TEXAS STATE RAILROAD: Take a trip back in time on the 
Texas State Railroad ... details ahead on Passport to 
Texas.
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Important news from the Pinywoods: [train whistle] The 
Texas State Railroad State Park historic steam train 
resumes runs departing from the Palestine depot. 

Well, it's important because, for the people of the city of 
Palestine, it represents a big business there. :05

Bryan Frazier oversees promotions and marketing for 
state parks. Runs from Palestine had been discontinued 
earlier this year as part of budget actions to keep the 
statewide park system operating. Resuming these runs is 
beneficial on several levels. 

And it's a lot more of a convenience for people to have that 
option to be able to run out of both depots. It gives people a 
stopover now, and a round trip ticket, an there's a state park 
store at each depot as well. So, it means a lot to the park, it 
means a lot to the community, and there's a little more 
convenience for the customer who's wanting to go there. :16

You and your family are invited to ride the trains -
boarding at Palestine and Rusk. And beginning in June - 
kids ride free.

Up to five kids can ride free with each paid adult ticket. During 
the summertime, when kids are off, it gives them something to 
do. And it's a unique experience, they can get up close and see 
how the engine works before the train leaves, and then the ride, 
just chugging down the railroad on those old bridge timbers as 
it goes across through the countryside, it's just a real unique, 
enjoyable experience for the whole family. :21

Details about the Texas State Railroad and Kids Ride Free 
program can be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife 
web site. 

That's our show for today ... for Texas Parks and 
Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.