Texas State Railroad 2026: Fall Excursions and The Polar Express From Palestine

There’s a particular sound a passenger train makes rolling through the East Texas pines in October, and the Texas State Railroad is one of the few places left where you can still hear it. Between now and the end of December, the old line between Palestine and Rusk runs everything from lunch trains and costume parties to The Polar Express. Here’s what’s still on the 2026 calendar and how to plan around it.

A railroad built for a prison, saved as a park

The line started in the late 1880s as a short track the Texas prison system laid from the penitentiary in Rusk out to the hardwood forests, where charcoal was made to feed the prison’s iron furnaces. It was organized as the Texas State Railroad in 1894, and prisoners pushed it west until it reached Palestine in 1909. Two governors from Cherokee County, James Stephen Hogg and Thomas M. Campbell, backed the project.

When the furnaces closed, the railroad struggled and was leased out to other lines. In 1972 Texas Parks and Wildlife took it over as a state park, and in 2007 the Legislature created the Texas State Railroad Authority, which runs it today as a scenic tourist line. The track covers about 25 miles each way through the Piney Woods, with a historic depot at each end.

Fall excursions still on the 2026 schedule

October is the busy month. These are the trips the railroad lists for the rest of the season. Prices below are per person as posted on the railroad’s site, plus a $3 historical preservation fee per ticket added at checkout.

• Fall Harvest Lunch Train (Saturday, Oct. 17): A four-hour round trip with a sparkling toast and appetizer at departure and a catered lunch served outdoors at the Rusk depot. Adult fares run from $116 in First Class to $136 in the Presidential cars; child fares start at $90.
• Oktoberfest Beer Train (Friday, Oct. 23): An adults-only trip of roughly five hours with small German beer tastings on board, a catered dinner on the Rusk depot grounds and a commemorative glass. You must be 21 for the tastings. First Class starts at $121.
• Spooky Special (Saturday, Oct. 24): The adults-only Halloween costume party. Boarding is at 5 p.m. at the Palestine depot, with dinner, a DJ and costume contests at Rusk. First Class starts at $134.
• Piney Woods Express: The everyday scenic ride. The railroad lists 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. departures from Palestine for a March through October 2026 season, with a layover of a little over an hour at Rusk. First Class is $60 for adults and $35 for kids; open-air cars are $30 and $15. Operating days vary, so check the online calendar.

The specialty trains sell by car class, and the cheaper seats tend to go first. If you’ve got your heart set on a particular date, book sooner rather than later.

The Polar Express: Nov. 13 through Dec. 28

The holiday season belongs to The Polar Express Train Ride, which the railroad’s 2026 calendar shows running from Friday, Nov. 13 through Monday, Dec. 28. Every trip leaves from the Palestine depot and lasts about an hour round trip. The railroad notes that this year’s season is pulled by a diesel locomotive.

Weekday trips mostly leave at 5:30 and 7 p.m., while weekends and the days around Christmas add 3, 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m. departures. There are no trains on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Every rider gets hot chocolate and a cookie, and Santa and his elves board at the “North Pole” to hand each passenger a silver sleigh bell. First Class and the higher cars include a keepsake mug; Coach does not. The book is sold separately when you buy tickets.

Fares change by date and seat class, with premium pricing on peak nights, so compare a few dates before you book. Seats in the ADA-compliant car can only be reserved by phone.

Which end to start from

Nearly all of the fall and holiday trips above start at the Palestine depot, and that’s where The Polar Express runs exclusively. Palestine sits about two hours southeast of Dallas and roughly three hours north of Houston, so an afternoon departure works as a day trip from either. Rusk, the eastern end, is the lunch-and-dinner stop for the specialty trains and is closer to Tyler and Jacksonville.

If you’re coming for a December evening ride, give yourself time to wander downtown Palestine first. The Palestine visitor site lists the Railroad Heritage Center at 808 W. Oak St., with model railroads and exhibits, open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Making a whole Christmas season of it? Our guide to Grapevine’s Christmas events pairs well with a Palestine weekend.

Tips before you ride

• Arrive early. Parking and boarding take longer on sold-out nights.
• On the dinner and lunch trains, most drinks (alcoholic and not) are sold separately on board and at the Rusk depot.
• The adults-only trains really are adults-only, so leave the kids with grandma for the Oktoberfest and Spooky Special runs.
• East Texas evenings in late November and December can turn chilly fast. Bring a jacket even if the afternoon was warm.
• Call reservations at 855-632-7729 for accessibility questions or the ADA car.

Hours, dates and prices can change. Check the official website before you head out.

Some Texas traditions are big and loud. This one is slow, old-fashioned and full of pine trees, and that’s exactly why folks keep coming back. Pick your train, bundle up, and enjoy the ride.

Featured photo: Roy Luck via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.