Austin layouts

There are quite a few, actually.  The two I know best are Jim Zwernemann's Proto:48 TNO/MKT layout and Steve Nelson's HO MKT layout.  They live about a mile a part in the community of Cedar Creek.  There are many others, though, including the layouts of David Barrow and Tommy Holt.

Not a layout, but might be interesting

I don't have information about model railroad layouts in the Austin area, but you might find a subject for an interesting video interview in the Cedar Rock Railroad, located in a county park  in Round Rock, Texas, which is just north of Austin.

https://www.cedarrockrailroad.com/index.html

It is an almost 2 mile long train ride that passes through both a soccer complex and open fields of gorgeous Texas wildflowers.  I have been on it several times with grandsons, who love it.  The part that might be interesting to the Trainmasters TV audience is the fact that the whole thing was built by a man and his wife.  They graded the roadbed, laid the tracks (including bending curved rails with muscle power, as I recall) all by themselves.  Very friendly people, a neat little business, and it could be a fun interview.

Another possibly interesting subject is the right of way used by the Austin Steam Train (steam loco being restored now, currently use a diesel), which runs on a historic line from Cedar Park (next to Austin) to Bertram in the Texas Hill Country.  Some interesting scenic spots along the right of way.  The same tracks extend into Austin and are used by the Austin Metro light rail system.  There is a particular bridge on that line that is interesting to visit.  It is where the line crosses Brushy Creek, in a public park in Cedar Park (called Brushy Creek Park).  A bike/pedestrian trail goes along the creek bank under the bridge.  You can stand down there and really study the neat old bridge.  There is a plaque that describes how, back in the day, when this line was used to bring limestone stone from the hill country to Austin (I think the stone was used to build the state capital building), a load of stone was accidentally lost off the bridge-- and the remnants are clearly visible in the creek bed.  Would be a good spot for a shot if you want some local color, perhaps.

Then, running down the center median of the Mo-Pac expressway in Austin is an active UP line with freight and Amtrak running on it.

Hope this helps, but I understand it is not specifically model railroading stuff.

Dennis

Joe, there are several in the

Joe, there are several in the Dallas area and many will be open for tours during the train show in the fall. I will check with various guys in my club on Saturday and see if any of them know of layouts near Austin or groups that host open houses in the area like the north east council does. Even if they are not having a show and or open house there maybe a list with contact info to share. I suspect any one with a completed  or nearly completed layout would love to be on a trainMasters video.

I will either e-mail or post on the web pages info depending on the nature of what I find.

Consider San Antonio

San Antonio is somewhat in the area.   The SAMRA has a nice building with layout and several great member layouts:

http://samratx.org/index.html

http://samratx.org/memberlayouts.html

Layouts near Austin

There are quite a number of layouts in the Austin area, many of which have been open to the public for tours at various times during the Austin Area Train Show (held every May) as well as during the Lone Star Division of the NMRA convention that was held in nearby Round Rock last spring.  I can't say for sure, but I'd guess many of the owners would be interested in having TrainMasters TV pay them a visit.  I'll mention this at our Division meeting next week.  I'm probably not the right contact for this, but will try to find out who is.

Joel

@jrd_st1100

Thanks, Joel, that would be greatly appreciated!

layouts in Austin

Joe, who's the right contact at your end?  Is there an email addy I should share with folks who are interested?

Joel