Quanah Zephyr from Fort Worth

[jredallas]

Wichita Falls Times-Record News

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/may/11/briefs-may-11/

Briefs, May 11
Sunday, May 11, 2008

QUANAH

Zephyr train to take first ride in 40 years

The Quanah Zephyr will carry its first passengers in more than 40 years June 21, when a specially commissioned version of the train will roll from Fort Worth to Quanah and back.

The day trip is planned in conjunction with the National Railroad Historical Society’s annual meeting in Fort Worth and the Hardeman County Sesquicentennial.

Coach seating tickets are still available on a first-come-first-served basis for adults and children for $199 each.

The Quanah Zephyr will pass through Decatur, Bowie, Henrietta, Wichita Falls, Electra, Vernon, Chillicothe and Quanah.

“At Quanah the train will be greeted by a celebration to officially kick off the sesquicentennial,” said Steve Goen, NRHS North Central Texas Chapter member and organizer for the event. “The entire town is expected to turn out to meet the train.”

Passengers will be treated to tours of the Quanah Acme & Pacific Railroad Museum, the Railway Express building and Hardeman County Museum as well as cowboy and Indian displays and a hamburger cookout.

On the return leg, the train will make a meal stop in Wichita Falls; meals are included in the ticket price.

For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Goen at 767-4843 or visit texaszephyr@sw.rr.com.


http://www.lonestarrails2008.com/resources/qz.pdf

[RobertB]

If I had the extra dough, I'd be on it! I've been to Quanah a few times on my way to the Amarillo area, and it's a very nice little town. It should be a great celebration... I may try to make it by car. Maybe start out with the train in Fort Worth and follow it along US 287.

Could this be the first step to building interest in a Fort Worth to Denver passenger route, which was described as the "Caprock Express" in another thread?

[Haretip]

I bet BNSF is not interested in having passenger trains on its heavily travelled coal route.

This is just a railfan trip.

[jredallas]

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/jun/22/riding-rails/

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/jun/29/railway-back-in-time/

http://www.kauz.com/news/local/20643174.html

[RobertB]

So much for the peaceful isolation of the country:

Except for the man in woman’s clothing with his face painted blue standing in the tracks swinging an ax, the journey of the Quanah Zephyr went without a hitch Saturday.

[...]The incident with the ax-wielding man delayed the schedule about 90 minutes before railroad security agents and law enforcement could subdue the man at gunpoint. His motive for attempting to attack the train was unknown late Saturday.
The Ch 6 report notes that the incident happened south of Henrietta, just a little bit before Wichita Falls. I'd like to know more about the man, who in tribute to the band Styx I will call "Sweet Madame Blue". Gaze in your looking-glass...

[FoUTASportscaster]

The Zephyr represented the ultimate in luxurious travel, with air-conditioned cars, a diner in which meals were served on fine china and sleeping accommodations. The trains were fast, too, cruising the rails at nearly 80 mph and sometimes hitting 100 mph on the straight stretches through the West Texas prairie.

It's a shame that in this era that the above, which was done 80 years ago, can't be done today.

[Sky Time]

I would love to see commuter rails at 80 to 90 mph come back, and i know its getting more and more popular as gas prices go up. A Texas commuter system would be a hit in my opinion, especially with the size of Texas and all the small cites in West Texas, i think it would be a hit.

[jredallas]

http://thundertrain.org/quanahzephyr062108.html