All Aboard the Dog Train: How a Retired Farmer Became a Hero to Stray Dogs

In a quiet neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas, the rumble of a tractor means something extraordinary. Not for crops, not for hauling lumber, but for spreading joy—pure, tail-wagging joy. At the helm is 80-something-year-old Eugene Bostick, a retired farm owner who, rather than slow down in retirement, found a whole new mission in life: rescuing stray dogs and taking them for the ride of their lives.

Eugene didn’t set out to become a local legend. His journey started with heartbreak. Living on a farm at the end of a dead-end street, he noticed a pattern—people abandoning unwanted dogs near his property. For many, it would’ve been a nuisance. For Eugene, it was a calling.

He began feeding the strays, taking them in, getting them veterinary care, and giving them the home they never had. But caring for their physical needs wasn’t enough—Eugene wanted to give them happiness. So, he built a train. Yes, a train—for dogs.

“I seen this guy with a tractor who attached these carts to pull rocks. I thought, ‘Dang, that would do for a dog train,’” Eugene said. “I’m a pretty good welder, so I took some plastic barrels, cut holes in them for seats, put wheels underneath, and tied them together. Now I’ve got a dog train.”

The result is as heartwarming as it sounds: eight or nine dogs, each nestled into their own little barrel-car, tails wagging furiously as Eugene drives them through the neighborhood, down wooded trails, and anywhere their happy hearts want to go. The train clatters along slowly, safely, and with a rhythm that has become as familiar to the dogs as their own names.

“Whenever these adorable dogs hear me hooking the tractor up to it,” Eugene says, laughing, “man, they get so excited. They just know what time it is.”

Locals know too. Neighbors often come out to wave, kids run to the sidewalks, and smiles break across faces as the unusual convoy passes by. It’s not just transportation—it’s therapy on wheels, powered by love and a bit of old-fashioned ingenuity.

Eugene has taken in more than a dozen dogs over the years, some abandoned, some abused. Each one finds a second chance and a new adventure aboard the now-famous dog train.

In a world that often moves too fast to notice the forgotten, Eugene Bostick slows down for those left behind—and takes them for a ride. His story is more than a charming tale; it’s a reminder that compassion can come at any age, and joy can be found in the simplest acts.

So if you ever find yourself in Fort Worth and hear the low hum of a tractor and the excited barking of happy dogs, don’t be surprised. That’s just Eugene and his loyal passengers—on another ride of love, hope, and second chances.