Central Texas Raifan - Riding the Bertram Local Riding the Bertram Local The Austin and Texas Central, the local excursion railroad, sponsored the "Hill Country Railfair 2006" this weekend, so today, my father and I decided to drive out to Burnet, Texas. Upon arriving at approximtely 9:15 A.M., we discovered the Burnet-Bertram Bertram Local, powered by a leased AUAR GP40 #189, was leaving at 10:00, so we promptly bought lounge car tickets, and boarded our car, the sleeper-lounge Eagle Cliff. (The Bertram Local should not be confused with the regular Cedar Park-Bertram Bertram Flyer, the BL is a Railfair-only train.) Upon arriving at Bertram, our train continued past the depot before backing into the Bertram siding to wait for two westbound trains before reversing and heading back to Burnet. The first train to arrive was the Austin & Texas Central's premier train, the Hill Country Flyer, powered by the A&TC's own RSD15 #442.
Next was an Austin Area Terminal Railroad empty gondola train headed up by a Locomotive Leasing Partners SD38-2, in front of several of the AUAR's own SD40-2s. After waiting for those two trains, #189 exited the siding and backed up past the station to the other end of the siding and attached to the opposite end of the Bertram Local.
Bertram's depot is the centerpiece of what will be a redeveloped downtown area. A treasure that I found was this operating wig-wag at the east end of the depot!
Bertram's depot also has an authentic railroad semaphore! After the engine reattached, we reboarded, and enjoyed a comfortable trip back to Burnet in one of the Eagle Cliff's compartments.
Thank you, Hytec! I have to say it was most enjoyable part of the Railfair. There were several magazine racks in the Eagle Cliff filled with Trains and Model Railroader magazines!
