Remembering the "Texas Chief" from Dallas to Chicago, 1955-1968

Rembering the Texas Chief home page emblem
Return to HOME PAGE

TIMELINE

DATE	EVENT
April 1948	The Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway (GC&SF) begins "Texas Chief" passenger service from Galveston to Chicago, via Fort Worth.
April 27, 1951	At an appreciation luncheon for the GC&SF, Dallas Chamber of Commerce President John Carpenter declares the time has come for the GC&SF to provide direct passenger service from Dallas to Chicago.
May 5, 1953	GC&SF President Fred G. Gurley announces, at a luncheon in Dallas, that the GC&SF plans to provide direct passenger service from Dallas to Chicago. Two GC&SF vice-presidents visit Dallas and reiterate that message.
June 20, 1953	Two GC&SF vice-presidents visit Dallas and reiterate Gurley's message of May 5.
July 9, 1953	GC&SF files application for Dallas-Chicago passenger service with Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).
August 1953	Denton civic and business leaders file petition with ICC to demand that new GC&SF Texas Chief passenger service comes through Denton as well as Dallas.
November 12, 1953	An ICC hearing is held at the Baker Hotel in Dallas, regarding the GC&SF's application for a new line in North Texas. Representatives for the City of Denton are also present.
June 3, 1954	Attorneys for Denton, Texas testify at the ICC hearing in Washington, D.C. held to consider GC&SF application and Denton petition. Senators Lyndon B. Johnson and Price Daniel testify on behalf of Denton.
August 6, 1954	ICC approves new GC&SF service from Dallas to Chicago, on condition it comes through Denton too.
August 27. 1954	The "Texas Chief" runs over and kills a woman and a boy walking on the Gounah Street trestle in Fort Worth.
Sept. 13, 1954	GC&SF President Gurley meets in Denton with civic and business leaders to announce that the GC&SF has accepted the ICC's decision to have the new line routed through Denton.
Oct. 18, 1954	Work on new track begins at Dalton Junction, near Krum, in Denton County.
Jan. 7, 1955	3-man board of commissioners awards B. B. Owen $109.600 for a 13-acre strip of land, out of a 220-acre tract at Plano Road and Kingsley Road, condemned by GC&SF for right-of-way use. The highest award to date. GC&SF appeals, saying award too high.
Jan. 15, 1955	A 3-man commission is named to determine how much GC&SF should pay estate of murdered Highland Park spinster Selma Ullman for right-of-way across 35-acre tract near Richardson.
Jan. 29, 1955	A 3-man commission decides that the GC&SF should pay Mrs. Bernice Couch, heir to the estate of murdered Highland Park spinster Selma Ullman, $8,500 for the 1.62 acre right-of-way across 35-acre tract near Richardson. The commission also rules that Mrs. Couch should receive $9,000 for the 1.46 acre right-of-way across her own 60-acre tract. Mrs. Couch had originally asked for a total of $229,577.50 in regard to both tracts. The GC&SF had offered $8,000. In a separate case, the commission rules that Richardson-area farmer Tom Campbell is to be awarded $243 for damages to an oat crop due to the railroad's right-of-way across his land, located near Hwy. 75/Central Expressway.
April 19, 1955	Dallas Morning News reports that the GC&SF will have to pay the City of Dallas $61,670 for 8 acres of undeveloped park land (out of a much larger tract left to the City by Dr. W.W. Samuell), per a condemnation hearing decision.
May 29, 1955	In a progress report on the GC&SF's new line, the Dallas Morning News says that 2 miles of track have been completed near Dalton Junction in Denton County, 2 more miles have been readied for the laying of track, "fencing across the new line is 60 per cent complete, grading is 25 per cent done, 60 per cent of the concrete drain boxes have been finished, 35 per cent of the pipe culverts have been laid and the heavy concrete substructures for overpasses and underpasses are 100 per cent complete."
June 7, 1955	Investment banker B. B. Owen, unhappy with a commission's earlier ruling, sues for $391,000 as the cost of the right-of-way strip across his property plus damages caused thereby. Owen's tenant, Oland Groves, is also a party to the suit, asking for $4,000 instead of the $1,500 he was earlier awarded as damages to his crops.
June 27, 1955	Santa Fe officials take media representives, by bus, on a preview tour of the new nearly 50-mile long track from Zacha Junction in Dallas County, to Dalton Junction in Denton County. A Dallas Morning News report of the tour pointed out that the line will have 29 grade separations due to highways, streams, and other railroads that have to be crossed, and that the costliest will be the 12 span bridge in Richardson over Hwy.75/Central Expressway and bridge over the Texas and New Orleans Railway. The report also called attention to the 150,000 cubic yards of rock that was being removed from a deep cut allowing the tracks to go under Forest Lane and Skillman Street, with 30,000 cubic feet removed so far. The report also gave the names of the contractors doing the work and mentioned that bids would soon be received on the construction of the two new stations at White Rock and Denton.
June 29, 1955	Land-owners Dr. and Mrs. G. D. Mahon appear at a hearing to appeal an earlier condemnation hearing decision, awarding them $30,475 for a 150x1544-foot railroad right-of-way strip across their private airport at Garland. They want a jury to award them $250,000 for the strip and damages. Attorneys for Santa Fe say the couple should receive no more than between $15,000 and $20,000.
June 30, 1955	GC&SF announces new suburban station will be built on a 3-acre site on east side of Jupiter Road.
July 1, 1955	GC&SF opens bids for construction of two new stations, in Dallas County and at Denton.
July 22, 1955	At a condemnation appeal hearing in Dallas, a jury awards land-owners Emma B. Martin and Myrtle Jackson Adleta less than they had been awarded originally, for the GC&SF's right-of-way across a tract at Plano Road and Miller Road, reducing the amount from $11,900 to $8,162.75, a difference of $3,737.25.
September 10, 1955	The GC&SF announces that 25 miles of track have been laid so far on Dalton Junction to Zacha Junction route--21 miles on the northern portion and 4 miles on the southern portion. In addition, 80 percent of large bridges and waterways separations are complete and nearly 500 miles of right-of-way and private property fencing has been erected.
September 26, 1955	The GC&SF announces that 80 percent of general contracting work on new RR line has been completed, with 28 1/2 miles of track laid. Contractors are concentrating on three rock cuts, ranging from 27 to 32 feet in depth. New stations at White Rock and Denton expected to be finished by mid-October.
October 16, 1955	GC&SF President Fred Gurley announces that Dallas-Denton-Chicago "Texas Chief" service will commence on Monday, December 5, 1955.
October 22, 1955	Dallas Morning News reports that a jury has reduced by $66 the original amount awarded to Mrs. Bernice Couch, heir to her murdered sister Selma Ullman's estate, for a strip of land across her late sister's land. Mrs. Couch had wanted $91,000. At a condemnation hearing, she had been awarded $6,240. The Santa Fe Railway had also contested the original award, saying it was too high.
November 3, 1955	Last spike completing the 48.6 mile track route from Dalton Junction to Zacha Junction is driven just south of Campbell Road near Denton County line.
December 3, 1955	Open House at Denton Station, White Rock Station, and Union Station in Dallas for the public to view the "Texas Chief" train from Dallas to Chicago, commencing service on December 5. The White Rock Station open house includes a fireworks show after dark.
December 5, 1955	Dallas-Denton-Chicago "Texas Chief" service offically begins after a ceremony at Union Station in Dallas is held, with Mrs. Gurley, wife of GC&SF President Fred Gurley christening the locomotive with a bottle of water from White Rock Lake. Afterward, the Gurleys and other Santa Fe officials ride to White Rock station and Denton station on first train, where they take part in further ceremonies.
July 19, 1968	Last day of Dallas-Denton-Chicago "Texas Chief" service.