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Trains LIVE — Museum of the American Railroad expands

By Bob Lettenberger | November 29, 2023

| Last updated on April 29, 2024

The museum has pushed its master plan forward over 10 years with great success

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Trains LIVE — Museum of the American Railroad expands — 11-29-2023 — In 2013 the Museum of the American Railroad moved the last of its 65-piece rolling stock collection from Dallas to its new home in Frisco, Texas. Before the museum began its move, there was a plan. Not just a plan to get the collection from point A to point B, but a vision of an improved museum. The vision included a better visitor experience, one that told the rich story of Texas and western railroad history in an exciting fashion. The vision considered how to further preservation of the collection. Most importantly, the vision has led the museum to become an integral part of the community by working with local officials, the school system, and other non-profit organizations.

Painting showing locomotives displayed in a new museum building
Noted railroad artist John Winfield was commissioned by the museum to create an image of the planned train pavilion. The new 100,000-square-foot-plus facility will become home to key collection pieces. Museum of the American Railroad

As the expansion continues, leading to the construction of new exhibit facilities, Bob LaPrelle, museum president and CEO, takes a moment to chat with Trains LIVE about the past, present, and future of the organization. What LaPrelle shares in our conversation is exciting for future museum patrons and offers practical, how-to advice for those in the rail-preservation community. Plus, he describes the next phase of the museum’s building and exhibit plans.

Trains LIVE — Museum of the American Railroad expands.


Trains LIVE is a regular video program, recorded live and unscripted from Kalmbach Media. The series began in July 2022.

Trains LIVE features Bob Lettenberger, Trains associate editor, Kalmbach Media staff, and guests talking about railroads and trains in a casual, behind-the-scenes format. On Trains LIVE we will ask the questions you would like to ask and take you into places not normally open to the public. Trains LIVE also takes you on the road to museums, trackside locations and other railroad-related venues. It is presented every other Wednesday at 2 p.m. Central time.

If you have questions or comments, please log-in and leave a comment in the area at the bottom of the page. We will attempt to answer questions during future episodes.
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