Like many towns
in the U.S., Forney can thank the railroad system for its existence.
In 1872 when Forney was still called Brooklyn, construction began on
the new Texas & Pacific Railway train tracks and depot. Local businessmen,
including John Alexander McKellar, sold land to the railroad and became
very wealthy as a result.
When completed in
1873, the rail line connected Shreveport, Louisiana and Dallas. With
a nearby depot in Mesquite, this line opened up a powerful new means
of transportation into the booming city of Dallas. Soon, people and
businesses moved into the area and Forney prospered.
By the 1920's, new
electric train technology had emerged. The Interurban train system,
consisting of single car commuter trains were similar to our street
cars of today. In 1921 construction began on the Dallas-Terrell line,
and in Forney the tracks were laid in the middle of Church Street. This
must have been very convenient for the residents of Forney, especially
those who didn't drive. Shopping trips in Dallas or a trip to the matinee
became commonplace. The new trains also allowed students quicker access
to the colleges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Unfortunately, the
electric commuter trains had a short life. The rise in availability
of inexpensive automobiles, better roads and more public buses caused
a decline in ticket sales, and in 1932 the Texas Interurban Railway
went bankrupt.
