Texas State RR 2019 #20

Texas State Railroad turntable "mule" drive system near the Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot, Palestine, Anderson County, Texas, USA.

Engine 'turntable' of the Texas State Railroad located in Maydelle, TX. The Texas State Railroad, a Texas Prison System line established in 1881 in support of the Texas Penitentiary prison operated iron smelting plant in Rusk, TX, was constructed by prison crews through its final completion to Palestine, TX in 1909. The line supported the operation through 1913 when the prison was converted to a Mental Hospital. Regular service was discontinued in 1921 and the line was leased to various railways through 1969. In 1972 the line was conveyed to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept when prison labor was again utilized in the creation of the historic State Park that exists today providing regular service for tourist passengers, including the annual "Polar Express" train rides in November and December of each year.
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