Community
BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON
Trail of Trains honors Leander's past, o ers scavenger hunt The signi cance of trains in Leander dates back to the late 1800s, when the town was named to honor Leander Brown—one of the o cials who completed the rail line that ran through the area. 1 A+ Federal Credit Union Trains around town
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That rail line not only established the city of Leander, but now serves as the only stop in a suburban Central Texas city on the CapMetro rail. In 2017, a group of community members launched the Leander Trail of Trains program to commemorate the city’s history, according to the Leander Chamber of Commerce. These 600- pound, decorated concrete trains are scattered across the city. Bridget Brandt, the president of the Leander Chamber of Commerce, said about 22 trains are part of the program with four more scheduled to be revealed before the end of this year. Zooming in About 20 of the trains in the program are on the trail and available for public observation, she said, and they all have a unique background. For instance, the Texas Starry Night was the rst train in the program and has a Texas theme, featuring the Capitol, longhorns and the starry sky. Similarly, the Wild ower train represents the blooming of local orals. The base of each train is made by pouring concrete into a metal cast. Brandt said the design of this cast was custom-made for Leander. Brandt said in the future, she hopes for the trains to be in front of every business and neigh- borhood in Leander. “It’s a great way to showcase the history of Leander, it’s a great way to bring the community together and it’s a great way to share art,” she said. “Some of them are just so absolutely incredible, so I’d love for everybody to have one.” Check this out Anyone who resides in the city of Leander or the extraterritorial jurisdiction can purchase a train, Brandt said. Trains cost $600 plus artist fees, and an art plan must be approved by the Chamber. The Chamber also has a digital scavenger hunt local families and visitors can participate in. The rules are to nd the trains along the trail, take photos with them and head to the Chamber for a prize after completing the hunt. “Come and visit the trail of trains,” Brandt said. “They’re incredible; you’ll be so glad you did. It is just a really great way to spend some quality time with your family, see some beautiful art and support local businesses.”
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The Resilience train at Devine Lake Park was donated by Leander-based Krueger Pest Control.
The Leander Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center's train, the Texas Starry Night, features the Austin skyline.
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The Wild ower Train located o Bagdad Road showcases Central Texas' annual blooming owers.
Located outside the restaurant, the Texas Treasure train features Whataburger's famous orange and white stripes.
PHOTOS COURTESY LEANDER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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