Our faithful Buckeye Lake and Buckeye Trail coach cars have served passengers around the country for decades, but the intense Central Texas sun and time dulled their shine. Thanks to a new restoration method, their colors are coming back to life.
Two of ASTA’s most reliable coach cars, the Buckeye Lake (built in 1949) and Buckeye Trail (built in 1950), have been in our care since 2007. Originally purchased from Tom Stevens of Ohio, these cars once ran behind Milwaukee Road steam locomotive No. 261 and were painted in a modified version of the Milwaukee Road’s iconic Hiawatha scheme. Since joining our fleet, they’ve carried countless passengers and served as staples of our weekend excursions.
But years of Texas heat, bright sun, and regular washings have taken a toll on their exterior paint. Volunteers first tried a variety of rejuvenators to cut through the oxidation, even testing rubbing compound, but the results weren’t ideal.
Enter a new solution: Rejuvenate Color Restorer. Discovered by our mechanical foreman, Matt Jackson, this product is simple to apply—just wipe it on—and, after a couple of coats, it has proven to hold its shine and restore color far better than earlier attempts.
With the sides of the Buckeyes now polished and refreshed, the next step will be addressing the roofs with a full repaint once cooler weather arrives. These faithful cars continue to serve passengers well, and thanks to the ongoing work of our mechanical volunteers, they’ll be looking sharp for many more journeys to come.
We wouldn’t be able to accomplish these projects 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!
