When I last left you I was shooting pictures of the train in Rusk. Here is another angle.
Texas State Railroad 2-8-0 300. The train then pulled the consist onto one leg of the Rusk wye where the engine would cut off to be turned on the wye then taken to the shop.
The 300 backed around another leg of the wye.
The 300 at the switch at the shop end of the wye.
The 300 pulled forward to clear the switch to the shops.
The 300 then backed into the Rusk shop complex to be serviced for the return trip to Palestine later this afternoon. By this time, I was hungry, so I walked backed to the Rusk station looking for something to eat.
For lunch I went to Eilenberger's, which is baggage car, for a hot dog, chips and a coke for my birthday lunch.
The food is sold in this baggage car in Rusk.
A view of the Rusk Station.
A close up of the food car.
I photographed the semaphore in front of the station and then took my food down to Cherokee Lake to eat it (the food, not the lake).
Views of Cherokee Lake west of the Rusk Station.
After lunch and the enjoyment of the lake, I returned to be in position to photograph the steam engine returning to our train for the trip back to Palestine.
The 300 returned to the point of our train.
Then the train then returned to the station.
The train was now ready for boarding and I took a seat in Coach 43 and was ready to relax and enjoy the ride back to Palestine. The train left Rusk on time and we were a trainload of very happy passengers.
The kids had fun the whole trip in Coach 43.
Inside Coach 43.
Inside of Coach 42
Inside of Coach 45.
Back inside of my car, Coach 43.
The Maydelle Station.
One of the trainmen who loves to tell stories.
We crossed the Neches River.
Our train passed the other train at Mewshaw as it headed back to Rusk.
We ran through low-lying flooded land.
The train passed through the miles of forests.
Passengers still enjoying their trip aboard the Texas State Railroad. We arrived back to the Palestine station on time and I detrained for some additional pictures.
Our train in front of the Palestine Station.
The engine was cut off so the engine could take on water.
A view from the field to the south of the tracks.
The front of the 300 close up. I used the restroom and bought a few post cards as the engine was then wyed.
The engine has been turned.
The 300 then backed into the Palestine engine house.
Texas State Railroad 8 then put the train away on a fenced-in track adjacent to the shops. This ends my coverage of the unique and wonderful Texas State Railroad.
Next, New Years Eve in Dallas on DART and the trip home.
