Palestine, Texas. 160 miles from Georgetown. Hop on down to Round Rock, head east on US 79 and you can't miss it.
I know Palestine. I just didn't know they had a train there you could ride. The wife and I will have to check this out! Thanks!
Built in 1909 by the Texas State Railroad. The railroad was created in 1883, after the completion of the Rusk Penitentiary in Rusk, Texas. Built with inmate labor, the original purpose of the railroad was to connect with the International & Great Northern Railroad (Missouri Pacific) at Palestine to transport raw materials for the iron smelter located at the penitentiary. In 1906, the line reached Maydelle, and by 1909, the line was completed when it reached Palestine. The railroad grew and eventually expanded to freight and passenger service, but it was not profitable. Regular train service by the state ceased in 1921 and the line was leased to various railroad companies until 1969. After that it was turned over to the Texas State Parks who operated it until 2007 when the Texas State Railroad Authority was created. They have since leased it out to various tourist train operators.
Knowing that many such operators stumbled or even failed, during the "covid" stuff, how is this one doing?
They seem to be doing well. They only run one train round trip each day they are open. The train we rode was sold out weeks in advance. I bought the last two tickets. In years past they typically ran two starting from each end and passing both ways. The current lease holder is pretty much "hands off" and lets the employees at the site run things. They have been through a bunch of leasers that have not done as well and gave up. First was American Heritage Railways, which also operates the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Colorado and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) in North Carolina. In August 2012, American Heritage Railways abandoned the lease and Iowa Pacific Holdings leased operations. In addition to continuing passenger operations, Iowa Pacific Holdings opened the track to the main line in Palestine on November 1, 2012, to begin offering freight services. The Western Group replaced Iowa Pacific Holdings as operator in May 2017 and was in turn replaced by the current company, Jaguar Transport Holdings of Joplin, Missouri in November 2020. They are also storing cars for other railroads on various sidings and spurs to add to their income.
That's the C&NW's Clinton Street Tower as seen in the yellow oval at the top of this picture. It's gone today, as is North Western Station. I shot this in March of 1975 from the (then) Sears Tower.
Totally agree!! That's the former C&NW Powerhouse facility, and it's used now by Metra. The tracks to its right and turning left and under the Metra tracks are used by Amtrak. The whole parking lot area between the Metra tracks and the river has been built up, so much that the Amtrak line actually ducks out from under a building before crossing the street and going under the Metra tracks. Steel Highway has some rail cams on this fascinating place. Lots of action!
