Holiday Excursion Steam Train Strikes Vehicle In Leander

LEANDER, TX — A holiday sightseeing train filled with dozens of passengers, mostly children, struck a vehicle stalled on the tracks early Sunday evening, according to reports.

A passenger told the Austin American-Statesman the train was the "North Pole Flyer" operated by the Austin Steam Train Association launched at 3:30 p.m. for what was supposed to be a two-hour holiday excursion, running from Cedar Park to Bertram and back with complimentary hot cocoa and a fresh cookie for each rider, carolers and Santa Claus with Mrs. Claus on board, according to information found on the train operation's website.

But the festive ride turned scary on Sunday as the train returned from Bertram, when it struck a pickup truck trying to cross the tracks in Leander, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office told the Statesman. The collision occurred along the 600 block of River Run, the sheriff's office said, with no injuries resulting from the impact.

The Texas Department of Public Safety now is investigating the crash, but there's confusion as to which train was hit. DPS officials at one point said it was a Capital Metro train with no passengers, but the sheriff's office maintained it was a sightseeing trip but didn't confirm which one. For its part, the Austin Steam Train Association could not be immediately reached for comment, the newspaper noted.

Patch will provide more details as they are made available.

On its website, the Austin Steam Train Association noted rides on its "North Pole Flyer" were sold out for the year, sharing updates on the train Facebook page. All cars on the ride are pulled by a diesel locomotive, with holiday departures at 8:30 a.m., noon, 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets to participate in the holiday tradition are sold beginning in January each year, and are usually sold out by November, company officials wrote on their website. The lowest price for a ticket — accommodating an adult with a child on the lap — is priced at $50 with costs going up to "First Class Lounge" seating.

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