Spooky Special — Texas State Railroad

The Texas State Railroad calls its Spooky Special an adult-only Halloween costume party on the rails. The train boards at the Palestine, Texas, rail depot and runs to the Rusk, Texas, depot. On board, passengers enjoy appetizers and a complimentary champagne or cider toast.

At Rusk, passengers get off and, as the operator puts it, under the howling moon eat a catered dinner and dessert on the depot grounds and dance to a DJ playing spooky tunes. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are on sale on the train and at the depot. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes, with attention to the size and space constraints of train travel, and there are several categories of costume contest.

It is a round-trip excursion of about five hours including the time on the Rusk grounds. The operator states plainly that it is not a steam event. Several seating options are sold, from First Class booths and a Dome car to Presidential cars and a private caboose for up to eight people.

Boarding at the Palestine depot, appetizers and a champagne or cider toast on the way to Rusk, then dinner, dessert and dancing to a DJ on the Rusk depot grounds, costume contests, and the trip back. About five hours in all. Adults only; not a steam event.

Boards at the Palestine, Texas, rail depot. This is an adult-only round trip. Included are the champagne or cider toast, appetizers, and a dinner and dessert with iced tea or water at the Rusk depot; other drinks are for sale. A per-ticket historical preservation fee is added at checkout. An ADA-compliant car is available but must be booked through the reservations desk at 855-632-7729. Seating options include the Caboose, Presidential Car 1511, Presidential Car 42 (couches or table), the Dome and First Class; the Caboose and some cars are not ADA compliant.