The Zilker Eagle is still off the rails... for now.
Zilker Park’s mini-train, which is temporarily out of commission, has been a beloved part of the park for 60 years — and we’ve got a one-track mind to tell you about it.
The Zilker Eagle took its maiden voyage on April 22, 1961 and ran until 1996, when the train came back under new management as the Zilker Zephyr.
The Zilker Zephyr was the last train to run on the tracks at Zilker Park.
Photo by That Other Paper
The Zephyr ran from 1997-2019 when track erosion caused the train to shut down and the relationship between the city and the train’s operating company came to an end.
The train is coming back again as the Zilker Eagle, but the Austin Parks Foundation doesn’t expect the new train to be back in operation until at least fall this year. The train’s progress has been delayed a few times — most recently due to braking issues.