• Travel through Texas aboard a vintage traincarold train image by george mai from Fotolia.com
  
  Trains offer travelers a unique way of viewing the countryside and getting the feel for a new area. When exploring Texas, consider taking a ride aboard one of the state's historic railways. These train tours offer passengers the ability to step back in time, experience the wonder of train travel and watch the Texas countryside pass by. Best of all, many of these train trips serve as educational, fun family adventures.
  
  

Austin Steam Train Association

• The Austin Steam Train Association operates steam and diesel engine train tours that depart from the Cedar Park, Texas, train depot and travel to Burnet, Texas, where guests experience a two-and-a-half hour break for lunch. Before returning to Cedar Park, passengers will find themselves swept up into a gunfight involving the Burnet Gunfighters. The Austin Steam Train Association is full of history with engines and train cars from a variety of time periods, according to the association's website. The steam engine was built in 1916 and the diesel engine is circa 1960. The coach class features cars from the Pennsylvania Railroad that were used between 1920 and 1960. The excursion class features Buckeye Lake cars built in 1949 and used during daily commutes between New York City and Buffalo. The first class Pullman Lounge was originally used on night trains between Chicago and Cleveland in the 1950s. Throughout the year, the Austin Steam Train Association hosts several special events including a Ghostbusters Murder Mystery, a Wild West Murder Mystery and a Blues and BBQ trip.
  Austin Steam Train Association
  401 E. Whitestone Blvd.
  Suite A-103
  Cedar Park, TX 78613
  512-477-8468
  austinsteamtrain.org
  
  

Grapevine Vintage Railroad

• The Grapevine Vintage Railroad runs along the original Cotton Belt route that runs between Grapevine, Texas, and the stockyards in Fort Worth. The Grapevine Railroad engines include Puffy, a steam built in 1896, and a diesel engine built in 1953. Puffy holds the distinction of being the longest running steam engine continually used throughout the South, according to the Grapevine website. Passengers ride in vintage cars built in the 1920s and 1930s, designed with the Victorian era in mind. Grapevine Vintage Railroad aims to provide its guests with a feel that echoes the golden age of railroad travel during the western expansion of the United States. As holiday's approach throughout the year, Grapevine Railroad treats its guests to a holiday-theme train tour including the North Pole Express for Christmas, the Sweetheart Express for Valentine's Day, special Mother's Day and Father's Day trains and the Easter Bunny train. Other special events include a day out with the popular children's television character, Thomas the Tank Engine and an Old West Murder Mystery train.
  Grapevine Vintage Railroad
  Cotton Belt Depot
  707 South Main St.
  Grapevine, TX 76051
  817-410-8136
  Stockyards Station
  140 East Exchange Ave.
  Fort Worth, TX 76106
  817-410-8136
  
  

Texas State Railroad

• The Texas State Railroad operates tours from two depots along Highway 84, the Palestine Depot and Rusk Depot. Both depots are located between the towns of Palestine, Texas, and Rusk, Texas, and are approximately two and half hours from Dallas and three hours from Houston, according to the railroad's website. The railways were built by Texas prisoners in 1881 to bring hardwood for fuel to the Rusk Penitentiary. By 1909, the railway was expanded to Palestine. Today, the railway is operated by the American Heritage Railways to provide train tours for the public. The railway offers several different types of tours throughout the year, including the Pineywoods Excursion, Dogwood Excursion, Maydelle Turntable Excursions and Sunday Family BBQ Excursions. Guests have the opportunity to choose between riding on a historic steam or diesel engine. The Pineywoods Excursion is departs from either Palestine or Rusk and travels to the opposite train depot. Guests are treated to a one and a half hour lunch break before making the return trip. Overall, the excursion lasts about four and a half hours. During the spring, the Texas State Railroad turns into a Dogwoods Excursion as their four-and-a-half hour trip comes alive with blossoming Dogwood trees along the tracks. The Maydelle Turntable Excursion takes guests from the Rusk depot to the 1890s turntable in Maydelle, Texas where guests experience a historic train turning method. On Sundays, the Texas Railroad transforms into an authentic Texas BBQ complete with live music and rides on the steam train.
  Texas State Railroad
  P.O. Box 166
  Rusk, TX 75785
  903-683-2561
  texasstaterr.com