode to Cityplace and got off. I photographed #186.

 

 

 

            I then walked a few blocks to Whataburger. I had dinner then I made my way back to Cityplace station.

 

            At Cityplace, I saw someone smoking at the platform despite the fact DART like most transit systems do not allow smoking. In fact there was a No Smoking sign a few feet from where he was!

 

            My train came and I rode two stops to St. Paul. I went into 7-11 and bought some milk. I made my way back to where I was staying and went online. I worked on this report a bit before I called it a night.

 

Click here for the last two days of my trip:  End of trip