Texas State Railroad
Overview | |
---|---|
Headquarters | Rusk, Texas |
Reporting mark | TSR |
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, also referred to as the Lone Star and Eastern 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. The Texas Legislature designated the Texas State Railroad as the official Railroad of Texas in 2003.[1]
History
The start of the railroad dates back to 1883, with the completion of the Rusk Penitentiary in
In 1972, the
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.[4]
Motive power
The Texas State Railroad operates both steam and diesel locomotives, with build dates ranging from 1901 to 1958:[5]
Currently rostered locomotives
Number | Image | Type | Wheel Arrangement | Classification | Builder | Built | Serial Number | Former | Status | In Service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
316 | 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 2023. | |
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 a boiler and running gear rebuild as of 2023. | |
30/400 | 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. Cosmetically restored in 2020. Awaiting future overhaul as of 2023. | |
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. | |
1 | Diesel | (B-B) | 45-Ton | General Electric (GE) | 1947 | 29207 | Unknown | Operational | Yes | ||
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 | Texas South Eastern | Stored | No | ||
125 | Diesel | (B-B) | FP9A | General Motors Diesel Division (GMD) | 1957 | A1051 | VIA Rail |
Operational | Yes | Originally built as CN No. 6521. Debuted at the Texas State Railroad in 2018. | |
126 | Diesel | (B-B) | FP9A | General Motors Diesel Division (GMD) | 1958 | Unknown | Canadian National Railway VIA Rail |
Operational | Yes | Originally built as CN No. 6533. Debuted at the Texas State Railroad in 2022. |
Formerly rostered locomotives
Number | Image | Type | Wheel arrangement | Classification | Builder | Built | Serial Number | Former | Current owner | Status | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2248 | Steam | 4-6-0 | T-1 | A.L. Cooke | 1896 | 2312 | Southern Pacific Railroad | Grapevine Vintage Railroad | Stored | No | It was operational on the TSRR as No. 200 before it was sold to the Fort Worth and Western Railroad in 1990. Undergoing a boiler rebuild and will return to service sometime in 2023.[6] |
Texas & Eastern Railroad
In September 2012, the Surface Transportation Board approved an operating agreement between the Texas State Railroad Authority and the Rusk, Palestine & Pacific Railroad (RP&P) for the latter to perform common carrier freight service over the Rusk-to-Palestine line using the RP&P name.[7] In May 2017, the line was leased to the Texas & Eastern Railroad to carry on the freight services,[8] the RP&P being dissolved in January 2018.[9] The freight trains bear the Texas & Eastern name, but the passenger excursions continue to operate under the Texas State Railroad name.[8]
The Texas & Eastern interchanges with the
See also
References
- ISBN 9781625110664.
- ^ 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.
- 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.
- ^ "Rusk, Palestine & Pacific Railroad, LLC—Operation Exemption—Texas State Railroad Authority" (PDF). Surface Transportation Board, Federal Register, pp. 57188-57189, September 17, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Texas & Eastern Railroad (TSR)". Union Pacific. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "Rusk, Palestine & Pacific Railroad, LLC". OpenCorporates. Retrieved June 28, 2022.