Texas State Railroad Excursion Train

The Texas State Railroad runs between two depots, Palestine and Rusk, and the round trip covers roughly 25 miles of track and takes about four hours. Trains leave from the Palestine depot and pause at the Rusk depot so passengers can get off and look around. The Handbook of Texas describes the route as about 25 scenic miles between the two depots.

The line began as a prison railroad. Convict labor built the early sections out of Rusk and the later extension to Palestine, and reformers criticized the high death rates and harsh conditions of that work. The state opened it as a common carrier in 1907, and service reached Palestine on April 15, 1909. Texas Parks and Wildlife reopened it for excursions with two steam-powered passenger trains on July 4, 1976, as part of the national Bicentennial. Since 2007 the Texas State Railroad Authority has owned it and leased the operation to private companies.

The Palestine depot is at 789 Park Road 70. Tickets are sold by phone at 855-632-7729 or through the railroad's website, and there are several seating options. Fares vary by train and date, and the railroad also runs themed event trains, including dinner, wine and Halloween runs, on set dates. Schedules change with the season, so check the calendar before driving out.