Train rides in Texas are one of the most fun and relaxing ways to take in the scenery a place has to offer, and the Texas State Railroad operates in all four seasons. Climb aboard a 1920s vintage train car and ride the rails, admiring the beautiful Piney Woods landscape!
All aboard the Texas State Railroad for a scenic train ride that runs year-round.
Flickr/Roy Luck Nestled deep in the Piney Woods of far East Texas, the 50-mile journey between Rusk and Palestine is a convergence of history, nature, and adventure.
The vintage train cars date to the 1920s, and you’ll learn all about the fascinating, 135-year history of the railroad during your trip.
Google/Farmer Joe As you gaze out the window at the densely forested landscape, you’ll see over 100 species of bird and a variety of unique plant life - including the famous loblolly pine tree, which can grow to heights of over 100 feet. You’ll also cross 24 bridges along the way!
Several different seating classes let you choose your desired level of luxury.
Facebook/Texas State Railroad From coach all the way up to Presidential Parlor cars - once reserved only for the likes of railroad barons and mining kings - there’s something for everyone.
As the seasons change, so too does the surrounding landscape.
Facebook/Texas State Railroad In the spring, vibrant blooms line the railroad tracks, making for a picture-perfect scene.
Special events are held throughout the year, including the ever-popular summer series known as “Wines in the Pines.”
Facebook/Texas State Railroad This romantic moonlit ride features wine samples from local vineyards, plus appetizers and dinner.
In the fall, it’s time for the annual Pumpkin Patch Express!
Facebook/Texas State Railroad “Official” Fun for kids and adults alike, this 30-minute round-trip excursion leads to a pumpkin patch filled with games, prizes, and tons more festive fun. Each child gets to pick their very own pumpkin to bring home!
By far the most popular seasonal train ride is the Polar Express.
Facebook/Texas State Railroad “Official” It’s an exact recreation of the classic children’s book, complete with singing and dancing chefs, golden tickets, and a stop at the North Pole. You’ll want to buy tickets many months in advance - they sell out well before the holiday season begins.
Visit the TSR website or Facebook page to learn more and/or purchase tickets for any of the railroad’s regular or themed rides.
Flickr/Roy Luck
Nestled deep in the Piney Woods of far East Texas, the 50-mile journey between Rusk and Palestine is a convergence of history, nature, and adventure.
Google/Farmer Joe
As you gaze out the window at the densely forested landscape, you’ll see over 100 species of bird and a variety of unique plant life - including the famous loblolly pine tree, which can grow to heights of over 100 feet. You’ll also cross 24 bridges along the way!
Facebook/Texas State Railroad
From coach all the way up to Presidential Parlor cars - once reserved only for the likes of railroad barons and mining kings - there’s something for everyone.
In the spring, vibrant blooms line the railroad tracks, making for a picture-perfect scene.
This romantic moonlit ride features wine samples from local vineyards, plus appetizers and dinner.
Facebook/Texas State Railroad “Official”
Fun for kids and adults alike, this 30-minute round-trip excursion leads to a pumpkin patch filled with games, prizes, and tons more festive fun. Each child gets to pick their very own pumpkin to bring home!
It’s an exact recreation of the classic children’s book, complete with singing and dancing chefs, golden tickets, and a stop at the North Pole. You’ll want to buy tickets many months in advance - they sell out well before the holiday season begins.
Have you ever taken a train ride in Texas? If so, what’s your favorite time of year to embark on the journey? Tell us in the comments!
For another train-themed adventure in TX, check out this epic railroad road trip.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot, 789 Park Rd 70, Palestine, TX 75801, USAAddress: Texas State Railroad - Rusk Depot, 535 Park Rd 76, Rusk, TX 75785, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Texas State Railroad & Related Info January 10, 2023 Jennifer Does Texas have any trains? The iron horse has played a major role in Texas history since the 1800s. In fact, in terms of sheer track mileage, no other state tops the Lone Star State when it comes to train travel. From modern Amtraks to vintage steamers to themed passenger rides, Texas is big on rails even today - and the state has dozens of lines crisscrossing the state to choose from. Some of the most popular passenger trains and railroad lines in Texas are:
Austin Steam Train Future Texas High-Speed Train Grapevine Vintage Railroad Heartland Flyer Jefferson Railway Piney Woods Excursion Train At Texas State Railroad Texas Eagle Trinity Metro TEXRail Trinity Railway Express
Are there any train museums in Texas? With so much rail history under its belt, you can bet that Texas is home to an equally large number of small-town, specialty, and large-scale museums documenting the railroad industry. Tucked away in every corner of the state, many of these fantastic museums are even housed in historic train depots! Some of Texas’ must-see historic depots, railroad museums, and transportation museums are:
1904 Train Depot Museum, Kingsville Amarillo Railroad Museum, Amarillo Austin Steam Train Association Museum, Cedar Park Brazos Valley Railroad Society Museum, Brazoria Cleburne Railroad Museum, Cleburne Dickinson Railroad Museum, Dickinson Ennis Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum, Ennis Galveston Railroad Museum, Galveston Hearne Railroad Museum Depot, Hearne Historic Mineola Train Station and Museum, Mineola Interurban Railway Museum, Plano James H. Long Railroad Park and Museum, Smithville Kyle Railroad Depot and Heritage Center, Kyle Mabank Depot Toy Train Museum, Mabank Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum, Brownwood MKT Railroad Museum, Katy New Braunfels Historic Railroad and Modeler’s Society, New Braunfels Orange Train Depot Museum, Orange Railroad Heritage Center, Palestine Railway Museum of San Angelo, San Angelo Red River Railroad Museum, Denison Rosenberg Railroad Museum, Rosenberg San Antonio Model Railroad Association, Live Oak San Antonio Railroad Heritage Museum, Elmendorf Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, Temple Texas Transportation Museum, San Antonio Traintopia Museum of the American Railroad, Frisco
The OIYS Visitor Center
Texas State Railroad & Related Info
January 10, 2023
Jennifer
Does Texas have any trains? The iron horse has played a major role in Texas history since the 1800s. In fact, in terms of sheer track mileage, no other state tops the Lone Star State when it comes to train travel. From modern Amtraks to vintage steamers to themed passenger rides, Texas is big on rails even today - and the state has dozens of lines crisscrossing the state to choose from. Some of the most popular passenger trains and railroad lines in Texas are:
Austin Steam Train Future Texas High-Speed Train Grapevine Vintage Railroad Heartland Flyer Jefferson Railway Piney Woods Excursion Train At Texas State Railroad Texas Eagle Trinity Metro TEXRail Trinity Railway Express
Are there any train museums in Texas? With so much rail history under its belt, you can bet that Texas is home to an equally large number of small-town, specialty, and large-scale museums documenting the railroad industry. Tucked away in every corner of the state, many of these fantastic museums are even housed in historic train depots! Some of Texas’ must-see historic depots, railroad museums, and transportation museums are:
1904 Train Depot Museum, Kingsville Amarillo Railroad Museum, Amarillo Austin Steam Train Association Museum, Cedar Park Brazos Valley Railroad Society Museum, Brazoria Cleburne Railroad Museum, Cleburne Dickinson Railroad Museum, Dickinson Ennis Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum, Ennis Galveston Railroad Museum, Galveston Hearne Railroad Museum Depot, Hearne Historic Mineola Train Station and Museum, Mineola Interurban Railway Museum, Plano James H. Long Railroad Park and Museum, Smithville Kyle Railroad Depot and Heritage Center, Kyle Mabank Depot Toy Train Museum, Mabank Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum, Brownwood MKT Railroad Museum, Katy New Braunfels Historic Railroad and Modeler’s Society, New Braunfels Orange Train Depot Museum, Orange Railroad Heritage Center, Palestine Railway Museum of San Angelo, San Angelo Red River Railroad Museum, Denison Rosenberg Railroad Museum, Rosenberg San Antonio Model Railroad Association, Live Oak San Antonio Railroad Heritage Museum, Elmendorf Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, Temple Texas Transportation Museum, San Antonio Traintopia Museum of the American Railroad, Frisco
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The iron horse has played a major role in Texas history since the 1800s. In fact, in terms of sheer track mileage, no other state tops the Lone Star State when it comes to train travel. From modern Amtraks to vintage steamers to themed passenger rides, Texas is big on rails even today - and the state has dozens of lines crisscrossing the state to choose from. Some of the most popular passenger trains and railroad lines in Texas are:
- Austin Steam Train
- Future Texas High-Speed Train
- Grapevine Vintage Railroad
- Heartland Flyer
- Jefferson Railway
- Piney Woods Excursion Train At Texas State Railroad
- Texas Eagle
- Trinity Metro TEXRail
- Trinity Railway Express
Are there any train museums in Texas?
With so much rail history under its belt, you can bet that Texas is home to an equally large number of small-town, specialty, and large-scale museums documenting the railroad industry. Tucked away in every corner of the state, many of these fantastic museums are even housed in historic train depots! Some of Texas’ must-see historic depots, railroad museums, and transportation museums are:
- 1904 Train Depot Museum, Kingsville
- Amarillo Railroad Museum, Amarillo
- Austin Steam Train Association Museum, Cedar Park
- Brazos Valley Railroad Society Museum, Brazoria
- Cleburne Railroad Museum, Cleburne
- Dickinson Railroad Museum, Dickinson
- Ennis Railroad & Cultural Heritage Museum, Ennis
- Galveston Railroad Museum, Galveston
- Hearne Railroad Museum Depot, Hearne
- Historic Mineola Train Station and Museum, Mineola
- Interurban Railway Museum, Plano
- James H. Long Railroad Park and Museum, Smithville
- Kyle Railroad Depot and Heritage Center, Kyle
- Mabank Depot Toy Train Museum, Mabank
- Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum, Brownwood
- MKT Railroad Museum, Katy
- New Braunfels Historic Railroad and Modeler’s Society, New Braunfels
- Orange Train Depot Museum, Orange
- Railroad Heritage Center, Palestine
- Railway Museum of San Angelo, San Angelo
- Red River Railroad Museum, Denison
- Rosenberg Railroad Museum, Rosenberg
- San Antonio Model Railroad Association, Live Oak
- San Antonio Railroad Heritage Museum, Elmendorf
- Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum, Temple
- Texas Transportation Museum, San Antonio
- Traintopia Museum of the American Railroad, Frisco
