| We brought our daughter-in-law and grandchildren with us and all of us had a wonderful time. It was our 4 year old’s first train ride and it was a magical experience. Your staff is top notch and Joyce who was our guide was perfect as our hostess and guide. She is a treasure. Our grandchildren fell in love with her storytelling. Thank you for a wonderful family memory. |
Very Enjoyable Ride
For a long time We have heard about the train ride between Palestine and Rusk, Texas, thinking it might be be fun. But, it turned out to be a much better experience than dreamed. All the staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and entertaining. We booked passage in the (adults only) Presidential Car. All the fellow passengers were so friendly. The lunch at the turnaround point was very good. The complimentary champagne, wine, and snack trays were a nice touch. My wife and I had more fun, by far, than we had expected. I highly recommend you take a ride on the official Texas State Railroad.
Great fun and relaxing too!
I’ve been on this railroad years ago when all they had were open cars or cars with windows. They’ve upgraded substantially since then. We purchased tickets on the second level of the Dome car. Everyone will share either a semicircle booth or a booth facing another couple. That’s great as it makes you actually meet other people and that was a wonderful experience in of itself! We made new friends and found we had quite a bit in common! The seats were plush and large, the atmosphere serene, the view beautiful. The attendants were very attentive and helped to make the ride even better.
The actual ride is three hours, with a one hour layover, making it four hours total. They tell you wonderful stories throughout the ride pertaining to certain sections of the track your on. On the Dome car you receive a plate of appetizers (cheeses, meats, crackers, chocolate covered strawberries) and a small bottle water as part of the ticket cost. They serve a glass of champagne or apple cider to toast the trip! They also serve drinks and sodas at a separate charge though.
We ordered our lunch in advance with our tickets and the food was great. Hubby had a pulled pork sandwich and I had a club sandwich. They came with chips and drink of your choice. They both were great!
At the layover in Rusk we ventured to the empty church and walked by the lake. It was a beautiful day to enjoy, and the location is wonderful to see.
We plan on returning for the Polar Express train ride experience in November or December. Can’t wait! Would most definitely recommend this to anyone needing a few days away and who wants to experience a part of Texas hidden in the green lush woods of east Texas!
We welcome you to send us a short note about the fun you had on Texas State Railroad. You can even share a video link or attach a photo!
Because of special, incidental or consequential situations that may be out of our control, Texas State Railroad reserves the right to adjust our operation between the date of your booking and the day of departure. These changes could include (but not be limited to): locomotive power for the day, passenger car assignments, layover and/or meal time during the four-hour ride and departure and/or arrival times. Thanking you in advance for your consideration.
