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Our autistic son loves trains, and we were thinking about taking him on one of the Austin Steam Train excursions into the Hill Country for his upcoming birthday.
There was a previous thread on this but it is a few years old, I was wondering if anyone has done this recently and what they felt about it?
The longer 66-mile route leaves from the Cedar Park Depot and go northwest towards Burnet through Leander, Liberty Hill and Bertram. There is a shorter one that stops in Bertram.
We are hoping to miss the specialty runs such as the Bluebonnet Festival in mid-April and catch one of the "regular" trips.
Prices seem reasonable but I was wondering if paying extra for the 1st Class coach or lounge was worth the cost?
I've never done the full trip up but have done the Bertram Flyer a couple of times and one "specialty" 4 of July ride. A couple of things, the steam loco is still being repaired (11 years and counting!) so it's still being run by a diesel locomotive, just be aware of that. I've done both first class and coach, it can be a pretty different experience depending on what you do. 1st class is nice if you just want to spend the majority of your time in your cabin and/or it's really stinkin hot (the car is air conditioned). Personally, unless I have, uh, other things planned that are facilitated by having some privacy, I really like standing in the open spots at the end of/in between the cars (one of the main attractions of being on a train IMHO), so it can make less sense to spring for first class if I'm just going to be standing out in the heat anyway IIRC, the last car is also a first class car? So if you like to "look out the back" (or front depending on which direction you're going) you should check to see which car is the last one.
If your son likes trains, you guys should check out the Hill Country Train Fair in Burnet. It's been a few years since I've been there (my son has moved on from his "train phase") but the couple of years we went he really enjoyed it. It's sometime during the summer (early summer I think) and I'm sure a quick online search will turn up the requisite info.
We rode last year.The drive from the train station to Bertram takes about 15-20 mins. The train turns that into about and hour each way. Goes along very slowly in most places. We went in coach and it was fine but pretty warm. The boys loved to be "out" of the seats.There is not much to do in Bertram where the shorter trip ends and the engine deattaches and goes to the "end" and hooks up again. You can take your own picnic and drinks. It made for a good day for my son who loves trains.
I've never done the full trip up but have done the Bertram Flyer a couple of times and one "specialty" 4 of July ride. A couple of things, the steam loco is still being repaired (11 years and counting!) so it's still being run by a diesel locomotive, just be aware of that. I've done both first class and coach, it can be a pretty different experience depending on what you do. 1st class is nice if you just want to spend the majority of your time in your cabin and/or it's really stinkin hot (the car is air conditioned). Personally, unless I have, uh, other things planned that are facilitated by having some privacy, I really like standing in the open spots at the end of/in between the cars (one of the main attractions of being on a train IMHO), so it can make less sense to spring for first class if I'm just going to be standing out in the heat anyway IIRC, the last car is also a first class car? So if you like to "look out the back" (or front depending on which direction you're going) you should check to see which car is the last one.
If your son likes trains, you guys should check out the Hill Country Train Fair in Burnet. It's been a few years since I've been there (my son has moved on from his "train phase") but the couple of years we went he really enjoyed it. It's sometime during the summer (early summer I think) and I'm sure a quick online search will turn up the requisite info.
WHATTHE?? Has someone been watching Risky Business again?? Whoa dude - family thread, family thread.
Since my mom flew in from Florida for my other son's birthday, we decided to book tickets for the Austin Steam Train today. It was the Bertram Flyer, a 3-hr roundtrip to the small depot in Bertram and back.
I ordered tickets online a few weeks ago, but last week when I was in Colorado I got a voicemail stating that due to a high volume of freight traffic and delays on the line that everyone that booked Coach seats were automatically upgrade to Excursion Class (and a/c!) for free! Ya can't beat that!
We had to get up early to drive from San Antonio, but we made it in plenty of time (it's about a 2-hr drive from the NW part of SA). Checking in was a breeze and about ten minutes before the ride was scheduled to begin, they brought the train up to the loading ramp. We boarded and it backed up so it could leave the yard, but for some reason we were delayed about 25 minutes before we departed. I was sure glad we were in an air conditioned car, as it was already in the 90s and pretty muggy!
Once we got on the main line it took us about 45 minutes to get to Bertram. There is a small train depot there and we were given 15 minutes to get off the train and take pics. Then we moved up a little further on the line and stopped so the engine could switch to the other end of the train.
Overall it was a fun experience, the folks running the train are very friendly and you are pretty much cleared to move throughout it. There is a concession area selling sodas, water and snacks for a reasonable price (about a buck per item), as well as memorabilia. I got both of our sons t-shirts and several other items. There was still a coach car at the back of the train and it was fairly warm but not overly unbearable. We did spend a lot of time in the little area between the cars which allowed us to lean out a little and take pics and see the train. There is a sign prohibiting people from sticking their heads and arms out of the train, but no one seemed to be enforcing it too much as everybody was doing it.
So was it worth it? It sure was! While the scenery may not have quite been what I expected, it was still a very enjoyable adventure. And our autistic son had a blast! He loved every minute of it, and it is most definitely something we'll be doing again. I think we'll wait until the temperatures are a little cooler, but once the train is moving it's not too bad. It's just those other times when it's moving slowly or not at all which would be uncomfortable, but I think next time I'll just go ahead and spend the extra money to be in a car with a/c.
Everyone else on the train seemed to enjoy it as much as we do. And in case anyone was wondering, they do have handicap access for those in wheelchairs or needing help getting on the train. We didn't need it, but there were several individuals who did and it was nice to see that provisions were made to allow them to board.
All passengers must wear shoes when they are not in their seats.
Parents are responsible for their children's conduct at all times. NO RUNNING on the train.
Children who have not reached their 14th birthday may not move about the train unless accompanied by an adult (18 years or older).
Do not step on the yellow painted areas between cars.
Do not put head, arms or anything else out of the windows.
Do not open or close your window. Please ask your car attendant for assistance.
Please ask your car attendant if you wish to have your seat turned.
Look forward first when using the Dutch doors.
Beware of close clearance at Leander Metro.
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed unless provided by a caterer or ASTA. When alcohol is provided, it may not be taken off the train.
Passengers are not allowed to bring personal alcoholic beverages onto the train.
The restrooms in the cars will only be open when we are not in the station.
Please do not leave valuables on the train while we are in Bertram/Burnet.
Violations of these rules may result in removal from the train.
You probably can have a smoke while stopped and debarked, but honestly I don't recall seeing anyone doing so in Bertram...
Cheers! M2
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IIRC, the last car is also a first class car? So if you like to "look out the back" (or front depending on which direction you're going) you should check to see which car is the last one.
