I went down to Cedar Park, Tx (just outside of Austin, Tx) to have a meeting with the Austin Steam Train Assoc. about becoming a volunteer today. Before I met with a member, I got the opportunity to take a couple of shots.

ASTA operates the Austin and Texas Central. An excursion line that operates between Cedar Park and Burnet. The line was originally a narrow gauge granite hauling railroad, under the name of the Austin & Northwestern, later it was purchased by the Houston and Texas Central, which later became part of the Texas and New Orleans, a subsidary of the Southern Pacific.

The A&TC operates a former ATSF Alco RSD-15 (#442) and a Southern Pacific MK-5 Class Mikado (#786). The mikado is currently undergoing major overhaul and is expected to be back in service in a year.

Today, the "Betram Flyer" was hauled by the #442. Behind her was a mix of former Pennsy P70's, an ATSF stainless car, the Nickel Plate "City of Chicago" and a couple of MILW cars purchased from the 261 group.




442 pulls the "Bertram Flyer" around the wye, where she will shove back up to the platform to discharge passengers.




442 has cut from the train and runs around the wye, to shove the train back into the yard for the evening.

For more information, visit www.austinsteamtrain.org

Nice shots, Kyle! It's been a while since I've gone out and shot the gator. Still waiting patiently for 786

Love those old gals. There's just something about the RSD-15 that just makes them so interesting. Can't place it. A mixture of ALCO's early, bumpy hoods, long nose, the chant of the 16-251B engine, and the un-even spacing of the tri-mount trucks. They are similar, in a way, to another personal favorite, the EMD SD35. Both were not big success stories, but if it wasn't for them, their more successful, larger followers would not have happened. --end of dream--

thanks for the comments. I was hoping for sun, but that's what i get for trusting the weather man.

IIRC, this is the only operating RSD-15 in the world. Her sister was on the property, but is now at a muesem.

Thats a great shot Kyle. The lack of sun made the features stand out better.

Yep it will be fun to work with my brother, dad, and you Kyle the only thing i'm worried about is the rules test this Sunday. ~Matt