The engine roars and rumbles as passengers eagerly slide into the seats of the Zilker Eagle, the recently reopened miniature train in Austin’s Zilker Park. Stretching half of his body out the window of a shiny new cobalt locomotive with a tie-dyed stripe running along the side, the conductor turns to face the passengers settling into the rainbow of train cars behind him. He starts to count, prompting riders to help him signal that the train is about to depart.
“One. Two. Three,” he says through the microphone. “All aboard!” the kids shout excitedly, their parents too shy to join in. And away we go!
Miniature trains have been running in Texas parks since at least the 1950s. The San Antonio Zoo Train first chugged along its tracks in 1956, and Fort Worth’s Forest Park Miniature Railroad, which opened in 1959, not only has one of the state’s oldest miniature trains but also the longest train route, running 5 miles through Trinity Park. Beloved by kids and adults alike, these trains serve as a fun, nostalgic journey.
But be warned: The thrill of the ride can be addicting. “Most people come back and come back and come back,” Greg Moore says. “And then they bring their neighbors.”
Moore is a local train enthusiast who serves as the vice president of communications for Houston Area Live Steamers, a nonprofit organization run by volunteers that has been offering train rides at Zube Park in Hockley, just outside of Houston, since 1991. Along with other volunteers, he rotates through the roles of conductor, engineer, and station manager.
Miniature trains are popular amusements in Texas, especially in the spring and fall. But according to Moore, running a railroad proves challenging because of the demand for rides and the maintenance required—the more trips they take, the more pressure is placed on the train and tracks, thus increasing the potential for breakdowns.
Recently, he says, demand was so great, the train operators felt overwhelmed. On April 20, children, parents, and grandparents lined up for a free ride during one of the Live Steamers’ Public Run Days.
Normally the line loops back and forth inside the train station, guided by the stanchions, and occasionally outside the building. But after multiple Houston-area influencers posted on social media about the event, the queue grew in size around the park, flowing down to the parking lot, around the barn, and up to the gazebo.
Instead of the normal average of 1,295 riders for that particular day, 2,103 people showed up. Volunteers stayed an extra hour just to make sure everyone got a ride on the train. “We were like, ‘What are we going to do?’” Moore says. “We were terrified, but everybody just loved it.”
For Moore, the stress of managing the swelling crowds and spending several hours in the heat is worth it. “There’s nothing better than putting a smile on everybody’s faces,” he says.
Ben Ferguson, an operating team member of the Zilker Eagle, says now that the train is running again after a five-year hiatus, his crew is also experiencing a high demand for rides. Between June 12—the train’s opening day—and July 31, 30,090 visitors rode the miniature train, according to Austin Parks Foundation.
Because of all of the funding, planning, and maintenance required to keep miniature trains on the tracks, outside assistance is sometimes needed. Such was the case when Zilker Park’s previous train, the Zephyr, had to close down. Having served Austinites for 58 years, the train stopped running due to severe erosion by the tracks near Lady Bird Lake.
Recognizing the miniature train as “a great tradition,” the Austin Parks Foundation stepped in. “We were saddened when it was closed, [but] we had the ability to do something about it,” says Katie Kennedy, director of marketing and communications for the foundation. “Because it’s in one of Austin’s most beloved parks, it just kind of makes sense for us to step in and help.”
Several issues delayed the planned train relaunch in 2021, including lingering supply chain issues due to the pandemic. Despite the setbacks, the Zephyr was replaced by the shiny new Eagle, thanks to the financial and operational help from the foundation, and it includes an ADA accessible train car for the first time in the park.
While Houston Area Live Steamers operate multiple trains at once during their Public Run Days, the Zilker miniature train runs solo. Ferguson says operating a single train in a popular tourist destination requires proactive upkeep and effective crowd management.
“We’re running 22 laps a day around [the park], so we’re constantly doing track work,” he says. “We shut down at least once a month to regauge and recheck everything because of the heat and the amount of use. Some places don’t stay on top of keeping their track tight, and that’s when you have issues.”
Despite the difficulties of operating in Zilker Park, Ferguson treasures the joy that lies within the world of miniature trains.
“This is a busy park, so it’s hands-on,” Ferguson says. “It’s a great location for a train. It’s awesome to see the support the city is giving us after not being here for a while. We stay busy.”
