Palestine, TX
Texas State Railroad
At a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-25- TypeReserved steam, diesel, dining, holiday, and turntable excursions in the East Texas Piney Woods
- LocationPalestine, TX
- Rating4.5 ★1,030 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Aug 29
About Texas State Railroad
Texas State Railroad runs reserved public excursions over the 25-mile Piney Woods route between Palestine and Rusk. The remaining 2026 calendar includes twelve diesel Piney Woods trips, three No. 30 steam trips, two Rusk turntable runs, four dining or adult-special event dates, and 106 Polar Express departures across 32 dates. Most full-route trips leave Palestine at 11 a.m. or 5 p.m.; the two 1.5-hour turntable runs leave Rusk at 11 a.m.
Choose the Right Texas State Railroad Trip
Choose the visit that fits your groupFamilies, first-time visitors, and diesel fans
Ride the four-hour diesel train
Choose one of twelve remaining 11 a.m. Palestine departures for FP9 power, vintage cars, and a Rusk layover.
Steam-focused travelers and photographers
Target the three steam dates
Book October 8, 9, or 10 when the official product specifically advertises 1917 Baldwin No. 30, while keeping the change policy in mind.
Shorter-trip planners and mechanical-history fans
Start at Rusk for the turntable
Use September 10 or October 1 for a 1.5-hour Rusk-Maydelle round trip that demonstrates the operating 1890s turntable.
Couples, groups, food travelers, and adults 21+ where stated
Choose a meal or adult event
Use the exact September and October rows for dinner, wine, harvest lunch, Oktoberfest, or the adult Halloween train.
Architecture, shopping, food, and mixed-interest groups
Walk historic downtown Palestine
Use the independent Main Street guide for the courthouse, Texas Theatre, Carnegie Library, local shops, and the current printable map.
Upcoming Events
Complete official date check
2026 special-event calendar
The official embedded booking inventory was queried after August 25 for every public departure through December 31. It exposes 129 occurrences across 52 unique dates: 12 diesel, 3 steam, 2 turntable, 6 dining or adult-special occurrences, and 106 Polar Express departures on 32 dates. Date rows below preserve all unique operating dates; date labels preserve times and occurrence counts. The stale June 2025 weather notice visible in the site footer was excluded. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- Remaining 2026 inventory129 departure occurrences across 52 unique dates, August 29-December 28
- Piney Woods ExpressFour-hour Palestine round trip with about 1 hour 20 minutes each way and a Rusk layover
- Diesel datesTwelve 11 a.m. departures August 29-October 22; FP9 units TSR 125 and/or TSR 126 advertised
- Steam datesOctober 8, 9, and 10 at 11 a.m.; 1917 Baldwin No. 30 advertised
- Rusk Turntable RunSeptember 10 and October 1 at 11 a.m.; 1.5-hour round trip from Rusk
- ArrivalArrive at the correct depot at least 45 minutes before departure
- Boarding passesPick up at the departure depot at least 15 minutes before departure; confirmation is not a boarding pass
- Platform cutoffThe boarding platform closes 10 minutes before departure
- ReservationsOnline or phone reservations strongly recommended; walk-ins only if space remains
- 2026 fare rangeTurntable Open Air starts at $10 child/$20 adult; diesel Open Air $15/$30; steam Open Air $25/$40
- Historic preservation fee$3 per individual ticket is added at checkout
- AccessibilityADA-compliant coach must be booked by phone; wheelchairs and walkers allowed, power mobility scooters prohibited
- FoodOutside food and drink prohibited; concession car on Piney Woods trips and Mail Car Cafe during the Rusk layover
- AnimalsPets and emotional-support animals prohibited; ADA-defined service animals allowed
- RainTrips run in rain; Open Air reseating is attempted but not guaranteed and rain does not trigger refunds
- Operating changesLocomotive, car assignment, layover, meal, departure, and arrival details can change
Find the Depot
The Trains
The official 2026 products distinguish motive power rather than promising one generic consist. Piney Woods Diesel trips advertise restored FP9 passenger units TSR 125 and/or TSR 126. The October 8-10 steam trips advertise oil-fired 1917 Baldwin No. 30, formerly Tremont & Gulf No. 400. Vintage 1920s passenger equipment is offered in Open Air, First Class, Dome, Presidential Car 42, Presidential Car 1511, and private-caboose configurations, with an ADA-compliant coach bookable only by phone. The operator reserves the right to change power and car assignments.
History
Prison labor began laying narrow-gauge track near the Rusk penitentiary ironworks.
Crews completed the state railroad to Palestine, creating the present Rusk-Palestine corridor.
The 26-mile abandoned corridor transferred to Texas Parks and Wildlife for preservation and tourism.
Tourist passenger service opened from newly built Palestine and Rusk depot complexes.
Texas designated the line the Official Railroad of Texas.
Railroad assets transferred to the Texas State Railroad Authority on September 1.
The tourist railroad marks 50 years of public excursion service.
See full history
State prisoners began laying the original narrow-gauge line near Rusk in 1881 to move timber and charcoal to the prison iron smelter. The standard-gauge route reached Palestine in 1909. Texas Parks and Wildlife received the abandoned corridor in 1972, rebuilt it for tourism, and opened public passenger excursions in 1976. The Legislature designated it the Official Railroad of Texas in 2003. Assets transferred to the Texas State Railroad Authority in September 2007; current passenger operations are conducted under the authority rather than as a Texas state park.
Around the Depot
Historic Downtown Palestine is an independent public district about five road miles from the Palestine excursion depot. The 44-block Main Street area and free map make a useful separate stop, but individual shops, museums, restaurants, performances, and government interiors set their own hours and access rules.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Compare the attraction location with your airport or lodging before deciding whether a rental car fits the trip.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Tours & Activities near Palestine
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
Browse nearby tours →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which depot do I use?
Most excursions, including Piney Woods, dining, adult-special, and Polar Express trips, depart from 789 Park Road 70 in Palestine. Only the Rusk Turntable Run begins at 535 Park Road 76 in Rusk.
How early should I arrive?
At least 45 minutes before departure. Pick up boarding passes at least 15 minutes early; the platform closes 10 minutes before departure and trains cannot wait.
How long is the regular Piney Woods trip?
About four hours round trip: roughly 1 hour 20 minutes to Rusk, a similar layover, and about 1 hour 20 minutes back.
Are reservations required?
They are strongly recommended because trips can sell out. Walk-in tickets are possible only when space remains.
Is every trip steam powered?
No. Only products that explicitly say steam should be treated as steam trips. The remaining named steam dates are October 8-10; most other trips are diesel or intentionally marked non-steam.
Is the train wheelchair accessible?
A specific ADA-compliant coach is available only by phone reservation. It accepts wheelchairs and walkers but not power mobility scooters. Other coaches do not accept mobility devices.
Can I bring food, a stroller, or a pet?
Outside food and drink, strollers, car seats, coolers, and other bulky items are prohibited. Pets and emotional-support animals are prohibited; ADA-defined service animals are allowed.
Does the train run in rain?
Yes. Staff may try to reseat Open Air passengers inside if space exists, but it is not guaranteed and rain alone does not qualify for a refund.
Can the railroad change the locomotive?
Yes. Its published policy allows changes to power, passenger-car assignments, layover or meal timing, and departure or arrival times.
What are the lowest remaining 2026 fares?
The official booking data lists Rusk Turntable Open Air at $10 child and $20 adult, diesel Open Air at $15 child and $30 adult, and steam Open Air at $25 child and $40 adult, plus a $3 preservation fee per individual ticket.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 25, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official excursions index for current products, trip formats, depots, motive power, durations, and special-event boundaries
- Official embedded reservation inventory for every remaining 2026 departure and current public seating prices
- Official FAQ for addresses, arrival, boarding, reservations, refunds, seating, climate control, food, animals, rain, access, and operating changes
- Official aboard page for seating classes, onboard amenities, ADA coach, and locomotive cab-ride rules
- Official route-history page for the 1881 prison line, 1909 Palestine completion, forest, and Maydelle turntable
- Texas Parks and Wildlife record for the 1972 transfer and 1976 public passenger-service restoration
- Texas Parks and Wildlife transfer record for the September 1, 2007 authority handoff
- Wikimedia Commons search and file pages for the six exact railroad works and file-level licenses