Car #369, "Matilda"

#369 is a Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways class W2 car. She was built in 1926 by James Moore, Ltd., and ran until August 18, 1986, when she was loaded on a ship bound for the United States. On October 8, 1986 she arrived in Dallas, and the process of stripping off the old paint to reveal her lovely wood work began. We also used the trucks she came with on car #186, and used a different set of Melbourne trucks under Matilda. The open center section was enclosed and two center doors were added, due to Dallas' occasional cold temperatures. At 50 feet in length, she is the longest car running in our fleet, and will seat 54 people or stand 96. She is popular in charter and private party service because of her large capacity. Car #369 is jointly sponsored by Lincoln Properties and Metropolitan Insurance.
In the photo, L.W. Schmidt keeps a watchful eye on the pole and retriever rope during the very first run of any car on the new rails, June 22, 1989. Matilda is on St. Paul Street, about to turn right onto McKinney Avenue.
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Photo digitizing graciously performed by Millet The Printer , (214)741-3602

The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority is operated and managed by volunteers dedicated to the history and preservation of electric railways in the North Texas area. It is a nonprofit corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations of money, equipment, or time to MATA are always cheerfully accepted.

Office and Car Barn: 3153 Oak Grove at Bowen, Dallas Texas 75204
Telephone: (214) 855-0006, Fax: (214) 855-5250.
http://www.dallas.org/mata/index.htm

Last updated May 14, 2002

Posted by: Steve Goss
Email: stevegoss@speakeasy.net