Texas State Railroad facts for kids
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|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Rusk, Texas |
| Reporting mark | TSR |
| Locale | Rusk-Palestine, Texas |
| Dates of operation | 1883–1969 1976–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Length | 25 mi (40 km) |
| Other | |
| Website | texasstaterailroad.net |
The Texas State Railroad is a special historic railway, also known as a heritage railroad. It travels for 25 miles between the towns of Rusk and Palestine, Texas. The railroad was first built in 1883 by prison inmates. Its job was to carry raw materials to a furnace at the Rusk prison.
The railroad stopped its regular service in 1921. After that, different companies rented the line. In 1972, it was given to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to become a park. Today, it's a popular tourist attraction where people can ride old-fashioned trains.
The railroad has five steam locomotives and several diesel locomotives. In 2003, the Texas State Railroad was named the official Railroad of Texas.
Contents
History of the Railroad
The story of the railroad began in 1883. It was connected to the new Rusk Penitentiary, a state prison in Rusk, Texas. Inmates built the railroad to move materials like iron ore. This ore was used in a special furnace called a smelter at the prison.
By 1909, the track was finished and stretched all the way to Palestine. The railroad started carrying freight and passengers, but it didn't make enough money. The state stopped running regular trains in 1921. For many years, private companies leased the line.
Becoming a State Park
In 1972, the Texas government gave the railroad to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The goal was to turn it into a state park for everyone to enjoy. But running the historic trains was expensive.
By 2006, the railroad was costing the state a lot of money to operate. To save the railroad, a new group called the Texas State Railroad Authority was created in 2007. This group now owns the railroad and leases it to companies that can operate the trains.
Over the years, several companies have run the railroad, including American Heritage Railways and Iowa Pacific Holdings. Since 2020, a company called Jaguar Transport Holdings has been in charge.
Today, visitors can ride trains pulled by historic steam and diesel engines. The journey takes you through the beautiful forests of East Texas. The railroad has also been a filming location for TV shows, like NBC's Revolution.
The Engines of the Railroad
The Texas State Railroad has both steam and diesel locomotives. These engines were built between 1901 and 1958.
Current Locomotives
| Number | Image | Type | Wheel arrangement | Builder | Built | Former Owner | Status | In service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 316 |
 |
Steam | 4-6-0 | A.L. Cooke | 1901 | Texas and Pacific Railway | On Display | No |
| 28 |
 |
Steam | 2-8-0 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1917 | U.S. Army Southern Pine Lumber Co. |
Stored, being rebuilt | No |
| 30/400 |
 |
Steam | 2-8-2 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1917 | Tremont and Gulf Railroad Magma Arizona Railroad |
Operational | Yes |
| 1316 | Steam | 4-6-2 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1911 | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | On Display | No | |
| 610 |
 |
Steam | 2-10-4 | Lima Locomotive Works | 1927 | Texas and Pacific Railway | On Display | No |
| 1 | Diesel | 45-Ton | General Electric (GE) | 1947 | Unknown | Operational | Yes | |
| 7 |
 |
Diesel | RS-2 | American Locomotive Company (ALCO) | 1947 | Southern Pacific Railroad | Operational | Yes |
| 8 |
 |
Diesel | MRS-1 | American Locomotive Company (ALCO) | 1953 | U.S. Army | Operational | Yes |
| 22 | Diesel | 70-Ton | General Electric (GE) | 1956 | Texas South Eastern | Stored | No | |
| 125 |  |
Diesel | FP9A | General Motors Diesel Division (GMD) | 1957 | Canadian National Railway VIA Rail |
Operational | Yes |
| 126 | Diesel | FP9A | General Motors Diesel Division (GMD) | 1958 | Canadian National Railway VIA Rail |
Operational | Yes |
Former Locomotives
This is a locomotive that used to work at the Texas State Railroad.
| Number | Image | Type | Wheel arrangement | Builder | Built | Former Owner | Current owner | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2248 |
 |
Steam | 4-6-0 | A.L. Cooke | 1896 | Southern Pacific Railroad | Grapevine Vintage Railroad | Stored | This engine once ran on the TSRR as No. 200. It was sold in 1990. |
Freight Service on the Line
Besides carrying tourists, the railroad line is also used for moving goods. This is called freight service. In 2012, a company began using the tracks to transport freight.
Since 2017, the freight service has been run by the Texas & Eastern Railroad. While the passenger trains are called the Texas State Railroad, the freight trains use the Texas & Eastern name.
The freight trains connect with the Union Pacific railroad in Palestine. They mostly carry materials for construction, factory products, and chemicals.
See also
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
