October 12, 2018
Full Steam Ahead!


Following its grand opening on July 18, TrainTopia wowed and entertained over 6,000 visitors by summer’s end. Parents, grandparents, and children of all ages have been amazed at the countless animated features and attention to detail exhibited by the operating model train layout. In fact, we’ve seen a number of repeat visitors bringing family and friends to see Frisco’s newest attraction. 
 
While the layout has been the big story for months, our people make the experience complete. Visitors are greeted by Cheri Neil, who for 30 years was a fixture at Collectible Trains & Toys in Dallas. She and her husband Pat operated the store which specialized in new and used Lionel electric trains, along with other makes and scales. To the many visitors that frequented their store for nearly a generation, the excitement of encountering and collecting electric trains was unforgettable. Now, a new generation of visitors will be greeted by Cheri’s warm personality and infectious smile. 
 
But, your visit to TrainTopia simply would not be complete without encountering our friendly, loyal volunteers. The Museum has been truly blessed with a volunteer workforce that has stepped up to make TrainTopia the success that it is today. Veteran volunteers and new ones alike share their skills – everything including interaction with visitors, to operation and maintenance of the seven rail lines and hundreds of cars and locomotives. Those who have provided guided tours of the actual trains outside had no difficulty in transitioning indoors to TrainTopia over the hot summer! 
 
Currently, TrainTopia is bedecked in Halloween/Fall décor with ghosts and goblins, along with a haunted house. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the scavenger hunt that reveals many subtle and not-so-subtle features. Be sure to look for the "Munster Koach" parked in front of the Haunted House. The car has been temporarily relocated from its original position on the layout during its years in the Sanders home. The handcrafted car is a replica of the original designed by George Barris for the 1960s television sitcom. 

TrainTopia will host Halloween Trick-or-Treating for kids October 17-21, 24-28 & 31 during regular operating hours. Wear your costume, see our Ghost Train, and grab some candy!
 
But hold on! Wait until you see TrainTopia during the holidays! With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, the layout will be transformed into an enchanting and entertaining experience for holiday visitors. In a few weeks, a new sound system will be installed, complementing the theatrical lighting. Stay tuned, more to come!  
Cheri Neil welcomes visitors in TrainTopia
Many individuals and groups have enjoyed TrainTopia throughout the summer. The 2,500 sq ft G Scale operating layout will be transformed into a Christmas Wonderland for the upcoming holidays.
Museum to Host International Railway Preservation Conference


The Museum of the American Railroad will host the tri-annual conference of The World Alliance of Tourist Trams & Trains (WATTRAIN) November 1-3 here in Frisco! The UK-based Alliance was created in 2010 in an effort to facilitate an ongoing exchange of ideas and practices relating to the preservation and operation of heritage railway equipment and facilities. 
 
This year’s conference in Frisco is themed “Addressing tomorrow’s challenges with today’s resources.” Based at the Drury Inn, attendees will participate in three days of programming, presentations, and discussion groups about issues affecting the railway preservation field. Topics include staffing (recruitment and training), environmental issues including the future availability of coal, litigation, protection of historic collections, and insurance. 
 
Speakers include several accomplished professionals in the field, such as Courtney Wilson of the B&O Museum, Stephen Ryan of international museum planning firm Freeman Ryan Design, noted British rail historian and president of WATTRAIN David Morgan, Andrew Moritz CEO of Australia’s Transport Heritage NSW and former director of the Workshops Rail Museum, and G. Mark Ray president of North America’s HeritageRail Alliance. For additional speakers and program information, click here . The conference will also include field trips to the Sixth Floor Museum, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, the Fort Worth Stockyards, the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority, and the Museum of the American Railroad. 
 
Representatives from the UK, Australia, Germany, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Belgium, and the United States will be in attendance. Previous conference venues have included York and Tokyo, both known for their accomplishments in rail preservation. Registration is limited. Online conference registration is available here . Hotel registration is available here . 

Several WATTRAIN conference attendees will go on to Santa Fe, NM to attend the HeritageRail Alliance (HRA) Conference hosted by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, November 7-11. HRA serves over 200 railroad museums and tourist railways throughout North America. For more information and conference registration, click here .
Karl Ziebarth to Speak at Museum October 30


Karl Ziebarth, rail industry insider, to present October 30 at the Frisco Heritage Museum
Long-time rail industry analyst and former Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (KATY) Railroad, Karl Ziebarth, will speak to guests on the evening of October 30. The presentation is open to everyone and will take place at 7:00pm in the Frisco Heritage Museum Theater (6455 Page Street, Frisco, TX 75034). 
 
The subject of Mr. Ziebarth’s presentation will be how a large railroad is managed, and the team effort required to be successful, based on his years at the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad before its acquisition by Union Pacific. The KATY, as it was affectionately known to most, had a significant presence in Dallas and Denison, both operationally and administratively. Their corporate offices were located in the Historic KATY Building which still stands in downtown Dallas today. Karl is one of a handful of surviving top managers from the KATY, having worked with some of the industry greats such as John Barriger and Reginald Whitman.
 
Karl’s presentation will offer rare and fascinating insight into the culture of railroad management past and present. His career is far from over. Following a key role in the acquisition of the KATY by the Union Pacific, he currently wears several hats. Karl is Chairman of the Santa Fe Southern Railway in New Mexico, and continues to consult and be a financial advisor for short lines both domestic and abroad. He has consulted with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and champions intercity passenger rail initiatives, including advocacy for an expanded Amtrak system, the National Network. 
 
We look forward to Karl Ziebarth’s presentation and hope you will be able to join us. Please contact the Museum at [email protected] to reserve your space at the presentation. 
Are you planning to attend?
LOCATION
Frisco Heritage Museum, 6455 Page Street, Frisco, TX 75034

DATE AND TIME
10/30/18 7:00pm - 10/30/18 8:00pm

Hear Karl Ziebarth discuss his years in the rail industry, particularly his time with the M-K-T Railroad.
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The Historic M-K-T Railway office building stands today as a monument to the significant presence of railroads in Dallas during the last century. Constructed in 1914, it was designed by noted Dallas architect H. A. Overbeck. Currently providing updated office space, it is located at 701 Commerce St.
The M-K-T Railroad had a large presence in the West End of Downtown Dallas. This view shows activity at the yard and shop facility just prior to the line's merger with Union Pacific Railroad in 1988. This is the present-day location of the American Airlines Center and Victory Park.
Thank You for Contributing During North Texas Giving Day!


Our sincere thanks to everyone that donated to the Museum during North Texas Giving Day on September 20 th ! Over $5,000 was raised from 32 separate gifts. Another $5,000 was contributed offline from one individual. We are very appreciative of the Communities Foundation of Texas for the opportunity to participate in this year’s Giving Day, which benefitted 2,690 worthy non-profit organizations. 
Make a Difference!

Consider making 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.