Abilene Railroad Festival marks second year since revival

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The Abilene Railroad Festival occurred this weekend, September 12–13, marking its second year since returning to downtown Abilene. The event was revived in 2024 by the Abilene Preservation League after a long hiatus since 1995.

Originally launched in 1991, the festival was created to honor Abilene’s origins as a key stop on the Texas and Pacific (T&P) Railway, which arrived in the city in 1881. Early versions of the festival featured miniature train displays, historical showcases, and reenactments that aimed to illustrate the community’s connection to rail transport.

For the 2025 edition, the Abilene Preservation League coordinated with a number of local venues and organizations to stage activities throughout downtown.

Event locations included Frontier Texas!, The Grace Museum, the historic T&P Depot, the Elks Arts Center, Candies by Vleta’s, the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL), and the Abilene Public Library.

Abigail Payne, Executive Director of the Abilene Preservation League, noted that the festival was designed to focus specifically on railroad history rather than a broader interpretation of frontier life.

“This year’s festival is very much railroad-centric,” Payne said. “Everything we’re doing is tied to rail history in some way.”

Payne also reflected on how her interest in railroads has grown through her work. She shared her long-standing fascination with the Harvey Girls—women who worked at Fred Harvey restaurants along railway lines during the late 19th and early 20th centuries—and how that historical interest has broadened over time.

“I’ve always been interested in the Harvey Girls, who were the women that tamed the West,” Payne said. “They went out West and brought some gentility to the railroad workers. But now, when I see trains, I think more about the innovation they represented—whether it was transporting cattle, moving refrigerated goods, or carrying passengers. The railroad played a vital role in the nation’s development and in Abilene’s story, too.”

Corrender Taylor, Director of the Abilene Railroad Festival, discussed the planning process, noting that it took several weeks of preparation leading up to the weekend.

“We’ve been working tirelessly for the last few weeks, making sure that everything is in place and ready to go,” Taylor said.

He also reflected on the experience of seeing the festival take shape after months of organizing.

“I think the most rewarding part for me has been watching all of the work come together over these two days,” he said. “Hearing from visitors about how engaged they’ve been and how much they’ve enjoyed the programming makes the effort feel worthwhile.”