The Oklahoma City to Fort Worth Heartland Flyer is having its seventh anniversary on June 14, and I plan to ride it from Norman (just south of OKC) to Fort Worth and back. At the moment, I’m planning on riding TRE over to Dallas and back, but if anyone has other suggestions for spending a few hours in the DFW area, I’d love to hear them.
If the schedule holds, I’d like to do the following:
8:50 - 12:40 : Heartland Flyer : Norman - Fort Worth
1:40 - 2:20 : Trinity Rail Express : Fort Worth - Dallas
3:05 - 4:05 : Trinity Rail Express : Dallas - Fort Worth
5:25 - 8:55 : Heartland Flyer : Fort Worth - Norman
I’ve read that TRE sometimes uses Budd’s during the day, between that and the old Hi-Levels that are on the Flyer, it should be an interesting mix of older equipment to ride and photograph.
Two years ago the Trinity Rail Express had three - three car RDC’s in service, and it was using them on some of its mid-day runs, however, I understand they received some new equipment so only one RDC train set is still in service.
Amtrak and the Trinity Rail Express use the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) in Fort Worth, and there is where the action is. The northbound and the southbound Texas Eagles are in the Intermodal Transportation Center at the same time, and add a Trinity Rail Express train you have a lot to see. The Intermodal Transportation Center has a former North Texas Transportation Company interurban car on display at the north end of the station.
The Trinity Rail Express uses the former Burlington-Rock Island line between Fort Worth and Dallas. The line is single track with passing sidings, and as I recall one of the passing sidings is single ended. Nevetheless the Trinity Rail Express is just as fast, and in some cases faster, than the Texas Eagle between Dallas and Ft Worth in spite of the fact the Texas eagles run non-stop, and the Trinity Rail Express makes six intermediate stops.
The Texas Eagle backs in to FT Worth station, slowing it down.
dd
http://www.trainweb.org/southwestshorts/dallas.html makes Dallas Union Station look pretty good, and there’s a nice bridge very near to the station that offers a good vantage point for taking pictures.
I’m trying to find more information on what can be seen in the area immediately around the ITC station, particularly good locations to view/photograph any activity. I’ve found a few places that mention “tower 55.” How far from the ITC station is that and what can I expect to see there?
I need to determine which TRE train I’ll take back to Ft. Worth. Assuming the Flyer doesn’t run too late I could either have 2.5 hours in Ft. Worth and 45 minutes in Dallas, or 1.5 hours in Fort Worth and 1.75 hours in Dallas… right now I’m leaning towards more time in Dallas, unless there’s good reason not to. Unfortunately, I’ll only see the Texas Eagle(s) if I spend more time in Ft. Worth and they’re running late.
Also, TRE terminates at the T&P station in Ft. Worth, which may be interesting to see, but I read somewhere that it’s in a pretty unsafe area. Also, how safe is it in and around the ITC station? From what I could tell, Dallas Union Station looks to be in fairly safe area. I’m 6’ and 250 lbs, so I’m not too nervous about that, but there’s no need to get into a bad situation if it can easily be avoided (especially w/ my camera).
I appreciate the information, this will be my first real trip devoted to trains (asides from running to the local station to take pictures), as you can tell, I’m pretty excited about it.
From what i have heard Tower 55 is now off-limits to the public although you can see it in the distance from south end of the ITC’s platforms.
As to how much time to spend in Dallas or Ft Worth the Houston Street Bridge in Dallas crosses the south throat of the Dallas Union Station and it has wide walkways which you can use to watch Union Padcific freights or the DART light rail passing through the Dallas Union Station.
Another good location for photography in Dallas is the Trinity River Greenway Park where you can photograph mainly Union Pacific freights crossing the Trinity river on a truss bridge with the Dallas skyline in the background.To get to this location from the Dallas Union Station you have to walk north to Commerce Street - approximately two blocks - and then turn west on Commerce Street and walk acrossthe Trinity River. That walk will take you approximately a half hour each way so you may not be able to spend any amount of time there since you have to get back to Ft Worth in time to catch the northbound Heartland Flyer.
I have posted a summary and photos of what I saw here:
http://www.ottergoose.net/News/?viewPost=421
otter great shots you posted on your site. the T&P depot is within walking distance fronm the ft worth station and can be seen from there, also if im not mistaken theres the old post office building in that area as well
tom
Here’s the deal guy,Tx Eagle dont go to Dalls,TRE goes to Dalls,The old SF depot on the south end of the ITC bldg has been recently restored,there’s talk that it will be some sort of rail museum and resturant,Twr 55 is in sight south of that,is now under I30 o/pass too many poles in the way to take pics…Danny
Cool pictures, thanks for shareing.
Otter,
Has the city of Gainsville finished restoring the SF depot yet,get any pics of it? Danny
Danny I live 35 miles east of Gainesville and wasnt aware that the SF depot was being remodelled. Last time i was in Gainesvill went to the depot and RR museum located there.
Lots of good local RR history etc, plus the main is right outside the door.
Tom
Tom,
When the Frisco 1522 came thru a few yrs back it was under renovation then…They had the street and sidewalk blocked off and was doing work on the inside or outside…Just wandered if they had finished…Were you there when 1522 bnsf appreciation Specail ran?
videomaker no i wasnt able to make it. a couple of friends were able to though. last time i was there was sept 2004 and it was completed
tom
The depot there looked to be in good shape. I had to wait around there a little while, but I didn’t take any pictures. The one thing I noticed was that they used the wrong font for the Santa Fe logo on the north end of the building.
Tom,
The last time I was there was w/1522…I was there before they closed it and made it a museum…It was a beautiful bldg then…I’ll have to get back there and take a few pics of it…I may want to model it on my new layout…Thanks for the info,injoy your railfanning in Cowtown…Danny