This website has been archived from TrainWeb.org/southwestshorts to TrainWeb.US/southwestshorts.
| Dallas, TX - "Railfan Primer" |
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Coming to Dallas? I offer this page as a sort of "Railfan Primer" for out-of-town visitors who want
to watch and/or photograph trains in the downtown area. Rail activity in downtown Dallas includes DART light
rail trains, TRE commuter trains, Amtrak passenger trains, and freight trains of Union Pacific, BNSF, and
Dallas Garland & Northeastern (DGNO). Dallas' McKinney Avenue Trolley also operates in the downtown area.
The area around Dallas Union Station provides excellent vantage points for viewing DART, TRE, Amtrak, UP, BNSF,
and DGNO (in short, everything except for the McKinney Avenue Trolley), and is an ideal place to begin
your visit. The station platforms put you right in the middle of the action: DART uses
the two tracks closest to the station, TRE uses the next track over, and the outermost platform serves the
Amtrak trains. And you can watch the freight trains of BNSF, UP, and shortline DGNO on the two tracks
farthest from the station. With our current security situation,
it might be a good idea to check in with DART police, located inside Dallas Union Station, prior to taking
photographs from the station platforms.
Getting there:
Finding a good place to park your vehicle in downtown Dallas can be a little tricky. The city allows parallel
parking (don't forget to bring some quarters to feed the parking meters) on several downtown streets ... IF
you're lucky enough to find a spot. If not, there are several pay parking lots within a three or four block radius
of Union Station.
Of course, you can avoid having to hunt for a parking place if you arrive by train.
You can ride DART light rail to downtown Dallas from as far away as Garland or Plano (see schedule information at
Beyond the platforms:
A short distance south of Dallas Union Station, the Houston Street Viaduct provides an overhead view of all of
the above action -- except for the TRE commuter trains, which normally use only the north portion of Dallas
Union Station. Walking distance from the station to the viaduct is no more than about 8 to 10 minutes.
Look for the stairway leading from the pay parking lot (located at "ground level" east of the tracks, and
south of Union Station)
up to the sidewalk on the bridge.
The two photos below were taken from ground level near Dallas Union Station -- across the tracks from
the platforms -- looking south toward the Houston
St. viaduct (visible in the background). These photos were taken in 2000 and due
to current security issues, probably should not be attempted today without prior authorization
from the Union Pacific Railroad, which owns the tracks and right of way at this location.
Great shots west of downtown:
West of downtown, great views of the Union Pacific Dallas Subdivision are available from the levee on the west
side of the Trinity River. Take Commerce Street west from downtown, exit Beckley, then go north one block to
the tracks. After you cross under the tracks, park along the levee and climb up to enjoy the view. On the railroad,
the location is known as CP T219. Traffic here includes UP intermodal, unit rock, mixed freight, occasional
DGNO transfers, and Amtrak's daily Texas Eagle trains. If you're lucky, you might catch
a BNSF reroute as well.
Other spots worth checking out:
Click the photos below for detailed information on a few other Dallas locations worth checking out:
McKinney Avenue Trolley:
Not to be overlooked on a visit to Dallas is the McKinney Avenue Trolley, often referred to as the "M" line or
MATA (McKinney Avenue Transit Authority). The trolleys' route takes them down McKinney Avenue, a busy
thoroughfare lined with restaurants, bars, and retail outlets. The M Line penetrates the downtown perimiter --
barely -- crossing Woodall Rogers Freeway along St. Paul St and then ending a few blocks north of the DART light
rail stop at St. Paul. DART passengers can connect to the trolley at the CityPlace station ... after exiting the
DART train, just take the long escalator ride upstairs and follow the signs. Trolleys run approximately every
20 minutes all day long Mondays through Saturdays, and after noon on Sundays. Rides are free
(operations are under-written by DART, but farebox "donations" are accepted.) For a detailed route map and
schedule, visit www.mata.org
Other miscellaneous info and tips:
Depending on how long you hang around Dallas Union Station, you'll probably see many more DART light rail trains
than anything else. DART trains run on approximately 5 minute headways during rush hours, and 10 minutes
during non-rush hours. (See schedule information at
As for freight traffic, UP is definitely the dominant freight hauler in the downtown area. Manifest freights,
intermodal trains, and unit rock trains make up most of the traffic. As they pass Union Station, UP's trains are
operating on the railroad's Dallas Subdivision, the double track former T&P line between Fort Worth and Dallas. West of
downtown Dallas, the tracks pass through Browder Yard, then Grand Prairie and Arlington before reaching Fort Worth.
Southeast of Dallas Union Station, the tracks pass the former site of the Tower 19 interlocking (where the T&P
crossed the former Santa Fe Dallas Subdivision) and then continue south to Belt Jct, where the lines split, allowing some
trains to head to the former SP Miller Yard in south Dallas, and others to continue east on the former T&P to
Mesquite, Mineola, Longview, and points east.
Return to the Southwest Railfan - Home
Unless otherwise credited, all text and photos on the Southwest Railfan
The three photographs below were taken from the station platforms at Dallas Union Station.
The photos below were taken from the Houston Street Viaduct.
BNSF trains normally appear only during non-rush hours for commuter traffic, since most of them use the TRE line
northwest of downtown Dallas. Others sometimes operate via the UP Dallas Sub between Dallas and Fort Worth.
Traffic includes
manifest freights and unit rock trains, and occasional coal trains to and from power plants located south of
Corsicana. Once in a great while, an intermodal train may appear, destined to a connection with KCS in east Dallas.
BNSF trains travel over UP Dallas Sub trackage between JFK Jct and Forest Avenue, located two miles south of Dallas
Union Station. At Forest Avenue, BNSF trains enter the former Katy, now owned by BNSF, to head toward Waxahachie.
Shortline Dallas Garland & Northeastern switches most of the industrial spurs north and west of downtown Dallas,
and their trains pass through the Dallas terminal area at various times throughout the day, en route to and from
the different spurs and interchange runs to various UP yards.
To keep tabs on all the activity, monitor the following radio channels:
AAR 20 (160.410 MHz) - UP Dallas West Dispatcher (east of CP T916).
AAR 78 (161.280 MHz) - UP Terminal Train Dispatcher (west of CP T916).
AAR 82 (161.340 MHz) - BNSF Tulsa South / DFW Sub Dispatcher.
AAR 83 (161.355 MHz) - TRE.
© 2000 - 2004 by Wes Carr. All rights reserved.
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