Kent Kiser (1933–2021) grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a mainline track right in his backyard. That early connection to railroading shaped a lifelong passion that spanned everything from steam locomotives—like Milwaukee Road 261, which he visited in person—to meticulously modeling the passenger and freight trains he saw and rode as a child.
When Kent passed in 2021, his wife, TK Kiser, wanted to find a lasting home for his extensive HO scale collection. We are honored that she chose ASTA. Volunteers carefully packed and transported Kent’s trains, track, and display shelves to Cedar Park, where they now have a permanent place in our moving museum.
Today, his passenger trains can be found on display in our offices, while a portion of his freight collection greets visitors in the Ticket Lobby. In September, Mrs. Kiser had the opportunity to see her husband’s collection at ASTA and ride the Bertram Flyer—a memorable day honoring Kent’s legacy.
ASTA extends our gratitude to Mrs. Kiser and family friend Lori Williamson for entrusting us with this remarkable collection, which preserves Kent’s lifelong love of railroading for all to enjoy.
We wouldn’t be able to share unique vintage railroad models like this without the support of our community. As a donor-supported, volunteer-led nonprofit, the Austin Steam Train Association is truly a community effort—and everything we do is made possible by friends like you.
Thank you for helping us bring the wonder of historic railroading to Central Texas!
