AUSTIN - Like the thick black smoke that puffs from its smokestack, the beleaguered Texas State Railroad has begun pumping controversy into an otherwise placid and largely unnoticed race for Texas agriculture commissioner.

On one hand is the well-financed front-runner, state Sen. Todd Staples, a Republican who has taken a public leadership role in preserving the train. "For 12 years I have been an ardent supporter of the Texas State Railroad," he says.

But on the other is his Democratic opponent, Hank Gilbert, who says that although Staples may talk a good game, as a state senator he sponsored a measure that could have literally sunk the rail line. "It's all a sham, and it's politics, and the people are tired of it," Gilbert says.

It's an odd issue given that the state's next agriculture commissioner will have no direct authority over the historic landmark. But it has many voters talking because the railroad operates from the heart of Staples' East Texas Senate district, and because problems with the railroad have become largely emblematic of a park system long neglected by the Legislature.

Local newspapers have also become battlegrounds for the railroad issue. Mayors have weighed in, as have activists and park lovers. "People come from all over the world to see it," Palestine Mayor Carolyn Salter wrote recently.

The railroad, which was built with prison labor about 100 years ago, runs 25 miles between Palestine and Rusk. It has continued commercial operations off and on throughout much of its history - sometimes carrying freight, sometimes passengers, sometimes making money, sometimes not - and then in 1972 it was turned over to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

It's been a tourist attraction ever since. The problem is that it also hemorrhages money.
The cash-strapped parks department reports that the train loses about $1 million annually and that the operation needs $12 million over the next two years for track repairs, upgrades and operational costs. It may need $30 million more for long-term maintenance and as much as $650,000 immediately, just to maintain operations through September 2007.

Otherwise, the train will become a stationary exhibit, and therein lies the controversy.
Staples and Gilbert agree that if the train stopped running, it may never start again. That's because many contracts for track right of way would then expire, and reinstating them would be expensive, complicated or impossible.

Staples, the Republican from Palestine, says he's committed to protecting the railroad. "In order to chart a course for the future, I have worked with the local officials and helped establish the Texas State Railroad task force; I have assembled an advisory committee of people across the state," he said.

That's all well and good, says Gilbert, but what about Staples' sponsorship of a resolution last year supporting the creation of the Fastrill Reservoir on the Neches River? The reservoir, which would provide water for Dallas, would also wash over part of the tracks - effectively shutting down the railroad.

At least that's what Gilbert and local activists say.

"The economic impact of that railroad is huge to his hometown - and the fact that it's a state park, and a historic monument - and he was willing to sacrifice it for a reservoir; that's unacceptable," said Gilbert, 48.

For the moment, the reservoir is on hold - but not because of any action by Staples or the Legislature. Instead, the federal government has given the initial green light for the Neches River Wildlife Refuge, and that refuge would prevent creation of the reservoir.

Some activists have sided with Gilbert on the issue, saying that by supporting the reservoir, Staples has acted against the creation of the refuge and the preservation of the railroad.

Rerouting those tracks, or building a bridge to carry them over the reservoir if it ever were built, would cost $100 million or more, says Michael Banks, co-chairman of the Friends of the Neches River.

And that, he said, would effectively doom the historic landmark. "It is now apparent that the reservoir and the Texas State Railroad are not compatible ... [and] Senator Staples is talking out of both sides of his mouth," Banks said.

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Gilbert says the state wouldn't be in this bind if Staples and other lawmakers had provided enough money for the parks department.

Staples says one way to save the Texas State Railroad is to turn it over to a private operator. Gilbert opposes the idea, although he agrees that it may make sense if it's the only alternative.

Banks, the local activist, says that if a private operator took over operations, the train fare would double or triple. Round-trip adult tickets now cost between $17 and $24.