TEXAS STATE RAILROAD: Interactive history that's on track 
 ... we'll explain on Passport to Texas ... 
____________________________________________________________

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

The Texas State Railroad dates back to an 1881 purchase 
of land dedicated to building a spur track to connect state 
owned prison iron smelting facilities. Today, the Texas 
State Railroad State park connects visitors with history.
 
"So it's just a great way to be able to actually live, and be 
a part of, Texas history with these old steam engines."

Marks Price is park superintendent.
 
"The Texas State Railroad State Park is located over in the edge 
of east Texas. 

"We have two train stations; one in the city of Rusk and one in the 
city of Palestine, roughly halfway between Houston and Dallas. 
We have two trains that run at the same time, leaving out of Rusk 
and Palestine both, at eleven in the morning; it takes an hour and 
a half to go from one station to the other. 

"You have an hour and a half off for lunch and an hour and half back. 
So, you leave at eleven, and you're back at three-
thirty that afternoon."
 
A day trip out of Houston, Dallas or Waco, Price invites 
visitors from across the state to also experience the 
railroad and east Texas hospitality.

"Come and spend the weekend with us. We have a very beautiful, 
beautiful campground - what you would envision as an east 
Texas state park with the monstrous pine trees and a fifteen 
acre lake. We also have so many bed and breakfasts based 
around us. So you can come spend the weekend in East Texas, 
and ride the train and just enjoy the Pinywoods."

There's more about the Texas State Railroad SP on the 
TPWD website. 

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