Streetcar 749 finds a new home

When MATA was still in its infancy, Harry Nicolls (then MATA's Director) found ex-Dallas streetcar 749 and another 700-series car being used as storage buildings on a farm near Terrell, Texas. We negotiated a deal to salvage parts from the other car and move 749 to a McDonald's^tm in Coppell, Texas. The restaurant restored it cosmetically, installed tables and chairs, and used it for children's birthday parties. They even posted some pictures and a history of the Dallas streetcar era in the car. In recent years however, the car was closed off and not maintained. Wishing to expand their playground, McDonald's^tm said that they would give the car to anyone who would pay to remove it from their property. Again Mr. Nicolls stepped in and assisted a rail enthusiast with moving 749 from Coppell to Decatur, Texas.

The new owner and his two sons plan to rebuild/repair the inside of the car and build an HO gauge train layout inside the car. To bring the car back to a respectable contion, the project requires reconditioning four walkover seats and maybe a table or two as well as repairing 749's roof and windowsill areas and possibly the floor. If all goes well, they hope to have the work completed by the end of summer or early Fall. If needed, MATA will assist with technical advice as the project proceeds.

The 700-series Dallas streetcars were built in 1926 by the American Car Company as center-entrance "Peter Witts". In 1931, Dallas Railway began rebuilding all of its Peter Witts by removing their center doors to convert them to one-man operations. 749 and several other 700-series cars were in active service until the last DR&T lines were shut down in 1956. After abandonment, 749 could be seen sitting beside some other streetcars on a section of double track near Seventh St. behind the old Oak Farms Dairy in Oak Cliff. Dallas Railway stored several of their cars there pending their disposition.