DENISON, TX -- The Red River Railroad Museum was not open on a regular basis due to the lack of volunteers. Now with volunteers in place they are ready to open their doors. Rita Kotey has the story.

On Christmas day 1872 the Missouri Kansas Texas railway made a stop in Denison.

"The railroad came across the red river built the city of Denison and became the gateway of Texas," Mike Shaw said.

To preserve the city's history Mike Shaw and other members of the community have reopened the Red River Railroad Museum inside the Katy Depot.

The museum features details in the importance of the railroad to the creation of the city of Denison and gives those who are young and young at heart the opportunity to sit in the engineer’s seat.

"We have a computer set up in here that mimic’s pretty much realistic simulation of what it’s like to drive a train"

The train simulator uses a throttle, brakes, and of course the horn.."
"to educate particularly children and young folks about what it is really like to work on railroad and what it would be like to drive a train"

Denison mayor Robert Brady says preserving the city's history in this way is an idea that he hopes other residents will latch on to fill the Katy Depot with more information about the city and the pioneers who made it all happen.

"If it wasn't for the railroad there wouldn't be a Denison so I’m really proud that some people have stepped up and made this a nice place"

On the Web:

http://www.redriverrailmuseum.org/