AUSTIN STEAM TRAIN ASSOCIATION INC.
2015 ANNUAL REPORT
Now in its 25th year
of regularly operating historically authentic steam-era passenger trains through Austin and the Hill Country, the
non-profit Austin Steam Train Association continues to thrive and grow,
thanks to the support of the public, its supporters and the volunteers who
crew its trains. ASTA is also proud to help other non-profits and schools,
in 2015 donating $35,000 in gift certificates to help 320 organizations.
In 2015, ASTA was proud to sponsor a state historical marker commemorating Austin’s long-gone downtown depots, to offer its 12th edition of
the popular Day Out With Thomas® weekend, to host its first Reading
on the Rails event supporting childhood literacy, to open new Cedar Park
museum spaces in its depot and in an historic horse car, to continue steady
work on restoration of its steam engine SP 786, to top for the first time
more than $1 million in annual ticket sales and most importantly, to safely
and reliably operate 113 trains carrying nearly 30,000 passengers on their
journeys through passenger railroading’s golden era.
Here is a snapshot of ASTA’s finances for the year:
2015 Fiscal Report
REVENUE
Revenue and
community support total
Ticket sales
Concession sales
Contributions / memberships
SP 786 fund
Day Out With Thomas®
Grants
Charters and projects
Miscellaneous
Interest income
2015
$ 969,016
123,188
42,833
19,760
358,064
136,487
14,615
3,890
13
$ 1,667,866
2014
$ 963,800
77,428
50,665
58,402
292,821
16,300
16,188
11,253
1,389
$ 1,488,246
$ 1,239,987
359,140
$ 1,599,127
$ 1,095,287
382,473
$ 1,477,760
EXPENSES
Expenses total
Program services
Supporting services
Our Mission Statement: The mission of the Austin Steam Train Association is to
preserve, interpret and re-create the first-hand experience of historic steam-era
railroading for the enjoyment and edification of today’s families and the
generations to come.
2015 Balance Sheet
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND
NET ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Certificate of deposit
Accounts receivable
Grants receivable
Inventory
Total current assets
$ 175,276
121,317
22,107
300,000
36,102
$ 654,802
Fixed assets, net of accumulated
depreciation
Locomotive and railroad cars
Building and improvements
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Railroad tracks and facilities
Machinery and equipment
Vehicles
Less accumulated depreciation
Total fixed assets, net of
accumulated depreciation
$ 1,235,912
58,664
29,914
280,031
85,241
13,409
(1,577,037)
Other assets
Organizational costs
Total other assets
$ 126,134
$ 1,000
$ 1,000
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and other
accrued expenses
Accrued interest payable Austin
Community Foundation
Line of credit
Deferred revenue
Total current liabilities
125,644
22,775
375,536
$ 561,935
Long-term liabilities
Notes payable
Total long-term liabilities
$ 300,000
$ 300,000
Net assets
Unrestricted, undesignated
Temporarily restricted
Total net assets
($ 134,983)
54,984
($ 79,999)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
NET ASSETS
$ 781,936
$ 37,980
$ 781,936
TOTAL ASSETS
“Trains are from a time past that sadly has
been forgotten. However, great and amazing engines like the Austin Steam Train
transport us to a simpler time. I have been
planning my trip for over two months....
however, today I got my train ride. I loved
every second. The conductor was super sweet
in letting this 41-year-old take pics on the
engine. He let me climb aboard, plus he
took a pic with me. I highly recommend this
trip to all.”
-- Letie C.
“Great experience, top-notch service,
excellent staff.”
-- Matt A.
ASTA’s popular Princess Flyer was well attended by 217 beautifully attired
children and their families, who enjoyed delicious cookies and beverages
on their trip to the historic Bertram depot.
ASTA engaged 204 volunteers in 2015,
providing 13,808 hours of service. It takes a large
number of dedicated volunteers in the Austin Steam Train Association to provide an outstanding,
memorable experience for our passengers. With only a handful of paid staff, the day-to-day operations of our organization rely heavily on the work of volunteers. Whether they are assisting in the office selling tickets and providing customer service, ensuring the comfort and safety of our passengers
on the train as onboard-service attendants and concession-car salespeople, operating the train as conductors, engineers and brakemen, working on mechanical or restoration jobs or providing support
during our many special events (including Day Out With Thomas® and the North Pole Flyer®), our
volunteers are the lifeblood of the Austin Steam Train Association. We could not exist without them.
ASTA’s Board of Directors
ASTA’s Staff
Ben Sargent, chairman
Robert W. Schoen Jr., M.D., president
Larry McGinnis, vice chairman
Brian J. Smith, secretary
Bill Bingham, general counsel
Mike Barnes
Jimmie Burleyson
John B. Charles
Melvin Clark
Bert Dockall
Greg Duepner
Dr. David B. Gracy II
Dennis Kearns
Scott Lewis
Joe Pinnelli
Gregg Squires
Lil Serafine, executive director
Ashraf Ahmed, yard man
Ana Breest, purchasing manager
Diane Ducote, reservationist
Bob Thiele, car man
Zena Vaughn, director of marketing and
special events
Contact Us!
401 E. Whitestone Blvd., C-100
Cedar Park, Texas 78613
(512) 477-8468
www.austinsteamtrain.org
From Some of Our Donation Recipients.....
“On behalf of Balcones CC Women’s Association, I would
like to thank you for your generous gifts....Your commitment to
helping raise money for scholarships is sincerely appreciated.”
-- Balcones Country Club Women’s Association
“Thank you so much for donating to our fall silent auction. We
were able to raise funds to place more books in students’ hands,
because of your generosity.”
-- Timmerman Elementary Parent Teacher Organization
“Thank you so much for your donation of a gift certificate for
our silent auction to help fund the summer ministry trip of our
youth.”
-- Christ Lutheran Church
“JDRF is a champion for millions of children and adults
affected by y type-1 diabetes, and your support makes this possible. With donations like yours, JDRF is able to impact the
lives of the millions of children, adults and families challenged
by T1D every single day.”
-- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Austin Chapter
ASTA’s ridership
kept a healthy pace in 2015. Passengers in 2014 numbered 30,486, and in 2015
totaled 29,287. In addition, 11,736 riders attended the 2015 Day Out With Thomas® weekend.
Vigorous advertising, socialmedia presence, innovative
new train-ride experiences
20,000
and of course the favorable
word-of-mouth that comes
from good customer service
all contribute to keeping sales
10,000
robust. Since operations began in the summer of 1992,
more than 730,000 people
have ridden ASTA’s trains.
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
“My husband and I rode your Sunday Bertram Flyer; we were on the car Nambe. Every
one of your volunteers was sweet and helpful....
The snacks on our car were just perfect for the
short trip; this was my first train ride and it
was amazing. I would give you a perfect 10 if
I could. For those thinking about riding this
train, do it! You will be glad that you did.”
-- Kristy D.
The grand opening of the Horse Car Museum was featured at ASTA’s
“Reading on the Rails” event in October. Approximately 270 visitors
toured the museum with ASTA Board President Robert “Doc” Schoen.
“Can I give a 10? Absolutely love the Austin Steam Train!
Went on the Hill Country Flyer with three of my dearest
friends. We booked an adult-only car with very comfy seating.
It was help yourself to coffee, tea, water and snacks set up, all
complimentary! The views were beautiful! We stopped in Burnet for two hours to get lunch and tour the town square. We got
lucky; Burnet was hosting their “city yard sale....” There was a
very cool old-west shootout for the whole family to enjoy. While
on the train, we took in so much history from the old train cars;
the staff is amazing and was thrilled to give us more interesting facts about the railroad history and all the cars. I highly
recommend this experience, either with friends or with the whole
family!”
-- April D.
The Austin Chronicle’s popular annual “Best of
Austin” issue dubbed ASTA and its railroad the area’s “Best Choo-Choo-Ch’boogie.”
Burnet
Bertram
Summit
The Hill Country Flyer, the
A&TC’s original route, operates at various times through
the year between Cedar Park
and Burnet.
Liberty Hill
“Exceptional all the way around! The staff
and volunteers are the best; highly recommend to all! Thank you, Austin Steam
Train!”
-- Terri S.
The Bertram Flyer operates
on a shorter route between
Cedar Park and the historic
Bertram depot.
Leander
A variety of special trains
operate over different parts
of the railroad through the
year, culminating in the festive North Pole Flyers® at
year’s end.
Cedar
Park
McNeil
Some special trains operate between Cedar Park and
downtown Austin.
ASTA introduced the Super Hero Flyer in August, welcoming
263 passengers including some awesome super heroes!
Austin
“We celebrated our anniversary on the Wine Flyer
and had such a wonderful time. The service was
perfect, and the experience unforgettable. Thank you
for such a memorable trip!”
-- Sandra G.
“Thank you, Austin Steam Train, for making our
anniversary a memorable one!”
-- Calvin H.
ASTA proudly supported Rouse High School’s 2015-16
Hospitality and Tourism Internship Program. The interns learned about product display, merchandise packaging, special-event planning, the passenger-ticket sales
process and marketing strategies.
The Donors Who Make ASTA’s Wheels Turn....
City of Chicago
Restoration:
($25,000 and above)
Burdine Johnson Foundation
City of Cedar Park Tourism
HOT Funds
Dr. Henry Renfert Jr. Fund
Railyard Canopy
Project:
($25,000)
Mary Carol Boone Joy
Foundation Fund
New Concession Car
Restoration:
($25,000 and above)
Burdine Johnson Foundation
City of Cedar Park Tourism
HOT Funds
($10,000 and above)
Anonymous
($5,000 and above)
Anonymous
Roger and Jeannie Shull
($2,500 - $4,999)
Texas Historical Foundation
($1,000 - $2,499)
Anonymous
BNSF Railway Foundation
(Employee matching gifts program)
Dennis and Jane Kearns
William Osborn
($500 - $999)
Luellen Schoen
(in honor of Doc Schoen)
Robert W. Schoen Jr., M.D.
($250 - $499)
Anonymous
Anonymous
(in honor of Jane Schoen)
Mike and Ethel Barnes
David and Laura Gracy
Clifton Jones
Michele and Seth Kraal
Larry McGinnis
(in honor of Larry and Lindy
McGinnis)
Gary D. Powell
Lil and Pat Serafine
Paul Slavens
Clinton Waggoner
(in honor of Murray Joyce)
($100 - $249)
Ashraf Ahmed
Alvin Algarin
(2) Anonymous
Anonymous
(in honor of Zena Vaughn)
Charlotte Barnes
William Bingham
Joel Davidson
Caroline Hassell
(in honor of Doc Schoen)
Marc Hayes
Kent Hemingson
Lisa Lachance
(in honor of Bear Riley)
Kay and John Lantz
Randy Leo
Linda S. McDonough
Larry McGinnis
Charles Pugh
Billy Richter
Ben Sargent
Larry Springer
Bob Thiele
Robert Thomas
Brian and Virginia Urban
Zena and Chris Vaughn
Clinton Waggoner
(in honor of Maurice Beckham)
Jimmy and Joyce Wilson
($40 - $99)
Suzi Bezemer
(in honor of Benjamin and
Joseph Sargent)
Olivia Buffaloe
Robyn Cravens Christensen
(in honor of Ross Cravens)
Mark Danheim
Michelle Devaney
Holly Provance Doggett
Dustin James
(in memory of Ralph James Jr.)
Jay and Annette Juba
(in honor of David Gracy)
Scott Lewis
Crystal McFadden
Inga McFadden
Jason Meadows
Phillips Phamily
Scott Sanders
Edwin Sargent
Dennie Scoggins
Art Serafine
Joel and Teri Shapiro
Jason Turcyn
Barbara Turley
($20 - $39)
Donald L. Allman, CPA, PC
Anonymous
Anonymous
(in honor of Tinplate Trackers
of Austin)
Andrew Baker
C.D. Bayne
Jimmie Burleyson
Diane Ducote
Ronald and Donna Ducote
Cody Eastman
Phil Huffstatler
Kenneth King
(in honor of U.S. Navy veterans)
Janet Marcil
(in memory of Aleksander Melsha)
Janaye Melsha
(in memory of Aleksander Melsha)
Cameron Muhic
Susie Mumford
Linda Nichols
Kenneth Park
Pilot Knob Vineyard
Brandon Pounds
Karah Ricketts
Jan Roberts
(in honor of Jim Cloninger)
Bobby Seiferman
Laura Serafine
Toot Sweet Cupcakes
Sharon Vaughn
Kirk Yoshida
786 Fund:
($10,000)
J. E. Lehman
(in loving memory of James R.
Lehman)
($1,000 - $2,499)
Alvin Goolsby
The Lengel Family Fund
Robert W. Schoen Jr. M.D.
Brian Smith
($250 - $499)
John Charles
Ken Keels
($100 - $249)
Anonymous
(in memory of James Reynolds
Lehman)
Michael and Ethel Barnes
G.K. Elmendorf
(in memory of James Reynolds
Lehman)
Gail Elmendorf
(in memory of James Reynolds
Lehman)
Kent and Carol Hemingson
John and Cathy Mandell
Gary Phelps
Barb and Jim Ross
Jennifer Rucker
Edwin Sargent
Ira and Lorraine Schneider
Lewis Smith
(in honor of Brian Smith)
The Families of William V.
Travis Estate
(in memory of James Reynolds
Lehman)
Brenda Travis
(in memory of James Reynolds
Lehman)
($50 - $99)
Michael Gauld
John F. Hudspeth
Scott Lewis
Michael McKinley
Ed Mellon
Rei Odaira
Jonathan Sessler
Craig and Sandra Smith
Michael Villareal
($20 - $49)
Anonymous
Matthew Bennett
Donna Blevins
Gary and Margie Bonine
Elizabeth Borkland
JP Cassata
Larry Chenoweth
Mary Doyle
(in memory of Jim Lehman)
Al Elliott
Van Fielding
Dennis Galli
Bonnie George
Mike Hellinger
Ilsa Hurtado
Cathleen Kratz
Lori Kyser
Jennifer Lincoln
Melissa Malone
Richard Morris
Marjorie Oyster
Calvin Puryear
Mike Rhodes
Edith Rothwell
Susan Satchell
Jerry Sawicki
Kenneth Slane
Douglas Soltau
Sandra Stallard
William Stein III
William Taylor
Robert Touchett
Nicholas Urbanski
Debbie Willingham
Our Member / Donors:
($1,000 - $2,499)
M.H. Crockett Jr.
Last Resort
Stuart M. Rohre II
Natalie Waggoner
($500 - $999)
Robert Edwin Anderson
J.L. Beckham
(in memory of Maurice Beckham)
Nancy A. Branch
Kathy Buck
John Howell
Eileen and David Shannon
($250 - $499)
Bruce Blalock
David and Canzada Bray
Robyn Cravens Christensen
(in memory of Ross Cravens)
Andy Fish
Susan Gentz
Tim Greeson
LCRA Employees’ United
Charities
John and Cathy Mandell
John Nelms
Kent M. Rider
Rick Peebles
(in memory of Lucille Turner
McAnally)
Gary D. Powell
Larry Springer
Nathan Talbot
Vendini Loves the Arts Program
($100 - $249)
Anonymous
Henry George and Eileen
Altmiller
Michael and Ethel Barnes
Robert L. Bucher
Burnet Gunfighters
Jan Carpenter
E. Lee DeGolyer III
Andrew Diefenthaler
Brian and Glori Euwer
Margaret and Thomas Frihart
Suzy and Hollis Grizzard
Richard and Suzanne Hall
Chuck and Sara F. Hamsa
Kent and Carol Hemingson
Don and Cheryl Lackey
Kat Mews
William M. Nance
Joe and Carolyn Osborn
Richard Preston
Doran Sauer
(in honor of Doran, Jamie, Ole
and Isabel)
Dr. Robert Scott
James D. Spates
George Taylor
Texas Tea-Licious
Bradley Thompson
Tommy and Pat Thompson
Rusty and BJ Turley
Zena and Chris Vaughn
West Lake Beach
($40 to $99)
George Bartholomew
Vicki Baughman
Francis Bostick
Mr. and Mrs. Terry Bray
Mr. and Mrs. Own P.
Carpenter Jr.
L.C. Casinger
D.J. Cramer
Andrew Diefenthaler
Raymond J. Dustin
John and Barbara Fibiger
Joe and Carol Fisher
Graves, Dougherty, Hearon
& Moody
Steve Hanson
Genie D. Hurta
Bill and Sue Jefferys
J. Parker Lamb
Scott Lewis
William Lomman
John K. Meadows
Nancy Ostrow
Martha Ross
(in memory of Maurice Beckham)
Russell Korman Fine Jewelry,
Diamonds and Watches
Roger and Joanne Scarborough
Jonathan Sessler
George Tereshkovich and Carol
T. Roberson
Mike and Dee Ann Thomasson
Kay Zagst
George Zapalac
Karla Zendejas
($20 to $39)
Anonymous
Frank Adams
Donna Blevins
Larry Chenoweth
Jeanne Cooper
Al Elliott
Deborah Evans
Morris and Dana Noren
(in memory of Maurice Beckham)
Jeff Parks
Ronald and Joann Peterson
Calvin Puryear
Pam Reese
Crystal Scoggins
Kenneth Slane
William Stein III
Donna Tripp
Debbie Willingham
Daryl Woods
ASTA’s 2015 Annual Report!
401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Suite C-100
Cedar Park, Texas 78613
Austin Steam Train Association Inc.
Austin, Texas
Permit No. 3134
PAID
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage