I visited Dallas a few years ago going through town by auto on the way to and from Kansas. That allowed me to get out and walk around (and sample a ride on DART). And I went through Dallas on Amtrak. On both those visits I was interested in Dealy Plaza from a railroad and modeling point-of-view, and well as the historical factor. I know the "triple underpass" has bad connotations, tragedy and controversy, conspiracy theories, etc. But from a railroad and modeling point-of-view, it is an interesting mix of adjoining big cityscape, expressway and railroad terminal. The expressway or interstate is part of the world that began taking shape in the steam-diesel transition era, something we may want to represent at least fleetingly in a layout. But we wouldn't want it to take TOO MUCH of a layout. Dealy Plaza's triple underpass presents a space where the alternate one-way street grid of the downtown city transitions into the divided expressway, in a fairly limited distance. In the huge pipe-dream layout for which I drew idle plans for over a dozen years, in a 30 by 40 foot train palace I would build when I won the lottery, I included a section with SOME similarities based on Dealy Plaza- but with variances too. This was not Dealy Plaza's triple underpass. Both for selective compression, and to make it different (yet partly like) the real scene, I used a similar pattern for a DOUBLE underpass. It went under the approach to my downtown passenger terminal. This was NOT Dallas but my fictional city of Santa Vaca, a Texas metropolis with a Spanish architectural flavor much like San Antonio, but an industrial base more like Houston. The downtown block between the converging streets would have a Spanish-mission-styled cathedral, sandwiched between business and commercial high-rises on adjacent blocks. Yes, I wanted some of the urban geography of Dealy Plaza but to avoid some of the negative feelings. NOT an accurate model of the historical/ controversial/ tragic dimensions of the prototype. Just my approach. I realize I am not going to win the lottery to build the giant layout, and my present layout ambitions are restricted to my version of Galveston.
Well, I was really referring to those that didn't like *being* here. I suppose if you try hard enough you can be unhappy anywhere. Oh well, to each his own I guess. I extend my offer for "Texas hospitality" to anyone--not just Mike--so if any of y'all are ever coming to Dallas, please feel free to PM me and I'll try to get the red carpet ready. I'll have to admit I've never really known the stigma of the JFK assassination to be some big issue with folks, and I've lived within 2 hours of Dallas almost all of my life. Granted, JFK happened nine years before I was born, so maybe it was at some point. Holding on to negativity for that long seems very counterproductive to me. But as an historical teaching, absolutely! We need to learn from those types of tragedies, no doubt.
Well I said, "... the historical past, among other things, has a lot to do with it." The KFK assassination was bad enough but the subequent assassination of accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald inside the Dallas police headquarters made the Dallas police look like a bunch of 'Keystone Kops' and only served to add more tarnish to the city. Then there was the TV series named, oddly enough, "Dallas", a look into the world of the rich and powerful, with the conniving and ruthless JR Ewing and a support cast of other characters who, while not equal to JR, were nonetheleess, less than angelic. Around here and I am told elsewhere, the Cowboys, who were touted as "America's Team", were known by the less glamorous moniker of the Dallas Crybabies after they lost to the Steelers in the 1978-79 Superbowl. The Dallas newspapers were quoted in the local papers blaming the loss on everybody (officials included) except the Cowboys. The odd thing about it was that Dallas could have won the game if a certain receiver named Jackie Smith had caught a pass from Roger Staubach. But with Dallas trailing the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-14 in the third quarter of the Super Bowl, Jackie Smith, in the middle of the end zone and nobody within 5-7 yards of him, dropped a third down pass from Roger Staubach. The irony of that was that Jackie Smith was completely open. The pass was perfect, hitting him on the numbers. He wasn't touched by anyone. He just dropped the ball. Dallas ended up kicking a field goal but lost the game 35-31. Jackie Smith never played another NFL game. ESPN ranked Smith's dropped pass in the end zone in the top 25 of their "100 Greatest Super Bowl Moments". Anyway, that is my take on the subject.
I dont think its just Dallas...its any L A R G E city and its suburbs. It takes me longer to drive from the beginning of the 'valley' which is Apache Junction...accross it all to the west side of Phoenix then it does to drive from up here in the mountains down that way (182 miles) LMAO !! Big cities are just to...errrrrr...B I G !!! Yea...I love wide open spaces ;-)
Wow. Been here nearly 30 years now, and Dallas has been "berry, berry good to me." I'm with Doug. If you want to make yourself better by trashing others, go right ahead. Doesn't reflect on me/us at all, just you. While DFW has its foibles, it also has cheap housing, good family values, and a genuinely friendly atmosphere compared to most places, and Ft Worth might even be better. Heck, I have generally invited anyone from Atlas/Trainboard/Railwire down to see my layout, run my trains, and eat my food. Doug and others would do it, too.
The Frontiers on Flight Museum at Love Field is also a good bet for something cool to do inside and out of the Dallas heat. I think we're supposed to see 105/107 today!
frontiers of Flight Museum is at the Addison Airport - right around the corner from Discount Model Trains
That's the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/ Frontiers of Flight is near Love Field. http://www.flightmuseum.com/ I hear both are really good. I've been to the Cavanaugh and enjoyed it.
Just email us via this site, giving us some time, since I doubt either Doug or I look in every single day. If I am not traveling on biz, I would be glad to invite you to one of our semi regular train lunches, meet the guys, and come over to see the IHB. Whatever there is to do in dull Dallas, we will help you do it, even as the even duller heathens that we apparently are! (insert smiley.....)
You need to go to Sonny Bryant's BBQ on Inwood just east of Harry Hines for lunch. They serve until they run out of food. Expect to eat on the hood of your car as there is almost no seating. I lived in Dallas & Garland from 78 thru 89 and loved it.
Ha! :teeth:Only difference is you get to *swim* through the heat down there. It's humid in Dallas too but nothing like Houston. :frustrated:
Well; Dallas is a lot of concrete! Highway 635 is HELL during rush hour. Went to Grapevine, lots of shops and BBQ. Grapevine RR was fun, best part was going through the FWWR yard outside of Fort Worth. When you get off at the Stock Yard make sure you get back on time to depart (6 different families did not, cost about $70 cab fair for each family). Went to Frisco, Heritage Museum was nice, but small. Museum of the American Railroad not open yet (they told us around summer 2014) You can see some of the equipment from the fence. The lady we came to see forgot we were coming and went to her sisters in Hearne, Tx. So I did not get to see all I wanted, since I have the wife to consider. Thanks for all the help, headed for Van Buren Ark. to ride the A&M Friday. Polski
