Texas Transportation Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1964 |
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| Location | San Antonio, Texas |
| Type | Transportation Museum |
The Texas Transportation Museum (TTM) is a fun place in San Antonio, Texas. It's a museum all about different ways people and things have moved around. You can see old trains, cars, and even fire trucks here!
The museum started in 1964. Its main goal is to save and share the history of transportation in San Antonio. They want to show how trains, cars, and other vehicles have changed our lives. TTM makes learning about history exciting and entertaining for everyone.
The museum has many cool things to see. They have real railroad vehicles that still run! You can also find many old cars and trucks. Plus, there are amazing model train displays.
TTM hosts three big events every year. In April, they have an Easter egg hunt. October brings "Spook-Track-Ula" for Halloween fun. And in December, you can enjoy "Santa's Railroad Wonderland" for Christmas.
You can even rent parts of the museum for parties. There's a special children's play area. It has a wooden steam engine and a metal diesel engine for kids to explore. The museum is a non-profit group, which means they use all their money to keep the museum running.
Contents
History of the Museum
The idea for the museum began in 1964. Some train fans wanted to fix up an old steam train. This train was on display at the Comal Power Plant. They moved the train to the Pearl Brewery. When they started it up, it blew black soot everywhere!
The museum first opened at the Pearl Brewery in Downtown San Antonio. They used the tracks of the Texas Transportation Company. In 1967, the museum moved to a bigger space. They got about 40 acres of land. This land is now part of McAllister Park. It's located north of the San Antonio International Airport.
The Longhorn and Western Railroad
The Longhorn and Western Railroad is a special train line at the museum. It's a heritage railroad that runs only on the museum's property. It's not connected to other train tracks in the country.
The L&W has about 5/8 of a mile of track. Its main line runs about 1/3 of a mile. This is where the museum's trains operate.
Trains You Can See
Some of the trains at the museum can still run! Others are on display.
Trains That Operate
- US Army 1954 Baldwin RS-4-TC 1A Switcher #4035
- US Air Force 1942 GE 45-ton switcher #7071
- Comal Power Plant 1925 Baldwin 0-4-0T #1
- Missouri Pacific Railroad Flat car #50043
- Missouri Pacific Railroad Caboose #13083
- US Marine Corps Fairmont motor car #256260
Trains on Display
- Moscow, Camden and San Augustine Railroad 1911 Baldwin 2-8-0 Steam locomotive #6
- Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Pullman business car #404
- Pullman Company (operated by Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad) 1924 Pullman McKeever sleeper car
- Union Pacific Railroad Caboose #25275
- Missouri Pacific Railroad Caboose #11919 - This one is waiting to be fixed up!
- Missouri Pacific Railroad Caboose #13430 - This caboose has been turned into a birthday party room.
- Different small railroad speeders
Antique Vehicles
The museum also has a cool collection of old cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
Fire Trucks
- 1898 American LaFrance steam pumper
- 1924 Buffalo Type 50 fire engine
- 1947 Mack Type 85
Tractors
- 1939 Case
- 1941 Cletrac DG-5
- 1948 Ford 8N
- 1946 John Deere Model H
Cars and Trucks
- 1929 Ford Model AA
- 1931 Ford Model A Tudor
- 1924 Ford Model TT
- 1903 Oldsmobile Curved Dash
- 1918 Oldsmobile Speedster
Carriages
- 1900 Doctor’s Carriage
- 1898 Victorian Brougham
- 1903 Studebaker
Model Train Displays
If you love tiny trains, you're in luck! The museum has several amazing model train layouts. These are built by different groups of model train enthusiasts.
- HO scale layout by the Alamo Model Railroad Engineers (AMRE)
- G gauge outdoor layout by the San Antonio Garden Railroad Engineers Society (SAGRES)
- N scale layout by the San Antonio N-Trak Association (SANTRAK)
- O scale layout by TTM volunteers
- Z scale layout
Images for kids
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Former US Army 1954 Baldwin RS-4-TC 1A Diesel-Electric Switcher #4035
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Former US Air Force 1942 GE 45-ton switcher #7071
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Former Moscow, Camden and San Augustine Railroad 1911 Baldwin 2-8-0 Steam Locomotive #6
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Former Comal Power Plant 1925 Baldwin 0-4-0T #1
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US Marine Corps Fairmont motor car #256260
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1924 Buffalo Type 50 fire engine
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Ford Model AA Truck
