When the last Dallas streetcars were replaced by buses in 1956 the local newspapers said that they would be gone forever. But prophets are often proven wrong, for in July 1989 the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority brought streetcars back. Our little system has had its ups and downs over the years, but eventually the "Miracle on McKinney Avenue" evolved from a tourist attraction into the M-Line, an integrated part of Dallas' transit system. The M-Line currently operates four vintage trolley cars and is restoring three others.

In 1909, the workers at the Brill plant in Philadelphia could never have imagined that the trolley they were building would still be running in the 21st Century. Car 122, "Rosie," served in Porto, Portugal until 1978. In 1983 she was acquired by and ran in the San Francisco Trolley Festival. A few years later M-Line Chairman Phil Cobb bought her and moved her to Dallas. Rosie is currently the oldest trolley car in regular service in North America.

The M-Line was 20 years old and Rosie was 100 in 2009 — two significant events worth celebrating. To do so, we held a 28-unit (including our trolleys) parade down McKinney Avenue on September 26. Despite weeks of almost unending rain, the day was bright and sunny, giving credence again to Co-founder Ed Landrum's favorite adage, "The Lord loves streetcars."

View a slide show of highlights of the day's events.