Scale Railroading since 1931
Model Railroading – it is called the World’s Greatest Hobby. At the Austin & Texas Central Railroad, we take this hobby to a much larger scale, literally. At 7-1/2″ gauge, you become part of the action as an engineer, as a conductor, or as a passenger. Equipment is built at different scales that will run on the same gauge track: 1.5″/1.6″ per foot (~1/8th scale modelling standard gauge), 2.5″ per foot (~1/5th scale modelling 3′ narrow gauge), and occasionally 3.75″ per foot (5/16th scale modelling 2′ narrow gauge). At these sizes, the hobby moves outdoors and expands from a modelling activity to an engineering activity attracting people from all walks of life.
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Clubs dedicated to this hobby have existed as long as railroads have existed and since steam locomotives were the first motive power, the hobby is commonly referred to as Live Steam. Today, members of the hobby operate both steam and diesel locomotives. The steam locomotives still capture the imagination as they are fully operational. Burning coal, fuel oil, wood, or propane, they turn water into steam and operate exactly like the big ones.
The Austin & Texas Central switched to live steam in 1960. For many years, the railroad was located near Manor, Texas. Today, it is located in Central Texas in southeast Williamson County. This site chronicles the long history of the A&TC and ongoing activities of the railroad. If you are interested in getting involved or learn more, please contact us. We would love to introduce you to the true greatest hobby.
