Chuck.Weinstock@sei.cmu.edu (04/29/86)
I just came back from a visit to the Texas and Mexican railway and a ride on their Tex Mex Express. The TM Express runs from Corpus Christi to Laredo and return on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It departs Corpus at 9:30 arrives at Laredo at 2:00, departs Laredo at 4:00 and returns to Corpus at 8:30. The day we road it (Saturday) the train consisted of 4 coaches, a lounge car, and a privately owned sleeper being used for overflow on the outbound trip. The sleeper was left in Laredo for return on Sunday's train. It was pulled by a GP38. Most of the coaches are old P-70's that have been redone very nicely. Each coach has very comfortable seats, restrooms and a television. The lounge has a few tables, seats, and a serving area. The Tex Mex people have hired a private caterer to provide good on board food and souvenier services, with waitresses serving you at your seat. The train leaves from a restored Tex Mex depot at Kinney and Alameda in Corpus. The depots along the way all looked to be in nice shape. Local governments had participated in the renovation of the facilities for this new service which is supposed to help Laredo's troubled economy. According to the conductor, the train carries virtually full loads to Laredo on Saturday and from Laredo on Sunday. Tour operators offer packages with Laredo hotels. The loads on Fridays are good, while the return from Laredo on Saturday and the trip out of Corpus on Sunday are lightly loaded. So far the loadings are exceeding projections and they expect to be running indefinitely. The scenery is not very spectacular unless you a really into deserts. The train moves along at about 50 MPH, but the cars run smoothly. It was nice to hear the sound of jointed rails once again! The round trip fare is 39.95, with one way tickets being (I think) 22.00.