STEAM DREAMS

RETROTECH Talk to ED MCLAUGHLIN, WILLIAM DAVIS (the brother of CULLEN DAVIS), and BOB ROBERSON about their business and they get a little teary-eyed. Probably because of cinders in their eyes.

The three Fort Worth men have formed a company named Tarantula Corp., and within two years they hope to provide elegant dinner-train service throughout the Metroplex.

These guys aren’t just blowing steam, but the engines pulling the cars will be doing just that. They want to bring the steam era back, and they’re counting on the public’s nostalgic fascination with the Iron Horse to make it work.

The wheels on the deal started turning in 1986 when McLaughlin began negotiating to buy track. Tarantula Corp. currently handles freight for 14 companies on 7.75 miles of track in Fort Worth.

The partners own two steam engines and plan to buy 10 to 12 more, Roberson says. The company recently purchased a 1919 model that had been retired since 1954. It’s tabbed for a $250,000 rejuvenation.

“When you see the City of Cleburne, you’ll think it’s 1919 all over again,” gushes Roberson. “We’ll load it up with traditional brass ornaments and make it look brand new. It will pull eight to ten cars during the dinner trips. It will be as elegant as the Orient Express.”

When operational, the locomotives have a maximum speed of 100 miles per hour, although Roberson points out such speed won’t be necessary for the trips Tarantula plans.

“We won’t need to go any faster than about 15 to 20 miles per hour” he says. So don’t worry when Roberson compares the operation to “a perpetual-care cemetery.” He’s talking about the noise, folks.