1961 Union Terminal Company, Engine No. 7, Dallas, Texas

Union Terminal Company Switch Engine No. 7 (0-6-0) working in Dallas in 1961.
Timestamp:
00:20 South of Union Terminal. The old WYE (built of wooden timbers) becomes visible in the right side of the screen.
00:25 Approaching South Tower
00:30 View from nearby the "Grassy Knoll" Crossing the "Triple Underpass"
01:11 View from North side of UTC as No. 7 approaches the camera
01:38 South end of Union Terminal. Houston Street Bridge in background
02:15 FW&D "Texas Zephyr" or "Sam Houston Zepher" enters UTC from the South. Baggage/Mail Cart works well as an observation and waving platform.
02:30 No. 7 approaches from the South. Camera pans North to show train sheds and Santa Fe train waiting in UTC headed South
02:34 No. 7 switching CB&Q business car
02:41 Engineer on Santa Fe E8 No. 83 heads his train South out of UTC
02:47 No. 7 headed North switching CB&Q business car
This clip is from an 8mm home movie collection.
We are preserving railroad historical film, photos and stories in the decades 1950 to 1990. We would appreciate your "Like" and "Subscribe."

[@johnholt9809]

In the mid 1950s I would sometimes go to work with my Dad on Saturdays. He worked in downtown Dallas and it was a special day to see #7 working and going over the triple overpass as he drove to work. I was around 8 years old then and Dad would always drive as slow as possible so I could get a good look. I had Lionel trains back then and my Dad shared his love for trains as he enjoyed the trains big and small, as much as I did. I was very fortunate to find an individual selling off his HO train collection in February of this year. After talking a bit he mentioned he had a builder modify a brass SP 0-6-0 switcher to match the #7 used at the Union Terminal in Dallas. He asked me if I had any interest in such a loco. After he heard my childhood stories and love for the #7, he said he would sell it to me as he wanted it to go to someone who had a love for this loco. He had well over $800 invested in this project and that did not include the original price of the brass loco. The loco has DCC & sound and runs (and looks) great. I got it for way less than his investment just because he was glad to see it go to a good home. I still have a soft spot for an 0-6-0 loco today and have several for my layout. Before the #7 was moved to Frisco Texas, I would go to the fair grounds in Dallas and take photos of it there and I must have 60 or so photos in my file. The memories of the #7 and the good times with my Dad are very special now.

[@timetable5245]

Thanks for watching and your comment. Your personal story about No. 7 adds alot to the channel and helps many others understand the significance of this locomotive to Dallas area railfans and the community at large. Thank you.

[@Vrm.12345]

My fav wheeler switcher 0-6-0 steam trains

[@timetable5245]

Thanks for watching and your comment.

[@peters1127]

Great shot of the Burlington.

[@timetable5245]

Thanks for watching

[@philipgrazier4937]

Great video of The Seven Spot !

[@timetable5245]

Thanks for watching and your comment. I haven't seen any other motion pictures of Union Terminal No. 7 on KZbin. I'm so glad I found these 8mm clips to share.

[@philipgrazier4937]

It was good work finding it.

[@Vrm.12345]

And also

[@Vrm.12345]

Do u know seven spot works in Dallas tx?

[@Vrm.12345]

Well the answer is, I also live in Dallas tx

[@stephenkehl7158]

That’s an interesting little grassy knoll at 0:50

[@timetable5245]

Thanks so much for watching and comment.

[@stephenkehl7158]

@@timetable5245 I hope you realize that that’s THE grassy knoll, made famous (or infamous) by Kennedy assassination conspiracy theorists. Kind of spooky to think of the site as just a foreground of a rail fan video.

[@timetable5245]

Thanks for your comment. My dad was taking special care to document as much of the last year No 7 had in service at Dallas Union Terminal. I think this was a great piece of film catching the little switcher moving across the triple underpass on the north side of Union Terminal. Yes, I recognized the spot when I was reviewing this 8mm film footage which I had not seen in decades. I realize it may be difficult to look at those images after knowing the history, and what would take place about 2 years after this motion picture was made; nevertheless, I believe it is worth making available to the community as a part of historical documentation in 1961.

[@tracynation2820]

Super. 💙 T.E.N.

[@Vrm.12345]

I wonder what Dallas union terminal 7 sisters trains look like

[@paulw.woodring7304]

So, what's the story with a very well-kept little Baldwin(?) switcher working past the end of mainline steam in the U. S.? Was this a special "Farewell to Steam" event or similar occasion? In 1961 I was four, looking to be about the same age as the little girl on the baggage wagon was. I was train crazy even then and would have thoroughly enjoyed being there watching it shunt back-and-forth.

[@timetable5245]

No 7 was the Union Terminal Company switch engine. I don't know why that locomotive stayed in service so long - a very popular attraction in Dallas and now rests in display at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, TX. Thanks for watching and your comment.

[@steamboat75043]

@@timetable5245 also thanks for posting the video - it was a pleasure to see the 7 spot in action. Many kids got cab rides in the old days and those still around tell the museum staff about those rides.

[@timetable5245]

Thanks for watching and your comment. Your personal story adds much to the appreciation of this locomotive.

[@mikehawk2003]

Was this engine an SP/T&NO switcher at some point? Seems to follow a lot of SP standards, especially the sausage tender.

[@timetable5245]

Thanks for watching and your comment. I believe this locomotive was purchased outright from Baldwin for Union Terminal Co. and never ran in revenue service on any other railroad.

[@Vrm.12345]

U know he already got retired in 1962