Though the railroad industry saw a major decline in the late 20th century before its conglomeration into the national Amtrak system, a number of historic railroad routes are still operated today as scenic excursion routes for tourists. These nine historic railways and railroad museums offer a glimpse back into the golden age of railroad travel, allowing visitors to experience the Texas countryside as riders might have a century ago.
Hermann Park Railroad
The Hermann Park Railroad has brought hours of fun for children and adults since it opened in 1958. The miniature train takes visitors on a 14-minute journey around the park for a very reasonable price. You also have the option of buying a day ticket, which allows unlimited rides all day long. Trains leave Kinder Station every 20-25 minutes and you can join the ride at any stop along the way. One of the stops is at the MD Anderson Train Station, which is located just across the road from the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The train operates every day of the week and rides are free for members of the Hermann Park Conservatory.
6102 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, 713 524 5876
Cedar Rock Railroad
The Cedar Rock Railroad is a quarter-scale miniature train that travels through Leander’s Southwest Williamson County Regional Park. The railroad is owned and operated by Ken and Holly Knowles and offers 1.4-mile rides through the park’s natural field and forest areas. It is pulled by a miniature locomotive known as Sophie that is modeled after historic locomotives such as the William Mason No. 25 and the Virginia and Truckee’s Inyo. Standard ride tickets are available for excursions departing every half hour, along with ride tickets aboard the railroad’s Little Locomotive Chase crank car. A children’s playground, miniature replica old town, and souvenir and concession depot are also offered.
3005 Co Rd 175, Leander, TX 78641, Phone: 512-943-1920
Austin Steam Train Association
Austin Steam Train Association offers three main excursion routes aboard a historic 1882 rail line that provided industrial access to the quarries of Hill Country. Visitor excursions travel past scenic and historic sites such as Short Creek Canyon, the Bertram Depot, and the communications mast at Duffy Shamrock.
401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste C-100, Cedar Park TX 78613, Phone: 512-477-8468
Grapevine Vintage Railroad
Grapevine Vintage Railroad is a heritage excursion railroad located in Grapevine, Texas along 21 miles of tracks formerly owned by the St. Louis Southwestern Railway, which referred to the route as the “Tarantula Train.” The railroad’s main excursion route runs from the Main Street Station to the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, which offers shopping, dining, and entertainment options. A mini-excursion route also travels alongside the Trinity River, and a Grapevine Fun Train travels toward nearby Colleyville. Two locomotives are used for excursions, including the 1896 4-6-0 ten-wheeler #2248 “Puffy” and the 1953 GP-7 diesel locomotive “Vinny.” Annual special event train rides include a Great Train Robbery reenactments, Jazz Wine Trains, and a holiday North Pole Express ride. Themed excursions include Christmas Wine Trains, North Pole Express®, Easter Bunny Express, Father’s and Mother’s Day Specials and more.
705 S. Main Street, Grapevine, TX 76051, Phone: 817-410-3185
Museum of American Railroad
The Museum of American Railroad was founded in 1962 and is located in Frisco, showcasing an expansive collection of steam, diesel, passenger, and freight railroad artifacts. Notable locomotives on display include the Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 #4018, the 1942 St. Louis-San Francisco Railway 4-8-4 #4501, and the Santa Fe #2404 EMC NW2 diesel, the railroad’s second-oldest locomotive still in existence.
6455 Page St, Frisco, TX 75034, Phone: 214-428-0101
Texas State Railroad Rusk Depot
The Texas State Railroad Rusk Depot offers day trip excursions near the East Texas cities of Rusk and Palestine along the historic Piney Woods Route, which was constructed between 1881 and 1909 by East Texas Penitentiary prisoners.Four-hour excursions are offered aboard early 20th-century coaches and travel 25 miles, offering scenic views of dogwood and sumac trees and more than 24 historic bridges.
789 Park Road 70, Palestine, TX 75801, Phone: 855-632-7729
Texas Transportation Museum
The Texas Transportation Museum was founded in 1964 to preserve San Antonio’s railroad and transportation heritage, including artifacts related to the history of local railroad lines. In 1967, it relocated from its original location in downtown San Antonio to its current 40-acre site within McAllister Park. Exhibits showcase major railroad and transportation artifacts such as vintage locomotives and antique automobiles, along with several model train layouts. Weekend excursions aboard the museum’s full-sized Longhorn and Western Railroad are offered for free with museum admission, departing every hour and traversing more than 3,700 feet of track. Train rides also operate at major museum special events, including the Halloween Spook-Track-Ula event and the holiday Santa’s Railroad Wonderland event.
11731 Wetmore Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247, Phone: 210-490-3554
Forest Park Miniature Train
The Forest Park Miniature Train has been a Fort Worth landmark and popular tourist attraction for around 70 years. When it first opened in the late 1950’s, it was the longest miniature railroad in the world and was extremely popular. While the engines have changed over the years, the miniature train has remained just as popular as ever. Your ride around Trinity Park will take you along 5 miles of track, under the highway and over the Trinity River. The Miniature Train is usually open all year round and is a great idea for children’s birthday parties or other fun events.
Forest Park Miniature Train, Trinity Park, 1700 Colonial Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76110, 817 966 5509
Galveston Railroad Museum & The Polar Express Train Ride
Galveston Railroad Museum & The Polar Express Train Ride is located in Galveston on land once operated by the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway, which was later incorporated into the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway in the mid-20th century. Following the railroad buildings’ purchase by the Moody Foundation, the former infrastructure was incorporated into a museum, which opened in 1982 and now showcases a wide variety of railroad artifacts and preserved historic buildings. Major locomotives on display include the Southern Pacific 4-6-0 #1, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe F7A #315, and the Union Pacific H20-44 #410. Scenic excursion Harborside Express train rides are also available on Saturdays for an additional fee, lasting approximately 15 minutes.
2602 Santa Fe Pl, Galveston, TX 77550, Phone: 409-765-5700
