Third Grade Field Trip Programs Get a Refresh
The Museum's popular third grade field trip programs have been refreshed for the 2025-2026 academic year. New and exciting interactive content has been added to the on-site programs at each of the five learning stations at the Museum, including the outdoor collection and TrainTopia. Working with our education consultants at Museum Mavens, third grade content now includes inquiry-based subjects based on the latest state standards.
Educational programs are based on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requirements, weaving interpretation of the Museum's collection into the required content for public schools. "Since our early years working with DISD in Dallas, we've followed the TEKS standards for each grade level of our programming," said Kellie Murphy, the Museum's COO. Since TEKS standards are updated regularly, the Museum re-writes content and re-trains staff and volunteers every few years. " This year, we are excited to add more science and technology content, along with new interactive approaches to learning,” said Ms. Murphy.
Seventh and eighth grade programs will see the addition of content designed to encourage career paths to the railroad industry. The current "Railroad Workers" portion of field trip presentations will now include job opportunities in today's field of rail transportation. We will have more in-depth coverage on this soon.
Booking of educational field trips is now open for the new academic year. Enhanced programs are available for third, seventh, and eighth grades, while the Frisco ISD high school ethnic studies program returns for a fourth year.
Book your field trip today! For reservations and inquiries email kmurphy@historictrains.org or phone 214-428-0101.
Forgotten Stories to be Heard Despite Grant Loss
The Museum's Forgotten Stories program will continue despite the loss of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The program period was slated to begin May 1, however we received a message on April 27 stating that the grant had been "terminated effective immediately" with no explanation and no opportunity to appeal. The Museum's grant was one of over 1,000 that were terminated.
While we are disappointed and disheartened at the news, we remain committed to the importance and relevance of Forgotten Stories. After meeting with stakeholders, the Museum has decided to move forward with the program, albeit on a relaxed timetable and slightly limited scope. Forgotten Stories is a natural outgrowth of the Museum's ethnic studies program developed four years ago as part of Frisco ISD's African American Studies curriculum.
Forgotten Stories will further interpret the Museum's collection through original research and creation of narratives about the role of women and minorities in railroad history. "The history of the Railroad is a great American story. It connects all of us. It's your story. We always endeavor to tell it accurately and with depth," said the Museum's CEO, Bob LaPrelle.
These fascinating stories came to light as our education team started digging deeper into the history of the Museum’s collection. From women railroaders during WWII, and the Hispanic Traqueros in Texas, to the Navaho track workers along the Santa Fe, they helped knit together our country. These are the stories of our museum. They add richness and personal connections to each piece in our collection.
In line with the original scope of the NEH program, the Museum will be holding stakeholder engagement meetings to get input from the community, educators, and curatorial staff in the coming months. At the same time, we will be seeking alternative funding for this important program.
And Now for Something Completely Different…
How and Why the Museum Acquired DFW Airport’s Last Remaining Airtrans Vehicles
In 1974, a new form of transportation began service in North Texas. It was cutting edge in terms of technology and operation but played a rather secondary role in its application. Known as Airtrans, it was a fully automated people mover that provided swift transportation between terminals at DFW International Airport for over 30 years.
At the time of opening, the airport was the gem of the aviation industry, but its design was dependent on connecting passengers with its five original terminals. Airtrans satisfied that need, moving five million people in its first year of operation. The system consisted of 68 vehicles serving 33 stations within the airport, including 3 stations at each terminal. The 21' long x 7' wide vehicles carried up to 40 passengers (seated and standing). Airtrans also transported airport employees, flight crews, luggage, freight, and even garbage over its 15-mile system. Passenger vehicles ran in pairs, with one car having an operating system receiving information from two operators in the central control center. Top speed was a swift 17 mph.
Designers at LTV Aerospace Corporation put the finishing touches on a scale model mockup of an Airtrans passenger vehicle. The unique vehicles were modular in design, allowing for economical assembly and maintenance.
Fabrication of Airtrans vehicles takes place on the assembly floor at LTV’s Grand Prairie, Texas plant. The steel framework can be seen in foreground which is then placed on the rolling chassis followed by application of fiberglass body panels and glazing.
The winning bid for construction of the Airtrans vehicles and operating systems went to LTV Aerospace Corporation, with assembly taking place at its Grand Prairie, TX aviation plant. The automated vehicles ran on foam-filled tires operating on a concrete fixed guideway. They were powered by electric motors, gathering electricity and signaling control information via conductor strips and pick-up shoes along the guideway.
The fiberglass bodies with large acrylic windows gave Airtrans vehicles a utilitarian yet futuristic look. Their fully automated movement around the airport, with people funneling in and out of terminals gave them a Metropolis-like appearance. The 1927 movie integrates automobiles, airplanes, and people movers into modernistic architecture. For many, Airtrans was a source of entertainment during its early years. Before the days of high security, people would drive to the airport, pay a small parking fee, and ride the system around the airport for hours just for fun. The longest loop between terminals on the route took 20 minutes, and 30 minutes to remote parking.
The mid-1970s saw DFW passengers in “Mod” clothing while stylishly riding Airtrans. Each vehicle provided longitudinal seating for 16 people, with standing room for an additional 24. Empty weight of each vehicle was 14,000 lbs. They could travel in two and three-car trains.
The Airtrans control center was staffed by two operators who kept vigil over the system’s 15-mile fixed guideway and 68 vehicles operating on 165-ft. headways. When new, Airtrans’ operating system was the most sophisticated of its kind in the world.
Airtrans soldiered on throughout DFW's first three decades of operation, carrying over 250 million passengers and racking up 97 million total miles traveled for the vehicles. The system had a remarkable career given its premier technology and one-off design. Its reliability was admirable for the demands of a busy 24/7 airport seeing daily growth.
Airtrans finally succumbed to age and obsolescence, being replaced by today's Skylink system in 2005. While similar in function, Skylink operates on mostly new guideways, with more state-of-the-art controls. All but a handful of the unique AirTrans vehicles survived disposal, and a few of them have since been lost – which is where our museum enters the picture.
Volunteers with the Vought Heritage Foundation pose in front of Airtrans #45 just before loading it for the trip to Frisco. Their other project at the time was restoration of Vought’s V-173 Flying Pancake, an experimental test aircraft with a fascinating design.
The City of Frisco generously offered to move the Airtrans vehicle as part of their interest in preserving it at the Museum of the American Railroad. Shown here is the vehicle loaded just prior to departure from Vought's Grand Prairie, Texas facility.
We are now the repository for two Airtrans vehicles. How did we acquire them, and why? Well, in short, they found us. In November 2009, we were contacted by the City of Frisco to follow up on an offer by the Vought Heritage Foundation for donation of one of the last surviving Airtrans units. They had acquired it as part of their mission to preserve every significant product of LTV/Vought heritage. The organization was looking for a suitable repository for long-term preservation of its Airtrans vehicle #45. After conversations with the City and their commitment to move it to the Museum, we took the leap and added #45 to the collection. For years it has turned heads and elicited stories from countless Museum visitors.
In January of this year, the only other known survivor practically landed at our doorstep. Airtrans #48 was auctioned off by DFW Airport as the last remaining unit on the property. It was purchased by a pilot that had fond memories of riding the system. He donated it and provided transportation to the Museum, making a complete two-car set for display – one control car, and one trailer.
Airtrans #48 arrives at the Museum on January 16 of this year. A gift of Jonathan Boos, a pilot and advocate of preserving DFW’s Airtrans history. Its power pick up shoes were removed to facilitate transportation to the Museum.
A current view of Airtrans #45’s interior. While a bit faded, it remains remarkably intact including onboard control systems. This was a lead unit that controlled one or two trailers.
So why did we preserve airport people movers? Well, firstly, they met the definition of fixed guideway vehicles. But moreover, they were designed, built, and operated exclusively in North Texas, a product of a legacy company and developed to serve one the nation's busiest transportation hubs. Further, they debuted technology that was later applied to similar rail operations worldwide.
The Airtrans system undoubtedly touched the lives of tens of millions of people in our region. It appears that we are now the only repository of AirTrans history, with a two-vehicle set and a large collection of technical manuals to go with them. The manuals are priceless, as they preserve the technology and operating history of AirTrans. In fact, we’ve already made them available to researchers. Our goal is to digitize them and make them available on UNT’s Portal to Texas History.
As DFW Airport celebrates its 51st year of operation, we're proud to preserve an important aspect of its history. Airtrans vehicles #45 and #48’s exteriors will be refinished when funds permit to ensure their longevity. They are looking a little tired after so many years of exposure but remain remarkably intact and complete. For more information on Airtrans and DFW Airport’s 50th anniversary, follow this link. There is also a wealth of information online. Since many of us have ridden Airtrans, let us know your stories, or if you’d like to contribute to their preservation please feel free to contact us. If you have some great Airtrans photos/stories, post using #historictrainsairtrans and tag us @historictrains in your post. Or, email your stories to kmurphy@historictrains.org and we’ll share on our socials!
Our thanks to the following individuals and groups for helping to preserve Airtrans history:
DFW International Airport/Former Airtrans Employees
Vought Heritage Foundation
City of Frisco
North Texas Historic Transportation
Andy Nold
Sean Tooke
Noah Jeppson
Jonathan Boos
Steven Wainscott