Denison, TX - The nationwide group Operation Lifesaver came through Texoma Thursday morning by rail, on one of the only passenger trains ever to take the tracks in this area. But even with all the nostalgia, this was no ordinary train ride.

"Any time is train time and I mean that from the bottom of my heart ladies and gentlemen. Union Pacific and all the major railroads in the united states operate trains 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” said a Union Pacific rail engineer during a presentation.

But on this day, it was a blast from the past as passengers rode on an old 1950's Union Pacific Heritage passenger car.

"These are our dome coach passenger cars if you see the upholstery on these things you can tell they're from the 50's,” said Union Pacific Railroad Public Affairs Director Clint Schelbitzki, as he described the green interior of the car.

But Thursday’s ride on the rails wasn’t just about history though.

"We have education which is what we're doing today, you're learning about how to be safe on and around trains,” said an Operation Lifesaver volunteer told kids on the train.

"Well if we can just get the word out and educate someone to be more aware around rail crossings and if we can save one life it's all worth it,” said Schelbitzki.

Saving lives - that's the goal of Operation Lifesaver. And communities from around North Texas are getting involved and getting educated.

"People tend to still think they can get around the barriers, they still they can win the race with a diesel locomotive and if you hit the locomotive or the locomotive hits you you're not going to win,” said Pottsboro Mayor Frank Budra, who took part in the safety ride.

And with the average freight train weighing 19,000 tons, these locomotives are a formidable force. It can take a mile for them to stop once they hit the brakes.

Chugging along, all the way from Denton to Denison, these passengers get a firsthand look at railway awareness.

"So it's fun to be on this side of it and understand what they're doing for safety,” said Budra.

And this rare train ride also makes a difference in the lives of the Operation Life Saver volunteers.

"They're engineers, they're conductors, and they’re folks that work on the railroads on a regular basis. So this is their opportunity for them to kind of get out of that daily grind and step out of their regular mold and educate the public,” explained Schelbitzki.

After Thursday’s round trip, they'll take the show on the tracks, visiting other communities across the country.