Frequently Asked Questions

The Cotton Belt Route is a one-and-a-half-hour train ride from the Grapevine Depot on Main Street to the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. This excursion travels along the old Cotton Belt Route through six of Tarrant County's cities and offers views of our beautiful metroplex cityscape and some of our industrial areas. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. and departure is at 12:50 p.m. The train arrives at the Stockyards at about 2:30 p.m. (approximate, subject to delays). For the return trip to Grapevine, boarding starts at 4:35 p.m. following the Legends of Texas Gun Battle, leaves promptly at 4:45 p.m. and returns to Grapevine around 7:15 p.m. (approximate time and subject to delays). 

The Trinity River Train Excursion is a 45-minute excursion that leaves from the Historic Stockyard Station and goes to Trinity Park in Fort Worth and back. Boarding begins in the Fort Worth Stockyards at  2:45 p.m., departs at  3 p.m. and returns at approximately 3:45 p.m. During the trip, the train crosses the Trinity River, passes Henderson St. Bazaar, Montgomery Plaza, the Will Rogers Memorial Arena and Tower, and stops in Trinity Park before returning to the Stockyards. PLEASE NOTE: Due to excessive freight train traffic along the Cotton Belt Route, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad's Trinity River Train Excursion originating in the Fort Worth Stockyards will operate on a day-to-day basis, and is subject to cancellation.

Formerly known as the Tahwahkarro Creek Train Excursion, the Grapevine Bear Creek Shortline is a one hour excursion that leaves from the Grapevine Depot and returns to the Grapevine Depot.  This particular excursion travels west along the old Cotton Belt Route to North Richland Hills and passes through four Tarrant County cities. After a brief pause, at the mid-point of the journey, the train returns to Grapevine. Check-in begins 90 minutes before departure time. Please check the current schedule for availability. Rail traffic may cause unavoidable delays.

The train operates most Saturdays and Sundays from mid-February through mid-November. During the summer months the train operates  Fridays as well. The train operates most major holidays including Memorial Day weekend (May) and Labor Day (September). Special events as well as rail construction or maintenance may alter this schedule, please check the current schedule for availability.

705 S. Main St. Grapevine Texas 76051

Grapevine Vintage Railroad owns and operates four locomotives. The 1953 GP7 diesel locomotive, "Vinny," and two 1960 FL9 EDM locomotives are used for the regularly scheduled weekly excursions. Our 1896 Steam Locomotive #2248 “Puffy," is currently undergoing some restoration work and will be returning to service soon.

The Grapevine Bear Creek Shortline or the Trinity River Train Excursion are short round-trip rides and are a great option for infants and young children.

Use of cell phone devices and/or wifi is allowed while the train is in operation or motion. You are not required to put a phone in "airplane" mode. However, for safety purposes, two-way radio communication devices that can receive or transmit via open radio frequency channels are not permitted on the train. Use of such devices during a train excursion or while the train is in operation may result in removal from the train. The train does not have a Wi-Fi connection.

In Grapevine, boarding begins 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Please be aware that once the train starts moving, it cannot stop for late passengers. All passengers should be on board at least 10 minutes before departure. Ticket sales stop 10 minutes before the train departs.

Boarding takes place on the east side of Main Street at the historic train depot. Please listen to instructions from train staff or follow signage on how to properly board the train.

FREE parking is available at the following locations:

• 705 S. Main St. (Cotton Belt Depot)
• 636 S. Main St. (Behind the Grapevine Visitors Information Center)
• 702 S. Main St. (the old Master Made Feed Store parking lot)
• 410 W. Dallas Rd. (Next to Lone Star Hi-Railers locomotive)
• 307 W. Dallas Rd. (Behind former Grapevine Police Station)

Yes, it is an easy walk to all the shopping and restaurants in Grapevine's Historic Main Street District.

You will need to check in at the Depot or our ticket office in the Stockyards (for the Trinity River Excursion). We will have boarding passes with coach and seating assignments ready for you. For the Trinity River Excursion, if the train is in the buildiing, please look for our conductor who will be near our ticketing office--there is no need to wait in the long line if you pre-ordered your tickets, but you will need to check in.

For our Cotton Belt Route, Guests choose their seats at the time of ticket purchase.  On our Bear Creek and Trinity River excursions, our ticketing team will assign you to specific coaches and seats. f you are traveling with a group (with separate reservations) that wishes to be seated together, please call us at +1.817.410.3185. All seating is bench style with two (2) passengers per bench. The bench size in First class is 36” wide and 18” deep, in Touring class the bench size is 41” wide and 15 ½” deep.

The First Class coaches include air conditioning and Victorian-inspired, upholstered seating (bench seat size in First Class is 36” wide and 18” deep). Touring class coach includes air conditioning and leather padded bench-style seats with floor-to-ceiling windows (bench seat size in Touring class is 41” wide and 15 ½” deep). Economy class coach provides open-air travel during the summer months with leather padded bench-style seats (bench seat size in Economy class is 41” wide and 15 ½” deep). Although there are ceiling fans, the economy coach is not air-conditioned. During the winter months, this coach is enclosed with non-opening glass windows. All coaches are heated during the winter months.

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad makes every attempt to adhere to the posted schedules. However, Grapevine Vintage Railroad cannot guarantee arrival times due to sharing rails with TEXRail, Freight Trains and Amtrak. Delays or cancellations may also occur due to emergency track maintenance. The GVRR is considered an excursion train and is essentially a guest on the tracks and other railroads get higher priority with the dispatchers. Grapevine Vintage Railroad does not offer refunds or compensation due to delays. On rare occasions, delays can be an hour or longer. Refunds will be given due to cancellation.

Tickets are non-refundable. If you missed the train, please call +1.817.410.3185 to reschedule for a different day based on availability. Refunds and reschedules are not offered if you miss the return trip from Fort Worth at 4:45 p.m.

Military discounts are available to our armed service men and women and their families. Please call +1.817.410.3185 to reserve tickets with a military discount.

The ticket office is located inside the Cotton Belt Depot and is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Depot will also be open Fridays, June through mid-August, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased in advance online at www.gvrr.com up until midnight the night before the trip or by phone at +1.817.410.3185 (between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.). Tickets may only be purchased in person at the station on the day of the trip. We cannot hold tickets by phone or online on the day of departure.

The Stockyard Ticket office is located inside the Stockyards Station near the center of the building by the train tracks. The address is: 140 E. Exchange Ave, Fort Worth 76164.

The ticket booth opens at 1 p.m. and tickets are sold until 2:55 p.m. (Approximately 5 minutes before the train departs.)

Twelve or more people in a party qualify for the group rate only on the 1:20 p.m. excursion. Groups must be booked in advanced and cannot be sold as walk-ups to receive the "Group Rate". Please call +1.817.410.3579 for more information about group rates, or to make a reservation.

Yes, gift certificates are available. To purchase, please contact Brian Gentry at +1.817.410.3579 or email at BGentry@grapevinetexasusa.com

Passengers will have approximately two hours to explore the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Yes, the Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive takes place 7 days a week at 4 p.m. weather permitting. The train will begin boarding at 4:05 p.m. following the cattle drive allowing time for passengers returning to Grapevine to watch before the train departs.

The train departs promptly at 4:45 p.m. We cannot hold the train for anyone and the train cannot stop once it begins moving. Please make sure you are back on board by 4:40 p.m. right after the cattle drive concludes.

Guests can park in any marked public parking lot in the Stockyards area. Parking fees are set by the lot owner or business and are not controlled by the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. Parking fees vary in price depending on the day of the week as well as special events going on in the area, however, most lots are typically $10 to $15 for weekend parking. Please note that the Grapevine Vintage Railroad does not offer compensation or refunds for Stockyards parking fees should a train excursion suddenly cancel.

Boarding begins in the Fort Worth Stockyards at  2:45 p.m., departs at  3 p.m. and returns at approximately 3:45 p.m. PLEASE NOTE: Due to excessive freight train traffic along the Cotton Belt Route, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad's Trinity River Train Excursion originating in the Fort Worth Stockyards will operate on a day-to-day basis, and is subject to cancellation.

Yes, unless the trip is delayed. The Fort Worth Herd cattle drive takes place daily at 4 p.m.

You cannot ride from the Stockyards to Grapevine and back in the same day. It is possible to ride from the Stockyards to Grapevine and return to the Stockyards on a different day. Visit www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com for hotel information or call train sales staff at +1.817.410.3185 for more information on Grapevine’s wonderful selection of hotels.

Yes, one-way tickets can be purchased from the Fort Worth Stockyards to Grapevine based on availability. Passengers riding one way are responsible for any return transportation to the Fort Worth Stockyards.

The caboose is not available for any rentals at this time. Please check back for updates on rental availability.

Cab rides are not available at this time.

Train souvenirs may be purchased in the Grapevine Depot, open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grapevine souvenirs may also be purchased at the Visitor Information Center, located in the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Building at 636 S. Main St. during regular business hours.

Day Out With Thomas is usually scheduled for two consecutive weekends in October. For information on when tickets will go on sale please visit GVRR.com.  This event is presented by Mattel and The Museum of American Railroad (MAR).  For information or issues with Thomas tickets please call MAR at  214-428-0101

Grapevine Vintage Railroad does accept requests for donations, however, certain qualifications must be met to be considered. Any donation requests must be made at least a minimum of 45 days prior to your event to allow time for processing and consideration by GVRR. Any requests made later than 45 days prior to the event may be rejected. Any organization or group requesting a donation must be a 501(c)3 non-profit entity. You may be requested to provide your tax-exempt letter from the state to verify your non-profit status. A group or organization may only make one donation request per calendar year. Groups/organizations based in the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex area are given first consideration, however, other groups/organizations based in other Texas cities may still make a request. All donation requests will be reviewed by Grapevine Vintage Railroad staff and Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau management personnel to determine approval status. A request may be denied for any reason or without cause. If you have more questions about the donation process or would like to make a request, please contact Brian Gentry at BGentry@grapevinetexasusa.com. Due to the volume of requests received, a response may not be given.

Santa's North Pole Express runs during the Christmas season. Please visit Santa's North Pole Express page for more information.