AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: The above video was published in October 2023.
Since 2021, the Austin Parks Foundation has been working to re-introduce miniature train rides for children in the community.
Now, approximately three years after the original announcement, the Zilker Eagle Mini Train is truly coming together.
On Jan. 23, the train's Facebook page posted an update on three new cars that recently returned after receiving updates.
"The cars have spent the last several months in Schertz, TX, where they were retro-fitted with upgraded lighting, all new air brakes, wiring and couplers," the Facebook post said in part.
The cars were shipped off for changes late last year and will soon be tested for functionality, with more updates to come in February.
PHOTOS: First Zilker Eagle Mini Train cars return
Originally, the mini train was set to open in 2021 after the previous train, the Zilker Zephyr, closed in 2020 because of weather-related erosion.
However, safety issues caused the opening date to be pushed back as engineers worked on the new and improved rail system.
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The upcoming electric model will travel from an area near Barton Springs Pool all the way to Lady Bird Lake, with the turn around point located at Lou Neff Point.
The train will also be ADA-compliant, making it more accessible to a broader audience.
With a 1940s flair, the Zilker Eagle Mini Train is almost ready to start its engine.