The vintage steam and diesel locomotives of Texas State Railroad take passengers on a 25-mile journey between the East Texas towns of Rusk and Palestine, located a few hours from Dallas and Houston.
Traveling through the Piney Woods region, the train crosses 24 bridges and passes by unusual railroad structures, including a locomotive turntable. Most trains depart at either 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. for the four-hour round-trip, which includes an hour-long stop at the destination depot for shopping and snacking.
To get more details, we posed three questions to Teresa Propeck, vice president of passenger services.
Q. What’s the most intriguing thing about taking a ride on your railroad?
A. Time travel is a reality aboard Texas State Railroad. Our locomotives are the time machines that transition you to a period when steam was king and diesel power was in its infancy.
Q. What do visitors experience during the sightseeing tour?
A. In our fast-paced world, folks often forget to slow down and unplug; they don’t take time to savor tranquil moments big and small. An adventure aboard Texas State Railroad is the antidote to the modern world, taking you on vintage transportation past wild forests, charming architecture and peaceful ranchland.
Q. Do you have themed rides and special events?
A. Texas State Railroad has the only Polar Express Christmas train within a 500-mile radius of our location, and our Easter Egg Runs and Pumpkin Patch Trains also offer family-friendly adventure. The Chocolate Lovers Train and Saturday night Romance on the Rails ride give passengers the opportunity to have a little adult fun.
To ask questions of your own, email Propeck. You can also visit texasstaterailroad.net.
Top photo by Texas State Railroad
