Don B.
Yelp
I was in the Big City attending the Cactus Pear Music Festival and found I had time on my hands. Browsing through the local attractions on Yelp, I came across the Texas Transportation Museum. "Must be new," thought I. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong; the museum was founded in 1964--only 18 years younger than myself! This I had to see.
I arrived just in time for the first train ride of the day; they're available on Saturdays and Sundays, leaving on the half hour. Stepping out of the depot onto the platform, I was reminded of my first train ride when I was eight years old; it was a school trip from San Antonio to Houston. The engine huffing and puffing, the engineer and his entourage making final checks of the locomotive and the cars, the passengers waiting with anticipation. The ride is merely a third of a mile but that didn't diminish the fun.
There are railroad cars that can be toured. None are modern but therein lies the joy of taking a step back in time. For those, such as me, who have longed to see the inside of a caboose, your search ends here. Pullman cars, sleepers and even a traveling office await you. There's even an old steam engine beckons you to climb aboard.
Also of great interest was an outdoor model train display of G, N and O gauge trains, including some live steam engines, all lovingly maintained by the San Antonio Garden Railroad Engineers Society. The number of trains running on any particular day depends upon the engineers present but I were told there's always two or three.
And in a large building--air conditioned, thankfully!--was a huge HO gauge diorama running the length of the building. This impressive set up is operated by the Alamo Model Railroad Engineers who, like their counterparts in the outdoor display, are passionate about their hobby. There were four trains running when I visited and I was surprised to see that the trains are controlled by wireless hand-held transmitters. Quite a change from my Lionel set when I was eight! And lest I forget, the building also houses a collection of antique cars, buggies, trucks--and even a hearse.
I had only one regret and that was my camera battery dying after only a few photos. There was so much more I wanted to capture but I will return to capture more of this fascinating place. However, if you visit their website, you'll find many photos of every aspect in the museum. If, like me, you're on the downhill side of life, I have no doubt that a visit here will bring back many fond memories. And for the young, it's a glimpse into the past, into what some of us consider a more gentle, civilized time. And especially if you have children or grandchildren, visit so that you may see the wonder on their faces as they look at the trains and create memories of their own.
