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My Brother Dave and I were always impressed with Fort Worth's three amusement park railroads. We wanted to build one, but lacked the materials or shop facilities and money. Popular Mechanic (or was it Popular Science ?) Magazine published an article on how to "Build a Backyard Roller Coaster" in 1947 or 1948 that showed us how to build the car. Our track was 12-inch gauge because we just happened to have had two 2 by 4s twelve inches long that became the axles for the car. From then on, the thing grew.

Even back then, Dad and Mom worried about the potential liability of such an "attractive nuisance", but since there was always had a yard full of kids and they knew where we were, they must have figured it was worth the risk.

All the kids in the neighborhood were stockholders in what we called "The Daisy Lane Railroad." It got its name because we lived on Daisy Lane, in Riverside of Fort Worth. To become a "stockholder" one merely had to contribute lumber and labor.

We actually built three different railroads (AKA roller coasters). When our interests would wane, or they became too rickety, Dad would tear them down. During the following year, we'd build another more grandiose one. The one pictured here was built of lumber given to us when a neighbor rebuilt his front porch. It even had a short section of 12 pound rail. - Photos from family albums.

The railroad was about 175 feet long. It was gravity powered, and started out from a height of about 8-feet. Riders had to be ready to "hit the ground running", due to the fact we had frequent derailments and the car was usually moving about 5 to 10 MPH when it reached the end of the track. Luckily, no one ever received injuries greater than a few splinters or abrasions. - Photos from family albums.

The first railroad we built used skate wheels for both guidance and support. Wheels running in a verticle plane at the corners of the car supported it on the wooden track. Other wheels running against the insides of the rails provided guidance.

The small support wheels chewed up the wooden track very quickly. Dad brought home four used generator bearing and rebuilt the car using them for support. This picture is a double exposure, but it shows the generator bearings used as weight bearing wheels. The windows in the background are a cold frame Dad built for his garden. - Photos from family albums.

Cy and David Martin on the "New" car.(1947 - Photos from family albums.

Terrance Grimes and Joe Hickson ride the "New" car as David Martin Looks on. (1947) - Photos from family albums.

The car at the end of the line after a light snow - January 1950 - Photos from family albums.

One of our parents' unique Christmas cards, (circa 1948) - from family records.

• Daisy Lane RR
  http://www.railspot.com/gif2/DFWRails/coaster.rm

1-06-97