Traveling History Along
the Red River Rails
Nothing beats train travel. Even though getting to your destination takes longer than a car or a plane, it is still a
much more enjoyable way to journey across the great wide open. Following is a list of places where you can
experience the rails for yourself. Get to know the history of the Red River Rails by clicking on the link!
Grapevine Vintage Railroad
  • Offers diesel or steam powered excursion trains
    from Grapevine to Fort Worth Stockyards and back
  • Shorter excursion through Stockyards and Trinity
    River Valley
  • Depots located in downtown Grapevine and in Fort
    Worth Stockyards
  • $18-20 per adult; $10 per child
  • http://www.gvrr.com

The passenger compartments are both open air carriages
and plush interior cars. During Christmas, the cars are
decorated. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad, in conjuction
with the Museum of the American Railroad, hosts Thomas
the Tank Engine Days every Spring.
Museum of the American Railroad
  • 1105 N. Washington Street, east end of Fair Park,
    Dallas, TX; 214-428-0101
  • Admission charged; free parking (except during
    State Fair); Wed-Sun 10am-5pm
  • Displays include old depot, tower, electric, diesel,
    and steam locomotives; Union Pacific’s “Big Boy,”
    Jim Crow car; Pullman cars; steam calliope
  • http://www.dallasrailwaymuseum.com

This museum holds some great rolling stock. The entire
museum will soon move to Frisco, Texas, to anchor that
town's historic district.
Wichita Falls Railroad Museum
  • 500 9th Street, east end of 9th Street,
    Wichita Falls, Texas; 940-723-2661
  • Admission charged; free parking; Tues-
    Sat 12pm – 4pm
  • Displays include diesel and steam
    locomotives; freight and passenger
    stock; post office car; troop car; model
    railroad.
  • http://wfrrm.com

The building in this photo sits behind the
railroad museum.
Red River Railroad Museum
  • 101 East Main Street, Ste 120, Denison, Texas; 903-463-
    KATY
  • Open Friday & Saturday 11am - 6pm and Sunday 1pm-
    4pm
  • Admission charged (?); free parking
  • Displays include ephemera, photos, equipment, some
    rolling stock. Museum is housed in a KATY office
    building. Across the tracks is the picturesque Traveler’s
    Hotel.
  • http://www.redriverrailmuseum.org

This museum recently reopened after renovating. It has an
active volunteer base with many knowledgeable people,
including Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad retirees.
Hugo Railroad Museum, Hugo, Oklahoma
  • 309 North B Street, Hugo, Oklahoma; 405-
    326-6630
  • Free admission; free parking; Tues-Fri 9a-
    3pm; Sat 9am-5pm
  • Displays include memorabilia, photos, maps,
    signs, rolling stock, housed in original 1914
    Frisco Depot; next door is an original Harvey
    House Restaurant (in business).

The vintage toilets inside this old Frisco depot are
worth the visit, as you can see from the photo
above!
Interurban Museum, Plano, Texas
  • 901 E 15th Street next to DART line in
    downtown Plano, Texas; 972-941-2117
  • Free admission; free parking; Mon-Fri 10am-
    2pm; Sat 1pm- 5pm
  • Displays include interactive exhibits, photos,
    and original Texas Electric Company car.
    Museum is housed inside the original Texas
    Electric Railway power station.
  • Website

This museum tells the story of the Interurban, a
passenger rail line that linked Denison to Dallas and
other places from 1901 to 1948.
A great excursion is the Heartland Flyer, an
Amtrak train that takes you from Oklahoma City
to Fort Worth and back. Click to learn more
about my trip aboard the Heartland Flyer!