Abandoned Rails of

Dallas, Texas

Home | TX | AT&SF , CRI&P , FW&D , MKT , StL&SF , StL&SW , SP , T&P , UT

Dallas Market Hall: Opened in 1960, Dallas Market Hall is located northwest of Dallas, Texas, just off of the Stemmons Freeway (IH 35E). When it expanded in 1963, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific built a half-mile spur from its mainline (just to the north) to the Market Hall complex for loading/unloading warehouse goods for trade shows and exhibitions. The track was used infrequently, and saw abandonment in the late 1970s. However, no effort was made to remove the abandoned tracks before the entire area was claimed by a parking garage and other parking lots, thus the trackage is still evident today.

White Rock Lake Spur: This short spur, at 1.2 miles in length, allowed the MKT to access the Dallas Waterworks pump house located adjacent to White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX.

*Dallas Market Hall:* We begin by observing where the spur first... — **Dallas Market Hall:** We begin by observing where the spur first branched from the CRI&P mainline, on the rise to the right. Today, this track is owned by Dallas and Fort Worth, and hosts the cities' Trinity Railway Express commuter train. A signal with restrictive aspect is seen along the right-of-way just to the left of the trees behind the tracks.

*Dallas Market Hall:* Once branching from the main, the tracks c... — **Dallas Market Hall:** Once branching from the main, the tracks continue through both natural and urban growth. Downtown Dallas can be seen faintly in the background.

*Dallas Market Hall:* The tracks have already been overcome by t... — **Dallas Market Hall:** The tracks have already been overcome by the trees, peculiarly growing between the rails.

*Dallas Market Hall:* It was curious to find the trees growing b... — **Dallas Market Hall:** It was curious to find the trees growing between the rails like this. The trees were planted parallel to a small access road. No attempt was made to remove the rails before planting the trees.

*Dallas Market Hall:* Nature doesn't seemed daunted by the iron ... — **Dallas Market Hall:** Nature doesn't seemed daunted by the iron rail.

*Dallas Market Hall:* The tree trunk grows on top of the railhea... — **Dallas Market Hall:** The tree trunk grows on top of the railhead.

*Dallas Market Hall:* From this view, we see both trees and park... — **Dallas Market Hall:** From this view, we see both trees and parking lot. The tracks continue on, despite an entire parking garage built around them.

*Dallas Market Hall:* After passing through the trees, the first... — **Dallas Market Hall:** After passing through the trees, the first section of pavement for a parking lot is encountered. The rails are embedded in concrete for the rest of their journey.

*Dallas Market Hall:* The entrance to the parking garage. I doub... — **Dallas Market Hall:** The entrance to the parking garage. I doubt a train would ever meet the 8'5" height restriction imposed by the garage's 2nd level.

*Dallas Market Hall:* Inside the garage, the tracks continue on ... — **Dallas Market Hall:** Inside the garage, the tracks continue on unabated, despite the pillars, concrete stops, and speed bumps.

*Dallas Market Hall:* The tracks curve to the south as they trav... — **Dallas Market Hall:** The tracks curve to the south as they travel through the garage. This view is looking back toward the mainline.

*Dallas Market Hall:* After traveling through three parking aisl... — **Dallas Market Hall:** After traveling through three parking aisles, the tracks approach the south side of the parking garage (just behind the photographer).

*Dallas Market Hall:* Here we see the tracks going into a little... — **Dallas Market Hall:** Here we see the tracks going into a little utility area on the south side of the garage (please excuse the picture's blurriness).

*Dallas Market Hall:* Inside the utility area (which was inacces... — **Dallas Market Hall:** Inside the utility area (which was inaccessible), the tracks run right into the garage's wall.

*Dallas Market Hall:* The tracks emerge to the outside world on ... — **Dallas Market Hall:** The tracks emerge to the outside world on the other side of the wall from the utility area.

*Dallas Market Hall:* After coming out from under the garage wal... — **Dallas Market Hall:** After coming out from under the garage wall, the tracks are paved over at a grade crossing with an access road.

*Dallas Market Hall:* On the other side of the road, the tracks ... — **Dallas Market Hall:** On the other side of the road, the tracks proceed under a bus stop booth. The tracks were originally put in place to serve the building in the background, Dallas Market Hall.

*Dallas Market Hall:* A close-up of the bus stop booth and the t... — **Dallas Market Hall:** A close-up of the bus stop booth and the tracks that it sits on. This booth will be used as a reference point in upcoming pictures.

*Dallas Market Hall:* Turning around, we have a clearer idea of ... — **Dallas Market Hall:** Turning around, we have a clearer idea of where the tracks ultimately go.

*Dallas Market Hall:* Even the landscaping company who dressed t... — **Dallas Market Hall:** Even the landscaping company who dressed the parking areas paid no attention to the rails.

*Dallas Market Hall:* As we get closer to the end of the tracks,... — **Dallas Market Hall:** As we get closer to the end of the tracks, we get further away from the bus stop.

*Dallas Market Hall:* The tracks cross one final access road bef... — **Dallas Market Hall:** The tracks cross one final access road before reaching their destination.

*Dallas Market Hall:* In this instance as before, the tracks hav... — **Dallas Market Hall:** In this instance as before, the tracks have been paved over.

*Dallas Market Hall:* Now looking back on the road from the othe... — **Dallas Market Hall:** Now looking back on the road from the other side, we can still see the bus stop in the background to the right.

*Dallas Market Hall:* The tracks end at the edge of the parking ... — **Dallas Market Hall:** The tracks end at the edge of the parking lot. The area behind it has been renovated, at which point they decided necessary to remove the rails completely.

*Dallas Market Hall:* Looking back from the end of the rails to ... — **Dallas Market Hall:** Looking back from the end of the rails to whence they came. The parking garage is visible in the background; the mainline from which the spur branched is behind the garage.

❮ ❯

Fort Worth & Denver Railroad Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Saint Louis & Southwestern Railway Texas & Pacific Railway Southern Pacific Railroad Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Saint Louis & San Francisco Railway
Docket: 27595	3/8/1974	Section: 5(2)
App. for auth. of each to acquire an undivided One-Eighth interest in 2.09 mi. of railroad in Dallas, Texas to be abandoned by The Union Terminal Co., and for approval of an agreement among them, permitting their continued operation over such line and all other lines over which The Union Terminal Company had Operating Rights.
Length: 2.09 miles	93

Southern Pacific Railroad
Docket: 27595	3/8/1974	Section: 5(2)
(See applic. of THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND SANTA FE RAILWAY COMPANY and seven others for auth. to each to acquire one-eighth interest in 2.09 mi. of rr. in Dallas, Tex. to be abandoned by The Union Terminal Co., and for approval of an agreement among them permitting their continued operation over such line, etc., and all other lines over which The Union Terminal Co. had Operating Rights, under same docket number).
	303

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