The Austin Steam Train Association (an all Volunteer Organization) issued a Press Release that announces that their 1916 SP Steamer 786 that has been under repair/Rehab since 1999 @ a Cost of Over $2 Million will be returned (the Various Parts) to their Cedar Park Yard and Shops via Trucks from various Shops all over the Country that performed this Specialized Work!
It will be Reassembled by the Volunteer Members during the Summer and is expected to be back in Service by September of this Year! All Components have been totally Rebuilt and Repaired and once again this Old Jewel that served the SP in Louisiana and Texas from 1916 to 1956 on both Passenger and Freight Service will make the Twice a Week (Saturday and Sunday) Trips into the Texas Hill Country pulling the 1920s to 1950s Cars that belong to the Association! A 1960 Alco Diesel has been filling in during the Repair and Rehab Process.
The Steamer had been Donated to the City of Austin in 1956 by the SP RR and was on Static Display till 1989 when the City Leased it to the Steam Train Association for $1 a year! The members then put over 7,000 Hours of Volunteer Labor and nearly $1 Million Dollars into Rehab and it served on the various Hill Country Flyer Routes from 1992 till 1999! The City Donated it in 1999 with the Provision that the Association be Responsible for all Costs related to Operating and Maintaining her!
I got to ride behind this Old Girl Once and Look forward to her First of Hopefully Many, Many Trips pulling this Great Tourist Train into the Texas Hill Country!
It will be Reassembled by the Volunteer Members during the Summer and is expected to be back in Service by September of this Year! All Components have been totally Rebuilt and Repaired and once again this Old Jewel that served the SP in Louisiana and Texas from 1916 to 1956 on both Passenger and Freight Service will make the Twice a Week (Saturday and Sunday) Trips into the Texas Hill Country pulling the 1920s to 1950s Cars that belong to the Association! A 1960 Alco Diesel has been filling in during the Repair and Rehab Process.
The Steamer had been Donated to the City of Austin in 1956 by the SP RR and was on Static Display till 1989 when the City Leased it to the Steam Train Association for $1 a year! The members then put over 7,000 Hours of Volunteer Labor and nearly $1 Million Dollars into Rehab and it served on the various Hill Country Flyer Routes from 1992 till 1999! The City Donated it in 1999 with the Provision that the Association be Responsible for all Costs related to Operating and Maintaining her!
I got to ride behind this Old Girl Once and Look forward to her First of Hopefully Many, Many Trips pulling this Great Tourist Train into the Texas Hill Country!
