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Texas State Railroad/ A Trip back in Time
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<blockquote data-quote="Bob Dylan" data-source="post: 970041" data-attributes="member: 2965"><p>PART III: Return to Palestine and Home</p><p></p><p>Before we Highballed for Palestine after the F-9 returned ( and sadly hooked up to our Platform although we could still see out the sides), we talked with the Conductor,( only 1, but there's also a Trainman and the Engineer who worked 30 years for SP and UP) who told us he works 6 days a week, just like Amtrak Conductors ( with Monday his day off) and that the Freight Trains on this Road run on Tues and Wednesday.</p><p></p><p>Once the Tourist trips start running only on Fri,Sat and Sunday , he will also have Thursdays off.</p><p></p><p>All of the switches on this Line ( 36 Miles) are hand thrown, so it's lots of work just like Railroading has always been!)</p><p></p><p>Due to cutting out the Dome Car,we left about 20 minutes late, but rolled right along faster than on the morning trip, skipped the Stop in Maydell and rolled into the Palestie Depot about 3:05PM,only 5 minutes Late!( that's how to Run a Railroad<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" alt="😉" title="Winking face :wink:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.6/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" data-shortname=":wink:" />)</p><p></p><p>I said Goodbye to the others on my Car, Thanked and Tipped Josey and headed for my Car ( which was still in the Shade), rolled out @ 310pm heading for Home!</p><p></p><p>Since I hadn't been through Bryan/ College Station in years, ( Home of Texas A& M University, aka "Aggieland") I decided to take I-45 to Madisonville, then State Highway 21 to Bastrop and US 71 into Austin.</p><p></p><p>I gassed up @ the Station West of town recommended by the Motel Desk Clerk, saved 40 cents a gallon over "Town Prices"( $3.32/Gal<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" alt="😊" title="Smiling face with smiling eyes :blush:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.6/png/unicode/64/1f60a.png" data-shortname=":blush:" />)</p><p></p><p>Rolled down 79 @ 70 through light traffic, took I-45 @ Buffalo ( Speed Limit 75!!) and rolled South in Light Traffic , mostly Trucks)</p><p></p><p>Reaching Madiosonville about an Hour later, I turned off on 21 which goes thru the Middle of this old Farming town, now a Mecca for Tourist and Retirees, which took about 20 minutes to get through before resuming 70mph Cruising.</p><p></p><p>Not lots of traffic on this Thursday evening so I soon was approaching the Outskirts of Bryan/College Station which have spread out into the Countryside in all Directions!</p><p></p><p>This country is mostly old Farming Areas with Cows and Horses, but Sanderson Farms, the Chicken Company, have built huge Feed Plants and Thousands of Chicken Houses all along the area East of the Twin Cities.</p><p></p><p>Arriving into Bryan, I was astound how much has changed , I didn't recognize much from the last time I was here over 10 years ago, and when I passed the Texas A&M Campus in College Station ( Named for the Old Depot long gone from when A& M was an All Male Miltary College with 2500 Stidents/ Now a60,000+ Coed Research University) I was astounded @ the Growth since I used to attended the Fire Teaining School and Instruct in the Summers when I was going to College and worked as a Firefighter)</p><p></p><p>Since the Traffic was so bad during Rush Hours, I rolled on towards Bastrop where I planned to stop and eat!</p><p></p><p>The Highway is now 4 Lanes and I made good time as I rolled across the Brazos River and reentered the typical Rolling Black Land Farms of Central Texas.</p><p></p><p>Coming into Bastrop, I passed the Lost Pines State Park where a terrible Fire 15 years ago burned down thousands of Acees of all types of Trees ,some several Hundred years Old!<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" alt="😢" title="Crying face :cry:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.6/png/unicode/64/1f622.png" data-shortname=":cry:" /> </p><p></p><p>They are slowly growing back after replanting but will take 50 years to Mature and resemble what used to be one of my favorite State Parks in Texas!</p><p></p><p> I stopped @ a Mickey D's, used the Facilities, ordered a Big Mac Combo( with Apple Slices instead of Fries!<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" alt="😁" title="Beaming face with smiling eyes :grin:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.6/png/unicode/64/1f601.png" data-shortname=":grin:" />)then loaded up anx headed to Austin using the Toll Road ( <img class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" alt="🤬" title="Face with symbols on mouth :face_with_symbols_over_mouth:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.6/png/unicode/64/1f92c.png" data-shortname=":face_with_symbols_over_mouth:" />) for the 23 Milrs to Austin because Highway 71 has become a Parking Lot due the Out of Control Growth in Central Texas!</p><p></p><p>I pulled into my Reserved Parking Place @ 7:45PM ,averaged 41 MPG for the 4 Hour Trip ( 242 Miles) tired but happy I made the trip!</p><p></p><p>Highly recommended that you ride this Train if you're in the Area! If not, ride one of the Tourist Trains close to you, as some singer says ".. It can cure the Soul,. can make it whole.." <img class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" alt="😊" title="Smiling face with smiling eyes :blush:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/6.6/png/unicode/64/1f60a.png" data-shortname=":blush:" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bob Dylan, post: 970041, member: 2965"] PART III: Return to Palestine and Home Before we Highballed for Palestine after the F-9 returned ( and sadly hooked up to our Platform although we could still see out the sides), we talked with the Conductor,( only 1, but there's also a Trainman and the Engineer who worked 30 years for SP and UP) who told us he works 6 days a week, just like Amtrak Conductors ( with Monday his day off) and that the Freight Trains on this Road run on Tues and Wednesday. Once the Tourist trips start running only on Fri,Sat and Sunday , he will also have Thursdays off. All of the switches on this Line ( 36 Miles) are hand thrown, so it's lots of work just like Railroading has always been!) Due to cutting out the Dome Car,we left about 20 minutes late, but rolled right along faster than on the morning trip, skipped the Stop in Maydell and rolled into the Palestie Depot about 3:05PM,only 5 minutes Late!( that's how to Run a Railroad😉) I said Goodbye to the others on my Car, Thanked and Tipped Josey and headed for my Car ( which was still in the Shade), rolled out @ 310pm heading for Home! Since I hadn't been through Bryan/ College Station in years, ( Home of Texas A& M University, aka "Aggieland") I decided to take I-45 to Madisonville, then State Highway 21 to Bastrop and US 71 into Austin. I gassed up @ the Station West of town recommended by the Motel Desk Clerk, saved 40 cents a gallon over "Town Prices"( $3.32/Gal😊) Rolled down 79 @ 70 through light traffic, took I-45 @ Buffalo ( Speed Limit 75!!) and rolled South in Light Traffic , mostly Trucks) Reaching Madiosonville about an Hour later, I turned off on 21 which goes thru the Middle of this old Farming town, now a Mecca for Tourist and Retirees, which took about 20 minutes to get through before resuming 70mph Cruising. Not lots of traffic on this Thursday evening so I soon was approaching the Outskirts of Bryan/College Station which have spread out into the Countryside in all Directions! This country is mostly old Farming Areas with Cows and Horses, but Sanderson Farms, the Chicken Company, have built huge Feed Plants and Thousands of Chicken Houses all along the area East of the Twin Cities. Arriving into Bryan, I was astound how much has changed , I didn't recognize much from the last time I was here over 10 years ago, and when I passed the Texas A&M Campus in College Station ( Named for the Old Depot long gone from when A& M was an All Male Miltary College with 2500 Stidents/ Now a60,000+ Coed Research University) I was astounded @ the Growth since I used to attended the Fire Teaining School and Instruct in the Summers when I was going to College and worked as a Firefighter) Since the Traffic was so bad during Rush Hours, I rolled on towards Bastrop where I planned to stop and eat! The Highway is now 4 Lanes and I made good time as I rolled across the Brazos River and reentered the typical Rolling Black Land Farms of Central Texas. Coming into Bastrop, I passed the Lost Pines State Park where a terrible Fire 15 years ago burned down thousands of Acees of all types of Trees ,some several Hundred years Old!😢 They are slowly growing back after replanting but will take 50 years to Mature and resemble what used to be one of my favorite State Parks in Texas! I stopped @ a Mickey D's, used the Facilities, ordered a Big Mac Combo( with Apple Slices instead of Fries!😁)then loaded up anx headed to Austin using the Toll Road ( 🤬) for the 23 Milrs to Austin because Highway 71 has become a Parking Lot due the Out of Control Growth in Central Texas! I pulled into my Reserved Parking Place @ 7:45PM ,averaged 41 MPG for the 4 Hour Trip ( 242 Miles) tired but happy I made the trip! Highly recommended that you ride this Train if you're in the Area! If not, ride one of the Tourist Trains close to you, as some singer says ".. It can cure the Soul,. can make it whole.." 😊 [/QUOTE]
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