What officials believe will be a slow recovery began in early March with the restart of service on the Texas State Railroad. Ridership the first three weeks, normally one of the busiest times of the year during spring break, was noticeably lower.

TSR began running a single train from Rusk to Palestine as promised by Iowa Pacific Holdings on March 4. Piney Wood Excursions on the vintage tourist railroad ran only partially full.

General Manager Greg Udolph said the effects of an unauthorized press release distributed by the former marketing manager in late December, stating that the railroad had been closed and many of its employees fired, hasn’t helped. IPH refuted the release and said the railroad was taking two months off before resuming service in March. The layoffs were seasonal, the company said.

“There’s been so much bad press,” Udolph said. “I wouldn’t say (ridership) was significantly down, but I don’t have numbers now. Usually during spring break, we have pretty good trains, but they’re running kind of empty now.”

UPDATED
Times are good for model railroad enthusiasts in Denver. An old friend returned last weekend, and a spring ritual at the Denver Mart is back today and Sunday.

This weekend marks the return of the Rocky Mountain Train Show, the seventh installment of a local offering that has gone national. Model railroad manufacturers will debut products, and local and regional clubs will display operating model railroads.

RMTS Executive Director Jim Marski says the show has become a comprehensive introduction to the hobby while maintaining appeal for hardcore model railroaders. It started as a local swap meet in 1976.

“Our future requires us to create new hobbyists, most of whom are youngsters and families that haven’t had much exposure to the hobby,” he said. “Our show is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate all the aspects of the hobby and encourage their interest. It’s also a place where model railroaders of all levels can see the latest products and techniques and hone their skills.”

Super Bowl LI in Houston marked the first time that the National Football League champion was determined in overtime. The city’s light-rail line went the extra distance as well.

METRORAIL broke ridership records over the extended Super Bowl LI celebration. More than 700,000 boardings during the nine-day period were tallied on METRORail and METRO special shuttle buses, according to the transit agency.

Four of the five highest single-day ridership totals in METRORail’s history occurred Wednesday, Feb. 1, through Saturday, Feb. 4. Approximately 109,500 Saturday boardings set a new one-day rail record.

“The feedback we have received has been tremendous,” said METRO Board Chair Carrin Patman. “So many have called and messaged about their positive experiences using METRO over these past several days.”

UPDATED February 16, 2017
By TIM BLACKWELL, Cowcatcher Magazine
With the start of its spring schedule just weeks away, the Texas State Railroad’s fate remains in limbo. But some light appears at the end of the tunnel.

Holding true to its promise, operator Iowa Pacific Holdings is bringing back employees and says it will restart service in early March. On Wednesday, reports following the Texas State Railroad Authority’s weekly meeting surfaced that as many as 14 employees had been rehired and trains could begin rolling on March 4. Other employees are expected back.

The railroad made headlines in late December when IPH laid off several employees. Initial reports said the railroad had closed, but IPH quickly said that was untrue and that the layoffs and shutdown were seasonal.

While TSRA officials said the events hinted of something more significant, IPH reassured that the railroad would be back in action for the spring season. IPH CEO Ed Ellis said Tuesday that operations would return on a regular schedule.