Texas Train Rides
The Lone Star state leads the nation in total route miles with 10,386 miles, with Union Pacific and BNSF combining for 89% of the total trackage. The first railroad was the Buffallo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado which opened a 20 mile line from Harrisburg to Houston in 1853. Amtrak passenger service runs the Sunset Limited, the Highland Flyer and the Texas Eagle.
Texas scenic tourist train rides are available on the Austin Steam Train, and the Grapevine Vintage RR, as well as scenic train excursion rides on the Texas State Railroad. Free trolley rides are available year round on the Dallas McKinney Ave. Trolley.
Polar Express train rides can be found at the Texas State Railroad and at the Austin Steam Train. Thomas the Engine Tank also runs on the Austin Steam during the fall.
Four different rail excursions are offered. The September-May Hill County Flyer is a 70 mile round trip excursion. The Bertram Flyer and the River City Flyer provides an round-trip excursion between Austin and Littig. Seasonal excursions include the Polar Express train ride. Thomas the Tank Engine visits Austin in the fall. Twilight Flyer evening excursions feature special entertainment. Storytellers bring your kids’ favorite bedtime stories to life on board the Storybook Special trains. Other Twilight Flyers, such as the Murder Mystery Specials, offer an adult-oriented getaway. All Twilight Flyers depart from Cedar Park.
The Museum of the American Railroad, currently based at Dallas' Fair Park, will move to a new 12.3-acre site in suburban Frisco, the Dallas Morning News reported. The museum has been at the Fair Park site for almost 50 years. The museum draws about 30,000 annual visitors. Its collection includes Union Pacific "Big Boy" No. 4018, Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 No. 4903, and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe FP45 No. 107.
Ride Free - Day & Night - 365 DAYS A YEAR
Monday-Thursday: 7 am to 10 PM — Friday: 7 am to Midnight
Saturday: 10 AM to Midnight — Sunday: 10 AM to 10 PM
The History Center features both indoor and outdoor interpretive exhibits. The center piece is the 1920 Baldwin 4-6-0 steam engine from the Texas Southern Railroad.
A restored 1857 4-4-0 locomotive and other railroad exhibits. Open daily
GALVESTON
GALVESTON RAILROAD MUSEUM
Unfortunately, due to the devastation of Hurricane Ike,
the Museum will be closed until further notice.
GRAPEVINE
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad operates train rides over 21 miles of the ex-Cotten Belt trackage into the famous Fort Worth Stockyards Mall. There is also an additional 6 mile branch line that runs southward from the mall to the western part of the city. Scenic train rides originate at the restored 1888 Cotton Belt depot, in downtown Grapevine, Tx. Rolling stock includes four 1925-era day coaches and a pair of open-air excursion coaches. The Grapevine operates the only 19th century steam locomotive in Texas, a Cooke 4-6-0, built in 1896, No. 2248, formerly used by the Southern Pacific RR.
Directions
Houston Railroad Museum features a unique collection of 1940's built diesel locomotives, as well as vintage freight cars and passenger cars with a Texas flare. The museum is open Saturdays beginning in April from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the first weekend in November.
Directions.
The Texas & Pacific Railway Museum is housed in a restored 1912 T&P depot. Displays include artifacts and photos dating from the 1870's, as well as a replica ticket agent's office. Guided tours are availiabe and typically last 45 minutes to 1 hour, include a model railroad and a caboose. Open Tues. thru Saturdays.
Museum displays are housed in a restored 1907 International & Great Northern depot. Displays include a 0-6-0 Porter steam engine and a M&P caboose. The museum also houses a permanent HO scale layout, available for viewing to all visitors of the museum.
Museum features Tower 17, the last manned interlocking tower in Texas. Additional exhibits and tours of an 1897 business car are available. Birthday parties at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum designed for children from 2-8 years are also available.
This east Texas state park includes the former 1896 Texas State RR. Scenic excursion train rides run between Rusk and Palestine and include Murder Mystery dinner trains, a North Pole Express train ride and a Polar Express train ride. The twenty five mile train rides operate with various steam and diesel locomotives. Riders may choose in either open-air cars or air-conditioned coaches. Various historical western and military reenactments are presented several time a year. Food services are provided at Victorian-styled depots on days of operation.
