Monday, July 30, 2007
Hill Country Flyer Cedar Park to Burnet TX And Back
Some years ago, my wife and the kids and I rode the Hill Country Flyer. It makes a run north of Austin through the beautiful Texas Hill Country. When we left Cedar Park, the train was being pulled by a Southern Pacific steam engine. I don't remember if it was on the first leg of the trip our the return but the steam engine came to a gradual stop with a major mechanical breakdown. We had a delay while we waited for a diesel locomotive to come to the rescue. It was hot sitting there but they compensated by giving everyone all the free cold drinks they wanted. Soon they had replaced the steam engine with the more modern locomotive and we completed our trip. The train is currently operating with diesel power. The old steam engine is out of state getting a complete overhaul from top to bottom and I am sure upon return will be better than new. I remember Burnet has a funny slogan because people tend to mispronounce the name of the town. Every where you look you see the following... "ITS BURNIT DURNIT." This train had a starring role in one of my favorite movies, The Newton Boys. I urge you to see it if you have not already done so. It is a fantastic movie based on a true Texas story.
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