Ditto the Altamont Press:

Texas State Railroad opens 29th season

The Texas State Railroad opens its 29th season Saturday, and TSRR Program Administrator John Garbutt said the train is ready to leave the station.

"We're looking forward to a great season," Garbutt said. "We already have our train booked out, and we do have reservations for opening weekend."

Garbutt said people are calling in constantly, keeping the reservationists busy.

"Technically, people don't have to make reservations," Garbutt said. "But if people want to come up here on their own and the train is full, there is a possibility they might not get on the train."

Garbutt said TSRR will have its Kids Ride Free program again this summer, where children 12 and under ride the steam-driven train for free with a parent or guardian.

And after last year's 35 percent increase in overall ridership, TSRR is anticipating another busy season.

"To show how the Kids Ride Free promotion helped us," Garbutt said, "during the period Kids Ride Free ran last year, it gave us an average increase of 193 percent in ridership for the same time period the year before."

The train leaves the station at 11:00 Saturday from the Rusk station located off U.S. 84 West. It arrives at the Palestine station at 12:30, then departs Palestine to return to Rusk at 14:00.

Ticket prices range from $7 for a one-way children's trip to $22 for a round-trip climate-controlled adult's trip.

For more information about the Texas State Railroad or to make reservations, call 903-683-2561 or visit the TSRR Web site at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/railroad/. - The Jacksonville Daily Progress, courtesy Larry W. Grant

WOW. Me-thinks we need to do some serious study on THAT kind of success story, especially when all I have consistently heard is that numbers are DOWN in rail tourism/ preservation.

TJG

Are they still only running one steam engine? #300

They only have 300 available at the moment. the 201 and 500 are ready to be put back together,but the state will not grant them the money to finish the rebuilding. Both 201 and 500 have brand new boilers and will be fantastic once they are back together.
The 400 needs work too,so don't expect to see her in service soon.

What is wrong with #400 anyway? Did it just run out of boiler time and needs to be reinspected?

The 400 is down also because her crown sheet needs replacement. If the Texas Legislature has their way,the railroad will only get operating funds and no funds for repair.