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. Update: The
museum closed its Fair Park operations in 2011 and expects to open in
Frisco in 2012.
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
  • 309 North B Street, Hugo, Oklahoma; 405-326-6630
  • Free admission; free parking; Tues-Fri 9am-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 Museum does not showcase much in the way of rolling stock, but the
depot is gorgeous.
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 (or vica versa ) and back.

Denison is THE railroad town of the Red River Valley. Read up on Denison's amazing history here!
Ennis Railroad and Cultural Museum
  • 105 Northeast Main Street, Ennis, Texas; 972-875-1901
  • Open Monday - Saturday 10 am to 4 pm  and Sunday 1pm-4pm
  • Admission charged; free parking
  • Displays include model layout, clothing, whistles, china, and
    ephemera. The museum is located inside and old restaurant on the
    site of the original depot.
  • http://www.visitennis.org/Visiting_Ennis/Points_of_Interest.html

The museum is run by volunteers and is well appointed. A short film about
Ennis' history offers good perspectives.
Caprock Canyon State Park Trail & Clarity Tunnel
  • Statepark is north of Quitaque (Kitty-Kway), Texas: follow signs.
  • Trail heads are at Quitaque (longer ride/hike) or south of town on FM
    689 (shorter ride/ hike)
  • Follow trail south to Clarity Tunnel (11 miles from Quitaque)
  • $4 per person; free parking; everyday; overnight camping
  • Clarity Tunnel is the only surviving railroad tunnel in Texas. Bats nest
    inside, but it's accessible via the trail.
  • http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/caprock-canyons

The caprock offers gorgeous scenry. Make sure to bring water and food on
the trail. The trail used to be the Fort Worth Denver City Railway.