Texas State Railroad

The Texas Prison System built a short rail line from the Rusk State Penitentiary to hardwood timber stands where charcoal was made for firing the prison's iron ore furnaces. The rail line became the foundation of the Texas State Railway, organized in 1896 to make the prison self-supporting and to develop the region's economy. Built by prisoners and supervised by the State Penitentiary System, the line was completed in 1909 to Palestine (30 mi.W) where it connected with existing routes. Financial woes and the closing of the furnaces led to the line being leased to the Texas & New Orleans Railroad, and later the Texas & Southeastern Railroad, which operated the line until 1969. Control of the line was transferred to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department in 1972 for development as a state park. Restoration of the tracks between Rusk and Palestine was accomplished by Texas Department of Corrections inmates. New depots and parks were built at each terminus. Vintage steam locomotives and rail cars were purchased to provide tourist passenger service from Palestine to rusk. The park has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state. (1997) Incise on back: Marker donated by Correctional Employees Council, AFSCME/AFL-CIO, Local 3806

Texas State Railroad is a historical marker in Palestine, Anderson County, dedicated in 1997. It is one of 115 historical markers documented in Anderson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 229 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.7390, -95.5708 near Palestine. The nearest cataloged historic site is Swanson Cemetery (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Swanson Cemetery, Roselawn Park Cemetery, and Chambers Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5001008819. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.