I have been informed by the Chairman of the Board, McKinney Avenue Transit Authority of Dallas, that there are three Stone & Webster Turtle Back car bodies which are excess to the needs of MATA. Two of the cars are of the 10 window style while the third is a 13 window configuration. The storage lot upon which the cars are located is to be sold to a third party and must be cleared. The cars are presently covered with canvas and inspection may be arranged by advance notice.

The cars will be given to any museum interested with the stipulation that all costs associated with the loading and transportation will be the responsibility of the recipient on an as is, where is basis.

Interested parties may contact the undersigned at the phone numbers below.

Harry Nicholls
214-288-7958 cell
214-941-9705 home
P O Box 224288
Dallas TX
75222-4288

thought I would add a represented image what one in operation looks like, never seen this style before

This is a Stone & Webster Turtle Back car that was used in many of the S&W systems, and Dallas had many of these cars in 10 & 13 window configuration. I believe the 13 window cars were lesser in number and may have been the older cars. Dallas closed their system in 1956.

This particular car was found in Garland, a city NE of Dallas, in a hay field where it held bales of hay and a few mice. Ed Landrum rescued it and did the first restoration of the body. Later, he placed it in the now defunct Sports Hall of Fame in Grand Prairie, Upon the demise of that museum in Grand Prairie, MATA removed the car body from the building and rebuilt the car using parts from W-2 parts from Australia. It was the first car to be tested when the rail and overhead was complete. The test was done at 1 AM as the traffic would be minimal. Everything went as planned until it was time to return the car to the barn. Ed put the car around the curve and it derailed which sent the car against the sidewalk. He then reversed the direction and drove the car back onto the tracks as the rear truck was still on the rail. MATA's first derailment on the new track and with the first car. What a night.

Suffice it to say, the car has behaved since that 1989 night and now has had over 25 years of operation.

The North Texas Historic Transportation / Texas Traction Co. is raising money to save the three Stone & Webster streetcar bodies that are in storage in Dallas TX. We have a crowd funding page here.

http://www.gofundme.com/d53si4

And our Facebook page here.

https://www.facebook.com/savetheturtlebacks

This campaign replaces the fundraiser of the Charlotte NC trolley group. Thank you for your support.

Phil Randall
NTHT/ TTCo.