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Bill McCourt wrote:

In looking at the two pix of the interurban car that is awaiting grant money to continue, there is a partial image of a car with arch windows in the back ground.

What is it and could you post a picture of it?

Hey Bill, that arch-window car is the trailer that goes with the arch-window motor car that we are restoring (We have funding now). They are somewhat identical in appearance when they have all of their window sash and trim in place. I have pictures of the trailer, but I need to convert them to an electronic file so I can post them. Go to Rail Propeties of the Southeastern and Southwestern United States and there is a link to Cy Martin's North Texas Railscene. He has a webpage about the restoration of the NTT cars that may already have a picture of a complete Crimson Limited train.

The trailer car never had any controls, but it was equipped with a trolley pole and a motor on each truck to assist the motor car. The motor car has MU type relay controls.

Brent Efford (Tramway Historical Society, Christchurch, New Zealand) wrote:
I have just browsed your web page (well done!) for the first time and note the news about the Fort Worth Birney project. The THS has an unrestored Birney, Invercargill Tramways #15, which was imported as parts from Brill and entered service in 1921. It ceased service with the closing of the Invercargill system (the southernmost trolleys in the world)in 1952.

The THS vehicle is only a body in poor condition, so the THS will need to source mechanical and electrical parts. Although the THS manufactures a lot of equipment, including complete trucks, itself, co-operation with other Birney restorers is obviously a good idea and I will tell the THS guys about your activities.

Jim King wrote:

Andy,
After our visit Saturday, I went home and began reviewing my notes. Naturally, they are garbled in a few areas. The one question have I right now is when and where were these two cars "discovered" and how were they acquired?

These two cars were built into a U-shaped house (along withb a third car) in the proximity of Eagle Mountain Lake. The third car was retained by the donor. I believe the Restoration Guide states that the cars were acquired in 1995. John Bartosiewic (the T's General Manager), Blair Lavell (Texas State Railroad and ex-patriot of Fort Worth), and Harold Wareham (historic minded citizen of Ft. Worth) went to see the cars on that fateful day in May when downtown Fort Worth was pelted by hailstones the size of Buicks. As I recall, a "Mayfest" was going on in downtown Fort Worth, and several people were seriously injured by the size and severity of the hail. That was the day it was decided to attempt this project. I would need to check the actual date the cars were trucked to the T&P; Depot.

My notes say something about a farm in Benbrook, but I'm not sure if I'm correct. Can you provide some background details?

The farm in Benbrook is the final resting place of all of the self-propelled freight motors. No. 330 was a factory built car,and 331-333 were copies built at the Handley shops by NTT using No. 330 as a pattern. No. 332 is at MATA in Dallas being converted into an electric Parlor-Diner car. I have made arrangments to acquire No. 330 and it will be moved soon to be preserved for possible future use as a power car, if these cars get to be used on the Trinity Railway express. Nos. 331 and 333 are still being used to store grain on the farm and have no immediate plans to be recovered.

These cars were used to haul baggage and LCL freight between the stations from Dallas to Fort Worth and down to Cleburne. I know that at least No. 332 had an ice tray to carry in farm products from the countryside (cans of milk, butter, eggs, etc.) and I suspect that all of the freight motors had ice trays. It seems unique to me that all four of the freight motors from NTT have been preserved.

If you have any streetcar stories, information, or questions, you can contact Andy at [email protected].