Text and Photos by Author
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent
Comments are appreciated at...yr.mmxx@gmail.com
History of Dallas Union Station:
The station was built in 1916 by the Dallas Union Terminal Company to replace five scattered stations and was designed by Jarvis Hunt who also designed Union Station Kansas City and Joliet Union Station. When originally built, the waiting room and ticket offices were on the second floor with an overhead walkway to the platforms. This was very unpopular with passenger who had to climb multiple sets of stairs, so the station was redesigned to move the waiting room and ticket offices to the first floor with underground tunnels and ramps leading to the platforms.
Railroads served were the Santa Fe, Cotton Belt, Rock Island, Fort Worth and Denver, Burlington-Rock Island, Frisco, Missouri Kansas Texas, Missouri Pacific, Texas and Pacific and Southern Pacific.
The last train, Missouri Pacific's Texas Eagle. Departed May 31. 1969. Amtrak returned in 1974 with the Interamerican, a train that ran between St. Louis and Laredo, Texas. That train eventually became the Texas Eagle.
A Dallas section of the Lone Star operated between 1975 and 1981. This was formerly the Santa Fe Texas Chief. Dallas Union Terminal Company was dissolved in 1974 and the building sold to the City of Dallas.
In 1996, the second floor was concerted into a meeting room and convention center for the Hyatt Regency Dallas and the tunnel was extended to connect to the hotel.
Today, Dallas Union Station is served by Amtrak, Trinity Railway Express and Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail lines.
Trinity Railway Express coach built by either Hawker Siddley or Bombardier. Hawker Siddley was purchased by Bombardier in 1991.
Trinity Rail Express F59PHIV 122. It was acquired from GO Transit in 2010 and overhauled by either Norfolk Southern or Relco.
TRE History:
Trinity Railway Express was created by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit District (DART) and Trinity Metro (Fort Worth). Each agency has a 50% ownership stake. It operated commuter train between Dallas and Forth Worth and is named after the Trinity River. Service began in December, 1996 between Dallas Union Station and the South Irving Transportation Center. Trains run on the former Rock Island tracks that were purchased in 1983. In 2000 the line was extended to Richland Hills and then to the West Irving Transit Center. In 2001 the line was extended to its final destination of the Texas and Pacific Depot in Fort Worth.
Reunion Tower. Completed as part of the renovation of the Reunion District that included building the tower, the Hyatt Regency Dallas Hotel and the renovation of Union Station. The Reunion District was named for a mid 19th Century commune La Reunion.
Trinity Railway Express commuter train at Union Station.
DART train at Union Station.
DART History:
Dallas Area Rapid Transit was established in 1983 to take over the area bus system. In 1996, light rail service was started with two lines, both serving Union Station. The Red Line runs from Parker to Westmoreland and the Blue Line runs from Downtown Rowlett station to the University of North Texas-Dallas. Today, DART has four light rail lines, the Blue Orange, Green and Red with a fifth, the Silver Line under construction.
The Heartland Flyer equipment during its layover
The Heartland Flyer and Texas Eagle
Amtrak P42DC number 11. Built by General Electric in September 1996
Texas Eagle dining car
Amtrak P42DC number 68 built by GE in March, 1997 and number 29 built by GE in November, 1996
Dallas Union Station tracks
The Texas Eagle, Heartland Flyer and a DART light rail train
A Trinity Railway Express train arriving from Fort Worth
The Texas eagle and a Trinity Railway express train
The Texas Eagle, Trinity Railway Express and Heartland Flyer
The Commerce Street bridge.
Santa Fe Alco HH600 2301 and a Santa Fe caboose 999?56. The 2301 was built in 1934 as an Alco demonstrator.
Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum History:
The Temple Railroad Museum occupies the former Santa Fe Railway station in Temple Texas. The station was built in 1911, In 1995 the city bought the property and Santa Fe donated the building.
BNSF GP9 1680, ex Santa Fe 2295, built by EMD in 1956
Missouri Kansas Texas wide vision caboose 140
Railfans photographing trains.
Thanks
for reading.
Text and Photos by Author, Robin Bowers
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent
Comments are appreciated at...yr.mmxx@gmail.com
