Track One - MATA's History

McKinney Avenue Transit Authority

Dallas Texas' own vintage streetcar line. Providing fun transportation along McKinney Avenue 365 days and evenings a year.

Dallas, 1956.

The thinking was that Bigger was Better, Taller was "in." And old- well that was definitely "out." And amidst the ushering in of all that was sleek and modern, the trolley car was ushered out. It marked the end of an era, this passing- an era fondly remembered for turn of the century elegance in transportation.

Dallas, 1983.

Under layers of 20 year-old concrete and asphalt, original trolley tracks are discovered along the old McKinney Avenue line. Volunteers in the retail and business community donated funds to determine the feasibility of reinstating the tradition of the Trolley in their neighborhood. Did there exist authentic streetcars to run on the line? How much additional track work was required? And perhaps most importantly, was there enough interest on the part of the rest of the community to pursue the project?

The answer to the final question was an overwhelming "Yes." Response led to the incorporation of the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority in February of that year. Four streetcars were purchased or donated. One built in 1906, was shipped from Oporto, Portugal by way of San Francisco, and restored.(#122) Another, vintage 1925, came directly from Melbourne, Australia.(#369) And two more, cars that originally ran in Dallas during the trolley years, were acquired and authentically restored. (#186) & (#636)

Dallas, 1989.

On June 22, for the first time in 33 years, a streetcar ran under its own power on the newly restored tracks of McKinney Avenue. One month later, on July 22, all four cars led a parade along the right of way. Two cars were immediately placed into service, beginning the 365 days a year service that the McKinney Avenue Transit authority is known for.

Dallas, 1990.

After the hoopla of the grand opening, and a wonderful summer running standing room only cars, things got quiet. Too quiet. The problem? In addition to restoring vintage street cars from hay barns, in addition to training motormen and conductors, in addition to trying not to have close encounters with Dallas drivers out on the streets, there was more to do. Specifically, marketing, and advertising. This began a fruitful collaboration with the convention and tourist agencies of the area, and with businesses along the line, like the Hard Rock Cafe. This also was the impetus for having more charters. Birthdays, progressive dinners, fraternity and sorority parties, rehearsal dinners, even a wedding or two have happened on the tracks of McKinney.

Dallas, 1991.

Charters and advertising helped, but finances were still tight. To help, a number of volunteers put together the North Texas Traction Associates, Inc., a Texas non-profit organization, to take over the day to day operations of the line. McKinney Avenue Transit became a volunteer staffed organization. As Phil Cobb, chairman of the board said: "It's not a hobby anymore; it's your railroad now."

Dallas, 1992.

Our car Rosie, who had been out of service since July of 1990, due to major mechanical and structural problems, came back to life and back to service with a parade featuring all four cars. Along with Rosie, MATA itself expanded back to Ten AM to Ten PM service seven days a week, extended to Midnight on Friday and Saturday. And not just hours of operation expanded. We announced our intention to extend our track to the West End section of Dallas.

With the finishing of one big project (Rosie), we started on another. Car #332, an ex NTT interurban freight express motor car, arrived on a truck, and we began the process of restoration once again.

Dallas, 1993.

A different kind of visitor arrives from another state. No, not a passenger, a streetcar. GOMACO #1979 arrived on a ninety three foot tractor trailer rig, and ran on our tracks for parts of three days before being loaded back on the truck and taken back to Iowa.

Dallas, 1996.

Suddenly, we're not the only electric railway in Dallas. Dart, the regional bus line, opened a twenty mile light rail "starter" system with a fleet of forty double ended articulated cars. Not to be outdone, North Texas Traction Associates purchased two Toronto PCC cars. One of them, number 4614 was the last PCC to run in Toronto. Both 4614 and 4613 were rebuilt three years ago from the roof down, and are currently stored at the Dart Light Rail shops.

Dallas, 1999 and beyond.

A lot is happening at MATA, much of it behind the scenes. After a lot of time spent taking the interurban apart, we are putting it back together again. Also, the engineering is completed, the environmental impact study is completed, and soon construction should begin in our expansion to the West End Historical district on the south end of our line, and City Place on the north end of our line.

We continue to provide the public with the vintage streetcar experience, not with photographs, not with static displays, not with replicas, not on private right of way, but with real vintage cars out on public streets, just as it was all those years ago. Not even a web site can measure up. Come ride our cars and experience the real thing for yourself!

Back to the Car Barn

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 September 10, 1999

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