From the Houston Chronicle, July 30,2006

Front Page Headline: State Park Funds Derailed

Excerpts from the Article:

The venerable Texas State Railroad may run from Rusk to Palestine, but it 's about to get sidetracked in Austin. The 110 year old realiroad is the most endangered of the 114 properties in the state parks system......

Even if the lawmakers pour money into the parks system during the next legislative session, the old time steam engines in East Texas are set to become fixed museum pieces at year's end.

"Best as I can determine, we are either going to become a static display or local railroad boosters are going to have to find a private operator" said Robert Crossman, the railroad's superintendent. Ellen Buchanan, a Texas Parks and Wildlife regional director said she has been told that her agency will not keep operating the trains even if funding increases for the next legislative session.