Word is that the railroad should be up and running normal excursions by the second weekend in November. The Texas State Railroad has not run between Rusk and Palestine since rain had washed part of the track away in July. I was at the Rusk depot for the Day Out With Thomas festival this past weekend (you still have next weekend to visit Thomas the Tank Engine). Even though this East Texas treasure is no longer a state park
, it still has excellent facilities for camping and the train ride is one of the most scenic ones I’ve ridden in the US. If you plan to camp, you now need to contact the railroad itself for reservations. On a positive note, one no longer has to go online through the pathetic ReserveAmerica or wait an eternity on the telephone with the TX Parks & Wildlife for a campsite
.
www.texasstaterr.com