February 21, 2019
Funding Mounts Toward
Next Phase of Construction

Over $500,000 has been raised toward the next phase of storm drainage and exhibit track construction, putting the Museum well past the halfway mark of its $850,000 goal. This final phase of rail infrastructure addresses the remainder of site drainage requirements, and allows for construction of seven exhibit tracks (totaling 4,000 feet in length plus three turnouts). While not as visually exciting as buildings, this work is the next logical step in the construction of facilities as part of the final site plan. Each phase of construction is in harmony with the next, making for the most efficient use of funds as they materialize. 
 
Thanks to a lead gift from a prominent foundation in Dallas last year, momentum has been building to resume track construction in 2019. Add to that a large bequest from The Russel and Patricia Covitt estate, as well as a grant from the Muckleroy Foundation, and our goal to privately fund this ambitious project is close at hand. An additional pledge yet to be announced will put us even closer to reaching our project budget. 
 
“We are very grateful to receive funding from these individuals and foundations, who continue to see the value in our preservation and programming efforts. It is very gratifying to see continued support from our stakeholders in Dallas as we serve a broader audience in North Texas,” said CEO, Bob LaPrelle. Funders of previous phases include a lead gift from the Eugene McDermott Foundation, and additional support from the Stemmons Foundation, Hillcrest Foundation, DGBB Foundation and the SCP Foundation. 
 
Once the last of the funds are in place, drainage and track construction will begin. Some materials are already on hand, including flex-base for track bed, as well as rail and ties from the previous phase. We are excited to get started, and even more excited about the next construction phase to come – a 100,000+ sq. ft. exhibits pavilion.
This diagram shows the current status of track construction at the Museum. Track highlighted in green has been completed to date. Trackage highlighted in pink is included in the next construction phase.
Valentine's Day Dinner in the Diner-
a Relationship Rekindled
Mr. Garl B. Latham greets guests in our 1937 M-K-T Dining Car.
He brings years of experience as a former Amtrak Dining Car Steward.
Since moving from Dallas, we have received more requests for resuming public events in our 1937 M-K-T dining car than just about anything else! In particular, our Valentine’s Day Dinner in the Diner , a favorite for years, seems to have had its own fan base. 
 
Construction, placement of the car on site, and proximity to electrical service prevented us from hosting public events up to this point. So, for the past couple of years the dining car has been reserved for private events – mainly elected officials and major contributors to the Museum. While still a bit of a hike from the Museum’s entrance near the Discovery Center, we decided to take Garl Latham’s suggestion and revive this Valentine’s Day tradition. And of course, that tradition includes Mr. Latham as our official Steward. 
 
When we gave the event the green light, we contacted our longtime caterer The Spice of Life, and they were thrilled to once again be part of the memorable evening. With less than a month before the date, tickets went on sale and were gone within two days. We were delighted at the response, but even more so we were elated to see the list of guests which included major benefactors, returning patrons, Museum volunteers, and several newcomers. It was the perfect mix, and a wonderful way to revive a Museum favorite. 
 
February 14 th was a busy day for the Dining Car. That morning, 80 3 rd graders from Frisco’s Carroll Elementary toured the car (It sees over 5,000 students from 42 elementary schools each academic year), but once tours wrapped up, the car was readied for the evening. A final inspection of the kitchen, an electrical systems check, clean linens put on board, and fresh flowers cut for the vases started to bring the car to life. 
 
The evening began at 7:00pm with a reception in TrainTopia for our special guests. At 7:45pm our Conductor, Bob Palka, escorted couples to the Dining Car where it would be filled to capacity. Just as it had during its brief 27 years of service on the “Katy,” the sounds of china & glassware, and the aroma of food permeated the car’s interior. Now, after nearly 54 years as a museum piece, the Diner is back online with several exciting future events in store.   
 
This year’s Valentine’s Day Dinner in the Diner was a huge success. We enjoyed hosting 18 couples in this unique romantic setting. Food was sumptuous thanks to Chef Ricky and our friends at The Spice of Life. A special thanks goes to Turner Construction for providing walkways along the tracks, allowing our guests to have a safe passage to the Dining Car. 
 
We look forward to many more Dining Car events. Watch our website for announcements. If you would like to be included on our Dinner in the Diner notification list, please send us an email at [email protected]
The Spice of Life's Chef Ricky knows every nook and cranny of the Dining Car's kitchen. He's been preparing sumptuous meals based on authentic railroad recipes in our dining car for 15 years.
School Field Trips in Full Swing!
A little slice of Chicago! Longtime Museum volunteer Bob Palka poses in between presentations aboard Metra Highliner Commuter Car #1608. Palka, a native of Chicago, is a natural for presenting aboard one of ten cars which operated in his hometown. Metra 1608 was retired in June, 2014.
The 2018-2019 academic year will see 42 Frisco ISD elementary schools visit the Museum and TrainTopia. We are well into the year, with a little over half the schools having attended our fall and winter programs. With a concentration on 3 rd grade, these programs provide a variety of presentations covering Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) requirements – Social Studies, Science, Technology Applications, and Career Development. 

This year, the Museum features five learning stations, including the new TrainTopia exhibit which highlights the logistics and economics of railroad operations. Students gain an understanding of the field to factory concept of railroads as an essential transportation provider – moving raw materials to manufacturing centers, agricultural products to food processors, and finished goods for distribution. 

Additional learning stations feature technology presentations spanning the production and use of steam, magnetic levitation, and high speed rail. The Museum’s former Metra Highliner Bi-Level commuter cars are favorites among students and teachers, where urban planning, community building, and the history & development of communities along railroads are presented. Finally, students are immersed in the Museum’s 1920s-era Pullman sleeping cars, Santa Fe lounge, and M-K-T dining car where the social and cultural stories are part of an immersive student experience. 

In addition to our 3 rd grade programs, several partnerships are emerging with other organizations. We recently combined 6 th grade field trips with the National Videogame Museum, which were well received. We continue to serve Keller-based Education in Action, which provides 4 th graders around North Texas with a full day field trip experience called “Trails, Rails and Cowtown Tales”. 

To learn more about the Museum’s educational programs and field trip opportunities, contact our full-time Education Director Rayna Alam at 214-428-0101 or [email protected]
Students from Trivium Academy of Carrollton get a first-hand look at a railroad caboose. Director of Programs & Services, John Garbutt, led the group through the interior of ATSF #999311, built in 1947.
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a gift to the Museum!

Its not too late to make a financial contribution to the Museum of the American Railroad to ensure continued quality programming for North Texas. Become a stakeholder in creating the Premiere Museum of Railroad History & Technology in the Southwest.
 The Museum of the American Railroad is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable corporation chartered in the state of Texas in 1962. The mission of the Museum is to enrich the lives of others through meaningful, relevant programs and exhibits that relate the history & technology of the Railroad and its profound impact on American life and culture.