Monday, May 15, 2023

Texas Updates

Many thanks to Phil Randall, who writes with a couple of updates on preserved electric equipment in Texas. The first bit of news comes from Van Alstyne, a small city north of Dallas on the way to Denison. Until recently, Van Alstyne had a pair of Texas Electric freight car bodies on display on trucks, box motor 501 (pictured above) and freight trailer 608. The former car, box motor 501, has now been scrapped as part of a redevelopment of the park area by the city. The car was built by American for Southern Traction in 1913 and ran for ST, and later TE, until 1949. Some components were salvaged by a recently formed group called the Northern Texas Traction Club. Car 608 is still in Van Alstyne, and evidently there are plans to continue to display it, possibly with an interurban (passenger) car if they can get their hands on one.

The other bit of news doesn't directly affect the PNAERC list itself, but rather affects the "non-preserved list." The what now, you ask? Well, if you're viewing this page in desktop format (which you can also do on your phone using the link at the bottom of the page), one of the links at the bottom of the right column goes to a Google sheet with a list of electric cars that still exist but aren't what I'd consider "preserved" per se. This list was started a few years back by Lucas McKay, but I've since taken over maintaining it. Anyway, Phil reports that Dallas Birney 661, until recently sitting behind a house in Seagoville, TX, has been scrapped by the property owner.

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