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Interesting Railroad Locations in Texas

This is a personal list of interesting railroad locations in Texas. I will add new locations on an occasional basis, and I make to claims regarding completeness. If you are touring Texas and have an interest in trains and railroads, then the book Texas Trains by Richard K. Troxell is strongly recommended. This book covers everything from the smallest town museum upwards. As far as I can tell, it is complete. If you are looking for maps of Texas railroad, then Railroad Atlas: Texas (SPV's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of the United States, Texas). makes a fine accompliment to Richard Troxell's book.

TRE F59phi pulling in to Fort Worth ITC Station (c. TRE)

Trinity Railway Express (TRE)

Location: Between Dallas and Fort Worth

The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) is the only heavy-rail commuter service, and runs on the old Rock Island route between Fort Worth and Dallas. Owned by the Fort Worth (The T) and Dallas (DART) transit authorities, TRE operate a mixture of refurbished Budd RDCs and modern F59phi/F59ph diesels with Bombardier double-deck cars.

I have a page devoted to the Trinity Railway Express (TRE).

Texas State Railroad

Location: Runs between Palestine and Rusk, in East Texas

The Texas State Railroad is one of those unlikely railroads that nearly didn't get built, and came close to closing on many occasions. Originally built as a prison railroad to haul iron ore for the prison smelter, and wood for the local lumber industry; the Texas State Railroad some how managed to operate until 1969. The State of Texas then found itself with an old railroad that no-one wanted. Luckily it was saved and became a part of the Texas State Park system. The Texas State Railroad continues to operate as a popular tourist railroad, using a mixture of steam and diesel motive power.

I have a page devoted to the Texas State Railroad.

Tarantula Train / Grapevine Vintage Railroad

Main Depot Locations: Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards

Known as both the Tarantula Train and the Grapevine vintage Railroad, is a steam-operated tourist operation. The main service runs along the old Cotton Belt line from its headquarters in the Grapevine Cotton Belt Depot to the Fort Worth Stockyards. A second shorter route continues from the Stockyards over the West and Clear Forks of the Trinity River, to the southwest to the south west area of Fort Worth.

A Cooke 4-6-0 is used as the main motive power, with a diesel for backup. A Southern Pacific Mikado was recently acquired, but will need extensive work to bring it into service.

The Tarantula Train has its website at: http://www.tarantulatrain.com/.

DART

Location: Dallas and neighbouring cities

DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) is the transit authority for Dallas and surrounding cities. As well as co-operating the TRE (see above), DART operates a new and expanding light rail system. See their website for further details.

Age of Steam Railroad Museum

Location: Fair Park, Dallas

The Age of Steam Railroad Museum packs a lot into a small space. The collection includes a variety of passenger cars, steam locomotives, and diesels. The locomotive collection includes a Union Pacific 'Big Boy', a Union Pacific DDA40X "Centennial", and a GG1 electric locomotive. Unfortunately all rolling stock is stored out in the open, but this does not stop an active passenger car restoration program.

Their website can be found at: http://www.dallasrailwaymuseum.com/.

Clarity Tunnel

Location: Near Quitaque in the Texas Panhandle

The Clarity Tunnel was the last operating railroad tunnel in Texas (excluding recent DART excavations). It lies on the Fort Worth and Denver South Plains Railway route through the Panhandle, near Quitaque. The route required two tunnels: the 742 foot long Clarity, and a shorter tunnel that was opened out after a train derailed inside.

In 1993, 64 miles of the route was converted into a hike-and-bike trail and operated as the Caprock Canyons State Park Trailway System. The Tunnel is located about 4.5 miles from the Monk's Crossing access point, near Quitaque. The walk is almost level and is dead straight for the first few miles. Although there is water at the tunnel, this should not be relied upon: take plenty of drinking water in summer. The tunnel also houses a large colony of Brazilian free-tailed bats: do not handle any bats that you might find on the ground.

Cutting along the route between Clarity and Quitaque

Other Texas Pages

This site also contains the following pages with a Texas interest:

Caprock Canyon State Park is located in the Panhandle. As well as the canyon, the park operates an adjoining railroad route as a trail.
Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area is located in East Texas, close to Palestine. This page includes photographs of Sarracenia carnivorous plants and armadillos.