M-Line Trolley number 369 picks up passengers near Blackburn Street in Uptown. (Courtesy of Mike Brotzman)
Imagine the days when students would climb aboard a green dragon to receive a free ride from SMU’s campus to Uptown.
OK, maybe not an actual dragon but a street car with that nickname. The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority that operates 365 days a year, all started in the 1920’s. The track ran all the way from downtown, went through Knox Henderson and over to Hillcrest to then end at University. Students could get on the trolley right by campus, and that was possible until it came to an end in 1956.
About 24 years after the method of transportation was shut down, the construction on McKinney Ave. began. During all the construction on the road, steel tracks were uncovered. At first no one knew what they were, but Ed Landrum who was involved with the transformation knew exactly what they were and the history behind them. He then called Phil Cobb the president of the Restaurant Association over to his house to play him a video of the street cars operating all over uptown during the 1920’s. Cobb was so enthralled by the idea he and Landrum immediately partnered to reintroduce this method of transportation to Dallas again.
“It just so happened that Mr. Landrum was in the process of restoring two cars at the time so that’s where it all began,” chief dispatcher Mike Sullivan said.
The rest is history, and the company is still in business today to provide transportation primarily to those out on weekends wanting a convenient lift to McKinney Avenue.
Sullivan also stated that a lot of professionals in the area use the car as a ride to work on a daily basis considering it goes all the way downtown to St. Paul St.
“Saturdays and Sundays are our busiest days. Saturdays we circulate around 1500-2000 customers and 1500-1700 on Sundays,” Sullivan said.
During the rest of the week the cars average about 1,000 customers per day across the four cars that operate on a regular basis and they each have names. The oldest car was built in 1909 and is named Rosie. The next eldest car is the one SMU students used to ride, the green dragon, and it was built in 1913. Next came Petunia in 1920, and following her was Melburn in 1926.
“Not a lot of people get to do what they love on a daily basis. I am a history buff and the street cars have been in my family for years. My grandma used to ride one every day to work some of the same cars that are in the barn today,” Sullivan said.
Many students wish the cars still came around SMU because it would make it much easier and safer to go out in that area of town.
“I really wish they would run the tracks to SMU again, it would allow students to avoid getting cabs and be a fun way for students to all ride together. It’s an old tradition that needs to be restored,” junior Allie Shea said.
The cars are also available for private rental to celebrate special events like birthdays or anniversaries.
The rate for adult parties is $150 per hour during regular operating hours and $200 per hour after that. Children’s parties are $201.25 per hour and both require a two hour minimum for booking.
For more information on how to book a private trolley venture or information in general, you may call 214-855-0006 ext. 3 or visit the website at www.mata.org.
