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Texas State Railroad Trip 12/31/06

The Texas State Railroad sign on the Palestine end of this unique railroad along US Highway 84.

The exhibit along the highway letting you know this is the right place to ride a Texas State Railroad train. We heard a steam whistle calling to us so we drove into the park and found the station. The Texas State Railroad is part of the Texas State Park System.

The history of the Texas State Railroad dates back to 1896 when the Texas state Prison System opened the East Texas Penitentiary in Rusk, Texas and needed a better way of getting materials to operate it. Construction of the first section began in that year and track was laid for five miles in a southwesterly direction from the prison. The track was extended an additional five miles to the small community of Maydelle in 1905. By 1909 the railroad reached the town of Palestine. The Texas State Railroads was a common carrier. The railroad operated until 1921 when it was offered for lease to the Texas & New Orleans Railroad, a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific Railroad. That lasted until 1960 when the Texas South Eastern took over the lease. The Texas South Eastern operated the railroad until 1969. In 1972 the State of Texas turned the railroad over to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. By that point the railroad was in very poor conditions. Inmates from the State Prison were used to bring the line back up to operating conditions. A national search for railroad equipment for excursions was then under taken. Victorian Stations were built at Palestine and Rusk. After four years of hard work, the Texas State Railroad Park opened in 1976 giving the public a chance to enjoy steam powered railroad excursions over 25 miles of track.

After parking in front of the Palestine Station I took a walk over to the shop area where I caught a picture of Texas State Railroad 8.

Next we walked over to where The Texas State Railroad 2-8-0 300 was steaming away on the point of our excursion train.

The Texas State Railroad 300 on the point getting ready for the day's trip to and from Rusk.

The beautiful train in front of the Palestine Station.

The Texas State Railroad 300 pulled a car off the front of the train and took it to the shop area where it was left.

Here it is returning back from the shop towards the train.

Here the Texas State Railroad 300 passing my photo location.

Here it is preparing to back up to the train.

The engine has now backed onto our train and would be ready to board in thirty minutes. Until then, I would walk around and take more pictures.

A wig wag crossing signal next to the water tower in Palestine.

The Palestine Station.

More views of the Palestine Station.

The train waiting to back up for boarding. I took a walk towards the shop.

The Texas State Railroad 8 and Palestine Shop building.

The Texas State Historical Marker in front of the station.

The rear of our train that we would be riding to Rusk on.

The wig wag and the Texas State Railroad 2-8-0 300.

Before I boarded I talked to the conductor about being able to take pictures and she suggested the rear door of the rear closed off car. We boarded but had to wait for a car attendant who would take us back to the rear door. Chris and I boarded the 43 Coach and took seats. This train had a consist of Texas State Railroad 2-8-0 300, Coach 45, Coach 42, Combine 61, Coach 43, Coach 44 and Coach 46.

Passengers in Coach 43.

Chris Parker in Coach 43 before the trip started. Just before our host H.L. Langston took Chris Parker and I back through two closed cars to the rear door.

The train pulling out of the Palestine Station to start our trip.

We left the water tower behind as Palestine would fade in the distance.

The last switch to the shops and we were leaving Palestine for good on the eastbound trip.

A pond along our route as we headed east towards Rusk.

The first of the small bridges on this line.

Another small pond with a beaver den in this view.

Another small bridge.

A view of a hill that had been cleared for grazing.

Stills Creek bridge.

Stills Creek.

H.L. Langston JR was our official guide in the 46 Coach.

The inside of Coach 46.

Yet another short bridge.

Through the forest which being without leaves allows you to see things.

The Jarvis Wye for turning steam engines.

Plenty of straight track on this railroad.

The view of another curve on this railroad.

The Neches River Bridge, which is 1,100 feet long and 38 feet high.

The Texas State Railroad 2-8-0 300 took our train around this curve on the railroad.

A grade crossing on our route.

Passing the diesel train from Rusk to Palestine at Mewshaw siding.

The east switch at Mewshaw.

Interesting trees at this curve.

Another view looking forward.

Java, Texas.

The train looking ahead.

Yard limit sign for Maydelle.

Buildings along the highway in Maydelle.

Maydelle Station.

The turntable at Maydelle.

Leaving Maydelle.

Straight track.

Getting ready to drop down the 2.4 % grade towards Rusk.

Rolling down the grade.

Beans Creek bridge.

Railfans were out chasing our steam train on this last day of 2006.

Closing in on Rusk.

MP 1.

Rolling down that final mile into Rusk.

Cherokee Lake.

A short bridge before we arrived into Rusk. We pulled into the station where it was announced that due to a washout the train would be unloaded and pull from the station because the passing track is out of service. I detrained and headed for some pictures of our train in Rusk.

The train at rest at Rusk.

Texas State Railroad 2-8-0 300 at Rusk.

The Rusk Station after we had arrived.

The Rusk Station sign at the east end of our route.

Out in front of the Rusk Station.

The water tower in Rusk.

A washout from that wild Friday night weather we all lived through.

A lot of water washed a lot of the dirt from underneath the tracks.

A close up of something you don't see every day.

The ties keep the track together as they hang in the air.

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