Texas State Railroad

[Bill M]

Anyone taken the ride from Palestine to Rusk on the train? We are taking our grandkids tomorrow. Only open car available today and wasn't going to sit in a hot box for the ride.

http://www.texasstaterr.com/

[Audra]

Open air is the only way to go. We've done it, and the kids loved it...Keith hated it. He thought for sure he could have gotten out and walked faster! It is fun to do, once. It is right next to a prison facility, so be sure and watch out for creepy looking folks in jumpsuits! ;-)

[Bily Lovec]

it
will
be
hot

also they blow that dang whistle too much !

[kyle1974]

we have taken the kids on the little engine that could and Thomas the train, which is about a 15-20 minute ride.... and just about right.

[Goldeneagle]

We went several years ago and really enjoyed it.

[Bill M]

Open air is the only way to go. We've done it, and the kids loved it...Keith hated it. He thought for sure he could have gotten out and walked faster! It is fun to do, once. It is right next to a prison facility, so be sure and watch out for creepy looking folks in jumpsuits! ;-)

Audra I can't imagine open air right now with the above 100 temps we are having.

it
will
be
hot

also they blow that dang whistle too much !

So you're saying even the A/C cars are hot?

Thanks for the input folks.

[bigjohntex]

Did that several years ago with my kids, wife and my mother. We roasted! My Mom had taken wet rags she had frozen (thank goodness) and we were passing them between us. It is a fun time! But, as I said. It is a roaster for sure. They do sell ice cream on the train (eat it fast or it will melt). Also, look around as you ride and you will see some deer blinds.

Good luck and have fun!!

Bigjohntex

[Bily Lovec]

we did it during spring break 3-4 years ago. open air was fine for us, but I saw a lot of people sweating it out on the trip back.
we werent interest in the A/C car, but it looked comfy enough.
keep in mind, you get embers in the window if too close to the engines iin the open cars.

I noticed some people reserved the A/C car but sat in the open air car for the first trip and bounced back and forth, it caused problems with seating. its a good idea as long as you're the one doing it

its fun, everyone should do it once, but its a long day in this heat.

[Audra]

Yeah, we didn't go during the summer. We went in the spring or fall. It was very pleasant.

[kfd82]

We did it when we were kids and LOVED it. (not sure how mom and dad felt about it!)

My wife took our son at Christmas time this year. They turn the train into the "polar express" and run it at night. Both of them enjoyed it. They went with some cousins.... about 6 or 8 people in their little group.

[rtread]

We hosted a military reunion 8 years ago in Longview. We planned as part of the reunion the train ride on the Texas State Railroad. It was a typical Texas summer day....pretty durn hot but tolerable. All the northerners (I won't use the Y word) are still complaining after all this time about that hot train ride Ray got us on. I enjoyed it but the view was rather limited for all the pine trees. Fall or spring might be better for the non-hackers.