Stockyards Trinity River Excursion in Fort Worth, Texas
Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesRuns on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad's posted schedule; check dates before you go
The Stockyards Trinity River Excursion is a short vintage train ride run by the Grapevine Vintage Railroad from the Historic Stockyards Station in Fort Worth, crossing the West Fork of the Trinity River and rolling through Trinity Park in 1920s-era coaches.
- About 45 minutes round trip
- Authentic 1920s-era coaches
- Crosses the Trinity River
- Departs Historic Stockyards Station
- Run by Grapevine Vintage Railroad
Stockyards Trinity River Excursion at a glance
- Hours
- Runs on a posted schedule; check the Grapevine Vintage Railroad for dates and times
- Admission
- Ticket prices are posted by the Grapevine Vintage Railroad; check before you go
- Train rides
- About 45-minute round trip in 1920s-era coaches from Historic Stockyards Station; dates and fares on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad site
- Plan for
- About 45 minutes for the ride, longer with the Stockyards
- Best for
- Families with small children and first-time train riders
- Best ages
- Toddlers and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Stockyards Trinity River Excursion? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Fort Worth.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Cattle, rails and the making of Cowtown
Fort Worth earned the name Cowtown long before any tourist train ran here. Between 1866 and 1890, drovers moving cattle up the Chisholm Trail stopped in Fort Worth for rest and supplies, and more than four million head passed through. When the railroad reached the city in 1876, Fort Worth became a major livestock shipping point, and in 1887 the city built the Union Stockyards two and a half miles north of the Tarrant County Courthouse.
The yards nearly failed for lack of money, until a stroke of luck. Boston investor Greenleif Simpson arrived to find the pens packed with cattle, not knowing that heavy rains and a railroad strike had filled them. On April 27, 1893 he bought the Union Stockyards and renamed it the Fort Worth Stockyards Company. By about 1900 he and his partners had persuaded Armour & Co. and Swift & Co. to build packing plants nearby, after a coin toss settled which company got which tract.
In 1902 work began on the pens, barns and the Livestock Exchange Building, which held commission companies, telegraph offices and railroad offices and came to be called the Wall Street of the West. The rails that made all of that possible now carry passengers: the Grapevine Vintage Railroad runs its Stockyards Trinity River Excursion from the Historic Stockyards Station, giving families a short ride through the river valley that shaped the city. The Stockyards Preservation Foundation and the Fort Worth Stockyards Business Association help keep the historic district's story in front of visitors.
From Stockyards Station across the river and back
The excursion boards at the Historic Stockyards Station, 140 East Exchange Avenue. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad describes a 45-minute trip in authentic 1920s-era coaches: the train crosses the West Fork of the Trinity River, passes Montgomery Plaza and travels through Trinity Park before returning to the Stockyards. One ticket listing describes a slightly longer version of about an hour that crosses both channels of the Trinity and pauses briefly in the historic rail yard at 8th Avenue, so check which version is running on your date.
The railroad notes that entertainment on board changes through the season. Because the train starts and ends in the Stockyards National Historic District, you can pair the ride with the district's twice daily Fort Worth Herd cattle drive, the Texas Trail of Fame and the historical walking tours, all within walking distance of the station.
Don’t miss
- The Trinity River crossingThe train crosses the West Fork of the Trinity River, the highlight for kids watching out the window.
- The 1920s-era coachesThe Grapevine Vintage Railroad carries riders in authentic coaches from the 1920s, so the car itself is part of the history.
- Historic Stockyards StationThe ride begins and ends in the heart of the Stockyards, a short walk from East Exchange Avenue.
- Trinity ParkThe route runs through the park before turning back, a green stretch in the middle of the city.
- The Fort Worth Herd cattle driveLonghorns walk through the district every day at 11:30 am and 4 pm, an easy add-on before or after the train.
Sized for little riders
The Stockyards listing calls this ride perfect for families with small children or anyone who simply wants the experience of riding a train, and at about 45 minutes it ends before young passengers lose interest. Crossing the river and rolling through the park gives kids plenty to point at, and the on-board entertainment varies through the season.
Plan the rest of the outing around the Stockyards: the Fort Worth Herd cattle drive at 11:30 am and 4 pm is free to watch from the sidewalk and a big hit with children who have never seen longhorns up close.
Plan your visit: tips for Stockyards Trinity River Excursion
- Meet the train at Historic Stockyards Station, 140 E. Exchange Ave.: it does not depart from Grapevine's Cotton Belt Depot.
- Time your visit with the Fort Worth Herd cattle drive at 11:30 am or 4 pm.
- Coming from Dallas, ride TRE to Fort Worth Central Station and take Trinity Metro's Orange Line north to the Stockyards.
- TEXRail riders can use North Side Station and a short Orange Line bus ride; a $4 local day pass covers the bus.
Who runs the train and the district
The excursion is operated by the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, which sells tickets and posts the schedule. The Fort Worth Stockyards Business Association and the Stockyards Preservation Foundation look after the historic district around the station, and buying a ticket for the ride or for district events is the most direct way to support both.
More trains around Dallas and Fort Worth
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad's home base is about 19 miles away, alongside the Grapevine Cotton Belt Railroad Historic District. In Dallas, about 32 miles east, the M-Line Trolley runs vintage streetcars. See every train museum in Texas for more.
- Texas & Pacific Railway DepotFort Worth, TX · about 4 mi
- Grapevine Vintage RailroadGrapevine, TX · about 19 mi
- Grapevine Cotton Belt Railroad Historic DistrictGrapevine, TX · about 19 mi
- McKinney Avenue Transit Authority / M-Line TrolleyDallas, TX · about 32 mi
- Dallas Railway & Terminal Museum historic collectionDallas area, TX · about 37 mi
- Museum of the American RailroadFrisco, TX · about 38 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Old coaches like the 1920s cars on this ride sit high above the platform, and that always makes me think of Rally. In our book his short corgi legs cannot manage the big train stairs, so Dad scoops him up and gives him a boost. Little kids climbing aboard here might need the same kind of lift from a grown-up. If yours are just starting to read, our list of train books for toddlers pairs well with a first ride.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Texas: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Texas
- Halloween train rides in Texas
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Stockyards Trinity River Excursion?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Stockyards Trinity River train: 20 questions families ask
What is the Fort Worth Stockyards Trinity River train?
It is the Stockyards Trinity River Excursion, a short train ride run by the Grapevine Vintage Railroad from the Historic Stockyards Station in Fort Worth. The train crosses the West Fork of the Trinity River, passes Montgomery Plaza and travels through Trinity Park before returning to the Stockyards.
Where does the Stockyards Trinity River Excursion depart?
The train departs from the Historic Stockyards Station at 140 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76164, and returns there at the end of the ride. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad stresses that this excursion does not leave from Grapevine's Cotton Belt Depot, so go to the Stockyards.
How long is the Stockyards Trinity River train ride?
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad and the Stockyards both describe it as a 45-minute excursion. One ticket listing calls it about an hour, with a crossing of both channels of the Trinity River and a brief stop in the historic rail yard at 8th Avenue, so check the details for your date.
How much are tickets for the Stockyards Trinity River Excursion?
Fares are set and posted by the Grapevine Vintage Railroad on its Trinity River Train Excursion schedule and pricing page, and tickets are sold through the Grapevine ticket line. Prices can change by season, so check there before you go.
When does the Stockyards Trinity River train run?
The excursion follows a schedule posted by the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, which notes that shows and entertainment vary throughout the season. Departure days and times change, so check the railroad's schedule page before planning your Stockyards visit.
Is the Stockyards Trinity River train good for toddlers?
Yes. The Fort Worth Stockyards listing describes the ride as perfect for families with small children and for anyone who simply wants the experience of riding on a train. At about 45 minutes, it is short enough for young kids, and the river crossing gives them something to watch.
What kind of train cars does the Trinity River Excursion use?
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad carries passengers in authentic 1920s-era coaches. Riding in a vintage car is part of the appeal, especially for kids and grandparents who want to experience how train travel felt a century ago.
What will we see on the Stockyards Trinity River train?
The route crosses the West Fork of the Trinity River, passes Montgomery Plaza and runs through Trinity Park before heading back to the Stockyards. On some versions of the trip, the train also pauses briefly in the historic rail yard at 8th Avenue.
Is there entertainment on the Stockyards Trinity River train?
Yes, on some trips. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad says riders can enjoy laughs and adventures on the train, and that shows vary throughout the season. Check the excursion page for what is planned on the date you choose.
Who operates the Fort Worth Stockyards train ride?
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad operates the Stockyards Trinity River Excursion. Its main base is in Historic Grapevine, about 19 miles away, but this particular trip starts and ends at the Historic Stockyards Station in Fort Worth.
How do I get to the Stockyards train by public transit?
From Dallas, take the Trinity Railway Express to Fort Worth Central Station and board Trinity Metro's Orange Line bus north to the Stockyards. As of October 2026, a regional day pass is $12 and a Tarrant County local pass is $4, with the rail to bus transfer included. Trinity Metro can help at 817-215-8600.
Can I take TEXRail to the Fort Worth Stockyards?
Yes. TEXRail's North Side Station is at 2829 Decatur Ave., just off NE 28th Street. From there a short ride on Trinity Metro's Orange Line bus brings you to the N. Main Street and Exchange Avenue stop at the Stockyards. As of October 2026, a $4 local day pass covers the bus fare.
How do I drive to the Fort Worth Stockyards train?
From Dallas, the Stockyards site suggests I-30 west to US-287 north, then TX-280 Spur, 6th Street and Commerce, which becomes Main Street. Continue north on Main and turn right on East Exchange Avenue. From either airport, the route uses I-820 and I-35W to exit 54A at NE 28th Street.
What else can kids do at the Fort Worth Stockyards?
The Fort Worth Herd cattle drive runs every day at 11:30 am and 4 pm, and the station is within walking distance of the Texas Trail of Fame and the historical walking tours. Cowtown Coliseum, home of the first indoor rodeo, hosts the Stockyards Championship Rodeo.
Why is Fort Worth called Cowtown?
Between 1866 and 1890, drovers trailed more than four million head of cattle through Fort Worth on the Chisholm Trail, and the city became known as Cowtown. When the railroad arrived in 1876, Fort Worth turned into a major livestock shipping point, which led to the Union Stockyards in 1887.
What was the Livestock Exchange Building?
Built starting in 1902, the Livestock Exchange Building housed livestock commission companies, telegraph offices, railroad offices and other support businesses for the Stockyards. It became known as the Wall Street of the West and still anchors the historic district near the train station.
Does the Stockyards Trinity River train run at Christmas?
A Christmas version of the Stockyards Trinity River Excursion is not advertised. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad posts its seasonal trips on its schedule and pricing pages, so check there in the fall for any holiday rides from Fort Worth or Grapevine.
Is the Stockyards Trinity River train wheelchair accessible?
The railroad does not post detailed accessibility information online. Vintage 1920s coaches can have steps at the doors, so contact the Grapevine Vintage Railroad through its website before you buy tickets to ask about boarding help and space for wheelchairs or strollers.
Is the Stockyards Trinity River train the same as the Grapevine Vintage Railroad?
It is one of the Grapevine Vintage Railroad's excursions. Most of the railroad's trips leave from Grapevine's Cotton Belt Depot, but the Stockyards Trinity River Excursion leaves from Fort Worth's Historic Stockyards Station instead. Book through the railroad and choose the Stockyards trip.
What train museums are near the Fort Worth Stockyards?
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad and the Grapevine Cotton Belt Railroad Historic District are about 19 miles away. In Dallas, about 32 miles east, the M-Line Trolley runs vintage streetcars, and the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco is about 38 miles from the Stockyards.
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