If only all of my trips were this easy. I slept until noon and then made a leisurely 2-hour drive up to Rusk, watched #300 arrive with the afternoon train, got a shop tour, and then went to the hotel for a nap before the night photo shoot.

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday!

Day I

#300 brings in the afternoon train from Palestine

West leg of the Rusk Wye

West leg of the Rusk Wye

East leg of the Rusk Wye

#201 in the Engine House

Retired TSR Railroader Roger Graham leads the Shop Tour

TSR GM David Shranck

#400 is slated to be running late next year.

#400 is a 1917 Baldwin 2-8-2. She operated on the Tremont & Gulf and the

Magma Copper Mine until the late 1960's. She came to the Texas State in 1978.

#400's builder plate

#500... sort of...

#201 in the Rusk Engine House

#8 is a 1953 Alco

The NARCOA Parade arrives in Rusk

Woo Hoo! "Rio Grande!"

#7 is a 1947 Alco

After the shop tour, the group broke for a dinner break. I got some chow from Pizza Hut and checked in at the Weston Inn & Suites for a nap before the night shoot.

Part I of the night photo shoot was at the Rusk Depot. #300 is former U.S. Army #'s 396, 645, and 2.

She's a 1917 product of Baldwin Locomotive Works and arrived on TSR rails in 1976.

I believe this was called a

Steal Wool Effect. It was pointless, but kinda pretty.

There was a "Super-moon" this night. The moon was at perigee, it's closest point to Earth all year.

Part II of the evening was conducted with #201 inside the Rusk Engine House.

The Inspection Pit light was cool!

#300 under a very full moon

TSR #7

This was my first attempt at "painting." I had no plan to do this, just used a pin light and swept it across a few times. Voila!

Day II

Day II started at 0700. I grabbed a quick bite at the new McNasty's near the hotel. But, it turns out that I didn't need to. The TSR was gracious enough to have breakfast waiting on the train. The coffee was quite good and served by a smiling, accommodating wait staff. It was very reminiscent of the professionalism and pampering one would expect on the Durango & Silverton. TSR is REALLY stepping it up!

Video Compilation from Day II

Preparing for departure from the Rusk Depot

Bean's Creek - MP 2.7

Extra "GM" East

Our train backed up for the run-by and didn't return for quite a while. With no radio, GM Dave Schranck took off on foot to find it. Never heard what the trouble was.

Bean's Creek - MP 2.7

Bean's Creek - MP 2.7

Mr. Schranck was kind enough to offer Brian Jansky and I a ride in Caboose 129 to the next stop.

NGDF regular, Aggie, and Texan,

Brian Jansky.

Stow-away

"Hobo-fly"

East leg of the Jarvis Wye - MP 17.5

Much to my surprise, the infamous Nathan Holmes (DRGW.net) happened to be in the area for work-related reasons and was able attend the TSR RailFest.

Engineer Robert

Rail rolled in 1916

Dean Wright MP 23.5

Dean Wright MP 23.5

Run #1

Dean Wright MP 23.5 - Run #2

Dean Wright MP 23.5

Run #3

T&P #610 - 1927 Lima 2-10-4

#300 pushed #610 back into the Palestine Engine House

Extra 300 East ready for departure at the Palestine Depot

Neches River - MP 14

Neches River - MP 14

Run #1

Neches River - MP 14

Run #2

Neches River - MP 14

Run #3

Mewshaw Siding - MP 11.6

GM Dave Schrank chats with guests

Maydelle Yard Limit

Maydelle Yard - Maydelle, TX - MP 7.3

Maydelle Depot

The TSR's new $500K Tamper

Maydelle Turntable

Maydelle Turntable

East end of Maydelle Yard

Turntable Lead

Looking over the east leg of the Rusk Wye at #300 on the west leg

Backing through the east

 leg of the Rusk Wye

As soon as #300 was out of sight, I packed my gear and began the hike back to the truck. John Price

(TSR Society President) stopped me for a quick chat about the up-coming Memorial Day events and then I highballed home to Spring. All-in-all it was a fun, relaxing, and productive weekend!