Texas State Railroad

Texas State Railroad
Palestine, Texas (Anderson County) / Rusk, Texas (Rusk County)
Photo Credit: TEXScout / Texas Film Commission

Having been featured in over 30 big-screen movies, television series, special productions, documentaries, commercials and music, the Texas State Railroad is embedded in American moving picture culture. From the moment you step on-board one of the handsomely refurbished train cars, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a simpler, more leisurely time where the distractions of our modern world suddenly disappear. Breathe deep, enjoy a drink and relax as you lose yourself on a rail journey through Texas where history is just part of the journey.

Texas State Railroad

Films Featured

The Long Riders (1980)
- The 'James-Younger' gang terrorized the Midwestern United States in the years following the Civil War, stealing from banks and trains across multiple cities. In The Long Riders, the Texas State Railroad played the part of the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railway which the gang expertly robs by surrounding the locomotive on horseback, swinging from the side railings, and jumping across the train car roofs.
Gambler V: Playing for Keeps (TV Movie, 1994)
- The Texas State Railroad is used in the portrayal of a heist executed by the Wild Bunch, including Butch Cassidy (Scott Paulin), his girlfriend Etta Place (Mariska Hargitay), the Sundance Kid (Brett Cullen), and Jeremiah Hawkes (Kris Kamm). Etta goes into the bathroom to light a fuse with a cigar which blows up and detaches the train car, and Jeremiah steals a wad of money. However, his father Brady Hawkes (Kenny Rogers) is right on their tail.
Streets of Laredo (TV Mini-Series, 1995)
- Captain Woodrow F. Call (James Garner), a veteran of the wild west, is called upon to hunt down the railroad bandit Joey Garza (Alexis Cruz), a notorious sharpshooter who is just a young boy. In the opening shots of Streets of Laredo, Joey makes his deadly introduction when he expertly attacks the Texas State Railroad with his long range Swiss rifle and takes out a group of men, all with a calm and devilish demeanor.
Rough Riders (TV Mini-Series, 1997)
- During the Spanish-American War, a volunteer regiment started to gather in preparation of battle and the men came from all walks of life. The Texas State Railroad was used to depict the Sante Fe Phoenix line picking up volunteers in Arizona, which headed to San Antonio where they meet volunteers from New Mexico.
American Outlaws (2001)
- After the 'James-Younger' gang disbands, Jesse (Colin Farrell) marries a girl named Zee (Ali Larter) and attempts to start a new life, but a secret service organizer named Allan Pinkerton (Timothy Dalton) finds and arrests him. During the train ride to the jail, Jesse is chained in a rear car. He tricks one of the guards into showing his gun, which Jesse uses to escape to the top of the train car. Meanwhile, Zee and the remainder of the Gang shoot a cannon at the locomotive, stopping the train and rescuing Jesse.