Exhibit Tracks 6, 7, & 8 Completed!

10/22/2016

After months of rain delays, the summer sun finally prevailed and work on exhibit tracks 6, 7, and 8 moved at a quick pace. Following the completion of storm drainage work and application of flex-base by FCS Construction, Lone Star Railroad Contractors moved in quickly to put down 2,400 feet of trackage including three switches.

With Amtrak’s Exhibit Train scheduled for September 24, Lone Star made short order of track construction, essentially completing the job in just three weeks. Track seven was the first to be put in service. It was occupied within 24 hours of completion. Santa Fe Motorcar M-160, operated by the Museum’s longtime engineer Richard Wainscott, eased seven heavyweight passenger cars onto the new track one at a time. More heavyweights, followed by six lightweight streamlined cars were placed on track 8. In all, 17 cars were repositioned, providing ample space for Amtrak’s arrival on the north end “runaround” track. Track 6 was the last of the three to be completed and will be placed in service next week.

The completion of exhibit tracks 6, 7, and 8 represents a major accomplishment in the Museum’s capital program. They are the first to occupy the core portion of the Museum’s 12.34-acre site, affording an inspiring look at what the facility will look like upon completion. Total cost of the project including storm drainage was $687,589. The City of Frisco, through generous gifts from its CVB and CDC, provided $348,000 toward the project. The Museum was able to secure another $262,000 in cost concessions and in-kind gifts, effectively reducing the price of the project to $425,500.

We are indebted to our supporters, including the City of Frisco, FCS Construction, Vulcan Materials, Prime Aggregate Transportation, Martin-Marietta, Longhorn Inc., ADS, Alliance Geotechnical Group, and Lunsford Associates. Special thanks to Lone Star Railroad Contractors for doubling up on crews to complete track work. Their crews worked tirelessly in the hot summer sun, never wavering while accommodating a number of special requests.

Now, onto the next phase of construction, which comprises exhibit tracks 1-5 and 9 & 10, along with underground utilities and drainage. We will be announcing the scope and cost of this phase in coming weeks.