Texas State Railroad
 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Rusk, Texas |
| Locale | Rusk-Palestine, Texas |
| Dates of operation | 1883-1969 (Revenue) 1976-present (Excursion) |
| 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 historic 25 mi (40 km) heritage railroad between Rusk and Palestine, Texas. Built by inmates, it was founded in 1883 by the state of Texas to haul raw materials for a smelter at the prison at Rusk. Regular service on the line was ended in 1921. The state leased the line to private companies until 1969, then turned it over to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1972. In 2007, the railroad was transferred to the Texas State Railroad Authority and is now operating as a scenic tourist line. It is currently operated on a limited, year-round schedule. Today, the railroad has a total of five steam locomotives (two of which are operational) and three diesel locomotives in their current roster.
History[]
The start of the railroad dates back to 1883, with the completion of the Rusk Penitentiary in Rusk, Texas. Built with inmate labor, the original purpose of the railroad was to transport raw materials for the iron smelter located at the Rusk 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.[1] Regular train service by the state ceased in 1921 and the line was leased to various railroad companies until 1969.
In 1972, the Texas Legislature turned the railroad over to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to be used as a state park. However, by 2006, the train cost the state of Texas $1 million per year more to maintain and to operate than the revenue from the park generated. Because of budget concerns, the Eightieth Texas Legislature (2007) passed Senate Bill 1659 which allowed for the creation of the Texas State Railroad Authority, and conveyed ownership of real estate and rolling stock to the Authority. The RoW was leased to the Authority for 99 years. The Authority leases operation of the line to qualified railroad operators. On September 1, 2007, the Texas State Railroad Authority leased the operations of the TSR to American Heritage Railways, which also operates the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad 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 Jaguar Transport Holdings of Joplin, Missouri in November 2020.[2]
The leading supporters of keeping the railroad operational are State Senator Robert Nichols, along with State Representative Cody Harris.
The schedule of the railroad allows visitors to ride trains pulled by antique diesel and steam locomotives between the park's Victorian-style depots and through the forests of East Texas. The railroad also has a long history of film and television productions, such as episodes of NBC's Revolution.[3]
Motive power[]
The Texas State Railroad operates a steam and two diesel locomotives, with build dates ranging from 1901 to 1958:[4]
| Number | Type | Wheel Arrangement | Classification | Builder | Built | Serial Number | Former | Status | In Service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Steam | 4-6-0 | D-9 | A.L. Cooke | 1901 | 26142 | Texas and Pacific Railway | Display | No | Formerly operated as TSRR No. 201. Awaiting future overhaul as of 2021. | |
| 28 |  |
Steam | 2-8-0 | Pershing | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1917 | 47032 | U.S. Army Tremont and Gulf Railroad Southern Pine Lumber Co. |
Stored | No | Formerly operated as TSRR No. 300. Undergoing rebuild as of June 2021. |
| 30/7 |  |
Steam | 2-8-2 | Class 30 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1917 | 46491 | Tremont and Gulf Railroad Magma Arizona Railroad |
Operational | Yes | Formerly operated as TSRR No. 400. Originally No. 30 for the Tremont and Gulf Railroad and No. 7 for the Magma Arizona Railroad. |
| 1316 | Steam | 4-6-2 | Class 1309 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1911 | 37332 | Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | Display | No | Formerly operated as TSRR No. 500. Awaiting future overhaul as of 2021. | |
| 610 |  |
Steam | 2-10-4 | I-1a | Lima Locomotive Works | 1927 | 7237 | Texas and Pacific Railway | Display | No | Operated on the American Freedom Train tour in 1976 and for the Southern Railway steam excursion program from 1977 to 1981. |
| 7 |  |
Diesel | (B-B) | RS-2 | American Locomotive Company (ALCO) Alco-GE |
1947 | 76828 | Alcoa Aluminum Railroad Southern Pacific Railroad |
Operational | Yes | |
| 8 |  |
Diesel | (C-C) | MRS-1 | American Locomotive Company (ALCO) Alco-GE |
1953 | 80334 | U.S. Army | Operational | Yes | |
| 22 | Diesel | (B-B) | 70-Ton | General Electric (GE) | 1956 | 32569 | Unknown | Operational | No | ||
| 125 | Diesel | (B-B) | FP9A | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1957 | A1051 | Canadian National Railway | Operational | Yes | Originally built as CN No. 6521. | |
| 126 | Diesel | (B-B) | FP9A | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1958 | Unknown | Canadian National Railway | Stored | No | Originally built as CN No. 6533. Undergoing restoration as of 2021. |
- 1901 A.L. Cooke (4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler" Class) (Steam) (Formerly TSRR #201)
- 1917 Baldwin Locomotive Works #28 (2-8-0 "Consolidation" Class) (Steam) (Formerly TSRR #300)
- 1917 Baldwin Locomotive Works #30 (2-8-2 "Mikado" Class) (Steam) (Formerly TSRR #400)
- 1911 Baldwin Locomotive Works #1316 (4-6-2 "Pacific" Class) (Steam) (Formerly TSRR #500)
- 1947 Alco-GE #7 (RS-2 Diesel)
- 1953 Alco-GE #8 (MRS-1 Diesel)
- 1956 GE #22 (70-Tonner Diesel)
- 1957 EMD-GM #125 (FP9A Diesel), built as CN 6521
- 1958 EMD-GM #126 (FP9A Diesel), built as CN 6533
Other locomotives on static display:
- 1927 Lima Locomotive Works #610 (2-10-4 "Texas") (Steam)
Formerly rostered locomotives:
- 1896 Cooke Locomotive Works (4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler" Class) (Steam) (Formerly TSRR #200) (Now owned by the Grapevine Vintage Railroad)[5]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Marsden, Richard. "The Texas State Railroad". Archived from the original on July 9, 2006. Retrieved July 9, 2006.
- ^ "Jaguar Transport Holdings Acquires 5 Shortline Railroads and a Railroad Construction Company from The Western Group". Cision PR Newswire. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ Spivey, Stacey (March 24, 2014). "NBC's hit TV show 'Revolution' filming in East Texas". Tyler, TX: KETK-TV. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
- ^ "Texas State Railroad Engine Info". Texas State Railroad. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ "[Texas State Railroad Train at Palestine Station]". The Portal to Texas History. n.d. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Texas State Railroad. |
- Heritage railroads in Texas
- Transportation in Cherokee County, Texas
- Transportation in Anderson County, Texas
- Railway companies established in 1881
- Tourist attractions in Cherokee County, Texas
- Tourist attractions in Anderson County, Texas
- 1881 establishments in Texas