The windows in each car open, allowing passengers to experience the true essence of rail travel as it was at the turn of the century. The day coaches were put into service in January 1992. Touring coaches 1808 and 1818 were built in 1927 by the American Car Foundry for the Wabash Railroad. Both coaches mirror the decor of the day coaches with the exception of the windows. Instead, the cars have arched openings all down their lengths, with wrought iron railings for passenger safety and each are complemented with full service bars.
Riders experience an open-air feel as they travel.
Windows are installed during the winter months for passenger comfort. These touring coaches began service in September 1993. The builders dreamed of a narrow gauge route from St. Louis to Eagle Pass, Texas, on the Mexican border, and on into the capital of the Aztec Republic. Passenger service along this route was discontinued about 1930. Today, the Tarantula Train operates over approximately 21 miles of the Cotton Belt, linking the historic communities of Grapevine, Colleyville and Smithfield, and Fort Worth's historic Stockyards.