On the Rails

eandering through the pines of East Texas, the Halloween Express offers more treat than trick for those looking for a family-friendly way to spend the holiday. Operated by the Historic Jefferson Railway, the Halloween Express is an antique narrowgauge locomotive ride that features spooky storytelling throughout the 40-minute trip. Along the way, riders glimpse scenes along the railroad tracks, including ghostly spirits, monsters, and even Bigfoot emerging from the swamplands—Jefferson is the Bigfoot Capital of Texas, after all. “We have a toxic wasteland setup in one area of the tracks, and a graveyard and ‘spider land’ in other areas,” says Melissa Moit, general manager of the Jefferson Railway. “There’s a story for each scene, and we give out candy to kids and allow them to ride along in their costumes.” Daytime and evening trains run every Saturday in October, and while there may be a fright or two, this is not a scary train ride. For those looking for a more grownup getaway in Jefferson, the annual Texas Bigfoot Conference is held Oct. 15-16 and offers