East Texas

PALESTINE – Officials with the Texas State Railroad have announced family barbecue Sundays through August and September, which features a catered barbecue lunch and live music as well as a special steam engine train ride.

The regular TSR round trip runs are scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

During August, the “BBQ Special’’ will take place at the Palestine Depot. The train ride will feature a Steam Engine 300 on an hour and half round trip to the Jarvis Wye.
In September, the event will begin in the Rusk Depot, with the hour and half ride on Steam Engine 201 to the Maydelle Turntable.

“During the BBQ Special we are offering our shorter train trips that feature the Jarvis Wye and the Maydelle Turntable,’’ said Lori Kastrop, TSR Marketing Manager. “Watching the steam engines as they utilize these special portions of our tracks is a show.’’

She added that these particular rides are shorter than the regular train excursions that take place every weekend year-round and are perfect for a Sunday afternoon with the family during the summertime.

Texas State Railroad engine 300 steams toward Rusk Depot.
(Staff File Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)