Austin Steam Train Association

• ArriveThe depot opens 60 minutes before departure, boarding begins about 30 minutes before, and passengers must be aboard at least 15 minutes early. The train will not wait for late arrivals
• AccessibilityWheelchair seating is limited to designated cars and requires advance planning. A lift is available, current train guidance lists 27-inch doors, and onboard restrooms are not wheelchair accessible. Call before booking
• RestroomsMost passenger cars have a small historic restroom; the Maurice Beckham car does not. Accessible restrooms are available at the Cedar Park depot and at applicable Bertram or Burnet stops
• Departure LocationThere are three distinct depots: Cedar Park, Bertram, and Burnet. Most regular rides leave Cedar Park; the 2026 North Pole Flyer leaves Bertram. The event page and ticket control
• Hill Country Flyer66-mile round trip, about 6.5 hours including a two-hour Burnet layover; current published pattern is doors 8 a.m., boarding 8:15–8:45, depart 9, Burnet 10:45–12:45, return about 3:30
• Bertram FlyerAbout 3.5 hours from Cedar Park with a roughly 15-minute Bertram stop, a 300-foot wooden trestle, Short Creek Canyon, 1930s–1950s cars, and diesel power
• ReservationsAdvance reservations are strongly recommended because popular rides can sell out a week or more ahead. Tickets are round trip; there is no routine layover boarding or one-way fare
• PaymentAustin Steam Train is cashless. Major cards and tap-to-pay are accepted under the current policy
• ClimateThe operator says all passenger cars have been climate controlled since 2016. A specific car, seating layout, and temperature cannot be assumed from a photo
• FoodSmall personal snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are generally allowed subject to the ride rules and screening. Hill Country Flyer lunch is on your own during the Burnet layover; reservations are recommended
• OfficeCedar Park office and museum hours are Wednesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., closed 12–1, plus one hour before departures. The train and active yard are not open for public tours or photography
• ContactCall 512-915-2340 during business hours, 512-402-3830 for after-hours Etix assistance, or email reservations@austinsteamtrain.org

The current public-facing locomotive is blue EMD GP40-3 No. 3118, a 3,000-horsepower diesel that the association purchased from Horizon Rail in 2024 after operating it as leased No. 3134. The operator says it pulls the Hill Country excursions and the 2026 North Pole Flyer, while also warning that specific power cannot be guaranteed. Restored passenger equipment supports Excursion Coach, First Class Coach, First Class Lounge, and some adults-only lounge products. Current car pages name Silver Pine, New Braunfels, Buckeye Lake, Buckeye Trail, Rippling Stream, Nambe, Club 41, Maurice Beckham, Eagle Cliff, and Cedar Park Car among the possible fleet, but availability varies. Wheelchair seating is published for Buckeye Trail and Eagle Cliff; train restrooms remain small and are not wheelchair accessible. Historical gallery views of Alco No. 442 and earlier consists are labeled as history, not current equipment promises. Southern Pacific steam locomotive No. 786 launched the original revival but has been under overhaul since being sidelined in 1999, so the word “Steam” in the organization name should not be read as a guarantee of steam power.