PUFFY AND VINNY

Railroads have served the Texas Lakes Trail city of Grapevine well throughout the last century and the community has commemorated that service with the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. The antique train travels along the historic Cotton Belt Route between Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards, departing most weekends from the Cotton Belt Depot. The restored depot, built in 1901 and relocated along the Cotton Belt tracks in 1937, serves as museum as well as terminal for the vintage steam-powered rail service. The train features four, fully restored 1925 day coaches and two 1927 open-air coaches. But the real star of the railroad is “Puffy”, built in 1896 at the Cooke Locomotive Works in Paterson, New Jersey. This steam-powered engine started life pulling passengers and freight, then, operated as a fire train before joining a private collection. Pulled out of retirement in the 1970’s and moved to Grapevine in 1993, “Puffy” now considers the Grapevine Vintage Railroad its home. “Puffy” is often assisted by “Vinny”, a 1953 diesel engine originally operated by the Santa Fe Railroad. Grapevine Vintage Railroad departures and arrivals offer both first class and touring prices and often features a reenactment of “The Great Train Robbery”, a comedic act performed by dueling, and wacky, desperados.