New Member from Colorado - John Mayo

Hello, Frisco experts! I am new to Frisco history, but grew up in Van Alstyne Texas a block from the T&NO tracks (Southern Pacific), and I see that those tracks may have also carried Frisco traffic. I surely remember seeing the Frisco logo on trains as a kid.
I recently realized that I knew very little about those steam and diesel trains I saw and heard whistle through Van Alstyne (south of Sherman) as a kid from 1948 to 1954. When I was 3 years old my Dad and I rode the last day of service on the Texas Electric Interurban Railway from Van Alstyne to Dallas and back. I still cherish those early exposures to railroading.
What I am curious to learn is what Frisco traffic (if any) was carried on the T&NO tracks from Sherman Texas through McKinney to Dallas. The rail layout in North Texas is complicated, and it appears that the main Frisco line ran from Sherman Texas to Carrolton and Plano, then split to Dallas and Fort Worth. But it also appears that Frisco may have had trackage rights from Sherman through McKinney and straight on to Dallas on the T&NO line.
I want to re-create this traffic through my childhood town once I understand the traffic better. I suspect it was mostly freight, with passenger service having been abandoned before the 1940's.
Anyway, glad to be a member, and look forward to learning more about the Frisco Railroad. It has a great history! Thanks for any help you can provide.
John

 

Welcome, John! I'm a relatively new member myself.
As far as I know, Frisco cut over south of Sherman to its own line. I don't think Frisco
ever operated through Howe, Van Alstyne, Anna, etc. Perhaps in an emergency.
T&NO passenger service north of Dallas to Denison ended in 1935. Freight only after that.
You were lucky to have ridden the Texas Electric Ry interurban before it ceased.

There was a period around 1916 when the MO&G (KO&G) had trackage rights over the T&NO
as far south as Plano. From there, it ran over the Cotton Belt to Ft. Worth.

 

Welcome to the forum, John. I also grew up in north central Texas, my hometown being Dallas. Unfortunately, I can't help you with the Frisco in the Van Alstyne area.

My wife and I lived in Colorado Springs for about 25 years. We have been back in Texas for going on six years.

Welcome!!!

 

Welcome aboard John!

 

I found this comment from member tferk in a post from 2021:

In Frisco times, Frisco power ran through Sherman as far as Ennis, and SP power was seen in Tulsa.

the post was:
Southern Pacific Locomotive Run Through Power Units
Discussion in 'Freight Operations' started by Iantha_Branch, Jan 8, 2021.

 

A long-time trainwatcher friend of mine from that area told me there were run-through trains
with a mix of Frisco, BN, and SP locomotives and cabooses especially during the grain season.
There were also run-through Katy trains.

 

Welcome aboard!

I was actually researching this end of the railroad earlier this fall on a whim. Here's a great thread that should help answer some of your questions.
http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/frisco-irving-to-fort-worth-connection.6474/

Beyond that brief thread you already linked on SP units, we have a main thread on all matters of run through operations. There's not much discussion on the SP stuff in there yet, I need to add on to that topic.
http://frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/frisco-run-through-operations.13399/page-6#post-98504

 

Thanks to Dennis and Ethan! I am new to the concept of run-through operations, so this points me in a new direction of study. I am encouraged that my hopes of Frisco traffic on the North Texas SP line from Sherman to Dallas may be fulfilled. I appreciate your suggestions and info!
John