Austin Steam Train Association Museum

“We had a GREAT time! Highly recommend! I took my two young kids. We met all the nice railroad volunteers, took a bunch of pictures, explored all the train cars, and we had a delicious lunch at Trailblazer Grill. We enjoyed the entire experience. We had a blast! IMPORTANT: For kids, bring a small backpack with snacks, drinks, and an activity book. It made the six-hour day REALLY enjoyable. Having snacks and an activity (and crayons) made for a full day adventure without ANY restlessness. It also helped that we rode Club 41 car with the table. My wife and I were undecided about buying tickets because we read some bad reviews. We decided to try it anyway. HERE’S THE TRUTH: We definitely saw miserable kids and miserable adults. Both of which were bored within 15 minutes and were scrolling their cell phones. Bored to tears. Some tiny kids watched videos on iPads while their parent was asleep. They both looked miserably bored. I bet they’ll leave a bad review about the “boring train”. One lady was in a bad mood as soon as she boarded. “The seat numbers make no sense!” I showed her that every table had the seat number on a large placard. Can’t miss it! She dragged her little boy up the aisle and sat down with a scowl on her face. Her mood worsened for the next six hours. Those seat numbers ruined her day! She’ll leave a bad review. I saw one bad review that the train only served Chex Mix. What? There were plenty of snacks on board. Over a dozen kinds! Not on every car… but you’re free to wander around different train cars. I saw two cars that had snacks and an attendant to help. I enjoyed coffee and the kids got a few small bottles of juice and some powdered donuts. We saw plenty of snacks but you can still bring your own. I saw a few comments about the train being old, and not the nicest amenities. Hmmm. Well, TRUE. The train is nearly 80 years old! And it’s been retired twice from full-time service! In New York and Mexico! So cool! These train cars have been meticulously restored for FREE (!t by VOLUNTEERS! They spend countless hours of their own time just out of passion. All the cars seemed great to us! Old, vintage, cool! We couldn’t care less that I could see it was restored. Or if the bathroom was dated. Or if a few bulbs were burned out. Who cares! This shouldn’t be another pampered, luxurious, getaway with fiber internet and 200 channels. This is a small taste of what every American experienced to travel a hundred years ago! Slow and patient. Seeing the sights pass by. The sounds of the metal rails and the bells on the crossing arms. Slowly and patiently. Far from Facebook. An iPad will certainly ruin all this. Last thing I’ll say is that this entire operation is maintained and operated by volunteers. You can tell! These guys showed up at 6am on their DAY OFF from their full-time jobs. On a Saturday! And they dressed up in a uniform that I’m sure they purchased. And they tended to US all day long. Zero pay. Volunteering. With smiles on their faces. Up until we stepped off the train in the late afternoon. Then they cleaned up after us. FOR FREE. The train conductor and car attendant worked so hard for us. It was obvious they had worn their uniforms ragged. There’s no uniform budget! There’s no unlimited funds to buy new hats, new carpets, new light bulbs! These folks do it out of their own pocket and with love. And it was awesome! There is NOTHING to complain about. What a treat! What an experience! THANK YOU! Thank you for all your hard work, sweat, and time to lovingly restore a FULL-SIZE FREAKIN TRAIN from the past… so me and my kids can experience something so cool. The restoration and work by hand is evident. The passionate volunteers who do it for us to enjoy. GREAT JOB! Your ride will turn out exactly what YOU make of it: A boring, slow day without wifi. Or… an exciting 6-hour tour of Texas aboard a vintage train where we can sit back, nibble on snacks, and watch the scenery roll by! So cool! We can’t wait to go again!”

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Austin Steam Train Association’s Hill Country Flyer is absolutely incredible! From start to finish, it’s like stepping back in time for a nostalgic, scenic, and truly unforgettable experience. The staff and volunteers are so friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do — you can tell they love sharing this piece of Texas history with everyone who comes aboard. The ride itself is beautiful, rolling through the Hill Country with amazing views, charming small towns, and that unmistakable sound and feel of a real train. The vintage cars are comfortable and wonderfully restored, giving the perfect blend of old-fashioned charm and relaxation. It’s an experience that’s just as great for families and couples as it is for history buffs or anyone who just wants to slow down and enjoy the journey. We especially loved the stop in Burnet — the little shops, restaurants, and the small-town hospitality make the whole day even more special. The attention to detail, the smooth operation, and the friendly atmosphere made it one of the best experiences we’ve had in Central Texas. If you’re anywhere near Austin and haven’t done the Hill Country Flyer yet, don’t wait — it’s a must-do Texas adventure that you’ll remember forever! 🚂❤️”

“I was really worried about the environment and if I would like this. Now I did get a little motion sickness, but got over it with some mint gum. I had an extreme amount of fun, our loteria reader and person was awesome her name was Austin. Now there was a few people that were very rude. And family’s. But now that I know I will be taking me kids. I won a bag as well as the grand prize and I get to go back and do movie trivia. Now the alcohol is served on one of the lounges but you do have to walk and get it. But I preferred the coffee and the great chips. Great time”

“The people are very nice. The check in process is very easy. The cars are very clean. We enjoyed the history and the experience. I wish the views were a little more scenic but I would do it all over again. Please support this train. It is indeed an experience.”