Amtrak Graces Museum Rails
10/23/2016
The Museum of the American Railroad was host to Amtrak’s Exhibit Train as part of its 2016 tour of the U.S. The five-car train, bracketed by two locomotives, was on display September 24 & 25. Despite rain events on both days, the display train was well attended by North Texans. Over 1,500 visitors toured the train which chronicles the 45-year history of Amtrak rail passenger service.
The two-day event drew visitors from all over the metroplex, including many families with children who discovered the advantages of rail travel for the first time. Representatives from Amtrak, along with Museum volunteers served as guides onsite and aboard the train. Also on hand were presenters from the National Park Service and Operation Lifesaver, an industry railroad crossing safety program. Chuggington Train Station also delighted children of all ages.
The Exhibit Train features three “Heritage” baggage cars reconfigured to house exhibits, a “Heritage” sleeper Pacific Bend for the crew, an AmCafe car outfitted as a gift shop, and two locomotives. The GE “Genesis” locomotive is painted in one of Amtrak’s earlier schemes celebrating its 40th anniversary. The EMD F-40PH locomotive is one of just a handful left at Amtrak, which represents the mainstay of their fleet in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Exhibit Train is the first “guest” to be hosted at the Museum since relocating to Frisco. During the Fair Park years, Amtrak was a regular at the annual State Fair of Texas. The Museum is proud to resume the partnership with Amtrak and promote the advantages of intercity train travel. The Museum is an ideal venue to showcase Amtrak’s Texas Eagle and Heartland Flyer routes, both of which connect the region with the national system.
Our thanks to Amtrak Community Relations in Washington, along with our friends at BNSF for making the Exhibit Train’s visit to Frisco a reality. The move offline from Irving to Frisco took much coordination between the two carriers. Their operating crews and mechanical departments worked in concert to make safe and timely moves of the Exhibit Train. We look forward to hosting future events featuring state-of-the-art as well as vintage railroad equipment.
