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Here's a recent article from the Hill Country News ~ Austin Steam Train
Puffs of white smoke will soon fill the air above Cedar Park once again as the Austin Steam Train brings back its original steam engine, which has been undergoing an extensive overhaul. The engine should be back on track sometime in 2010. The historic engine will return to Cedar Park thanks to a generous $500,000 donation from the family of Austin Steam Train Association (ASTA) founder Arthur Boone, who died in October 2008 at age 87. The Mary Carol Boone Joy Foundation made the donation to ensure the Southern Pacific 786 engine is returned to service. The foundation is named for Arthur's daughter Carol Boone, who died in August 2008 at 48. The train runs every weekend between Cedar Park and Round Rock, but has been powered by a diesel engine since the original engine was sent off for repairs in 1999. The association has been running excursion trains from Cedar Park to Burnet since 1992. They started with a Southern Pacific 786 engine built in 1916. In 1999, the engine was taken out of service for what was expected to be a simple repair job, but turned out to be a complete overhaul. Progress has been slow, because the repairs were completed as the funds dribbled in. The entire project required an estimated $1.5 million. Donations came from ASTA members, including a $100,000 gift from ASTA volunteer Bill Nash, and many public and private sources. The city of Austin contributed $250,000 toward the project; the city of Cedar Park pitched in $100,000; the Cedar Park Tourism Board gave $65,000. The Heritage Society of Austin contributed $10,000. It will still take time to get the engine running again, because its parts are scattered among repair shops all over the country, said ASTA Chairman Ben Sargent. The boiler and firebox are in Birmingham, Ala. The frame and running gear are in Mussel Shoals, Ala. Wheels are in Chatanooga, Tenn. Air compressors and water pump are in Denver. “We hope by the end of this year everything will be back in Cedar Park and we'll be ready to start putting it together,” said Sargent. “We are in discussions with a contractor to do that job.” In the meantime, the public can still have a great time on the train, which runs each weekend. “Our diesel locomotive is reliable and service goes on uninterrupted,” said Sargent. For more information about the Austin Steam Train, visit www.austinsteamtrain.org. Updates on the progress on #786's rebuild can be found here: http://www.pointech.com/786/ Day out with Thomas is October 9-11th in Burnet. |