AUSTIN STEAM TRAIN ASSOCIATION INC.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Now in its 26th year of regularly operating historically authentic steam-era pas-senger 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 2016 donating $38,000 in gift certificates to help 369 or-ganizations. In 2016, ASTA retired its original collection of open-window 1920s-era coaches, leaving today’s fleet of streamlined, climate-controlled cars. It acquired a second Alco diesel, Belt Railway of Chicago 605, which is being thoroughly overhauled along with ASTA’s first diesel, A&TC 442, and planning continues to bring ASTA’s steam engine, Southern Pacific 786, back into service. ASTA presented its 13th edition of the popular Day Out With Thomas® weekend, hosted a Reading on the Rails event supporting childhood literacy, topped for the second year in a row more than $1 million in annual ticket sales and most importantly, safely and reliably operated 113 trains carrying nearly 27,000 passengers on their jour-neys through passenger railroading’s golden era.

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.

REVENUE

Revenue and community support total

EXPENSES

Expenses total

2016 Fiscal Report

Ticket salesConcession salesContributions / membershipsFunds for SP 786 and PA systemDay Out With Thomas®

GrantsCharters and projectsEquipment and scrap salesInterest incomeCar-storage fees

Program servicesSupporting servicesFundraising

2015$ 969,016

123,18842,83319,760

358,064136,48714,615

13

$ 1,667,866

$ 1,239,987359,140

$ 1,599,127

2016$ 1,078,009

79,22012,6959,041

313,485254,906

9,325156,613

862,360

$ 1,915,740

$ 1,495,217250,60757,059

$ 1,802,883

2016 change in net position $ 112,857Net position, beginning of year ( 79,999 )Net position, end of year 32,858

2016 Balance SheetASSETS

Current assets Cash and cash equivalents Certificate of deposit Accounts receivable Grants receivable Inventory Total current assets

Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation Locomotives 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

Other assets Organizational costsTotal other assets

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Current liabilities Accounts payable and other accrued expenses Accrued interest payable Austin Community Foundation Line of credit Deferred revenue and insurance Total current liabilities

Long-term liabilities Notes payable Total long-term liabilities

Net position Unrestricted, undesignated Temporarily restricted Total net position

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET POSITION

$ 207,311121,317

-0-275,00038,257

$ 641,885

$ 1,311,20358,66432,005

285,23285,24113,409

(1,633,348)

$ 152,406

$ 1,000$ 1,000

$ 795,291

$ 11,524

142,14430,687

303,078$ 487,433

$ 275,000$ 275,000

($ 25,862)58,720

($ 32,858)

$ 795,291

Austin Wine and Cider LLCBig Worm Pumpkin PatchBluebonnet Beer Co.Bow Ties 2 Blue Jeans CateringBoy Scout Troop 410Tequila Cazadores®

Cedar Park Public LibraryCircle BreweryDripping Springs VodkaEmily Ann TheatreEpic EntertainmentFlat Creek EstateFlores Mexican Retaurant

2016 Special Events and Specialty-Train PartnersGreen House Craft Food

Haute BoxKona Ice

Lago Vista Leo ClubLago Vista Lions Club

Leander ISD Educational Excellence FoundationPenfold Theatre Co.

Red Horn Brewery and Coffee HouseStone House Vineyard

The Cake Smith BakeryTravis High School Technical Theatre Class

Vineyard at FlorenceWhitestone Brewery

ASTA engaged 260 volunteers in 2016, providing 14,450 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. In 2016, we welcomed 92 new volunteers. 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. Using volunteeringinamerica.gov’s standard value of $24.14 per hour for volunteer labor, our volunteers contributed $348,811 worth of their time, talent and hard work to ASTA in 2016.

ASTA’s Board of DirectorsBen Sargent, chairman

Robert W. Schoen Jr., M.D., presidentLarry McGinnis, vice chairman

Brian J. Smith, secretaryBill Bingham, general counsel

Mike BarnesJimmie BurleysonJohn B. CharlesMelvin Clark

Charlie DeWeeseBert Dockall

Greg DuepnerDr. David B. Gracy II

Dennis KearnsScott LewisJoe Pinnelli

Gregg Squires

ASTA’s StaffLil Serafine, executive directorAshraf Ahmed, yard man

Ana Breest, purchasing managerRachel Naron, volunteer coordinator

Bob Thiele, car manZena 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

ASTA’s ridership kept a healthy pace in 2016. Passengers in 2015 numbered 29,287, and in 2016 totaled 26,793. In addition, 10,882 riders attended the 2015 Day Out With Thomas® weekend.Vigorous advertising, social-media presence, innovative new train-ride experiences and of course the favorable word-of-mouth that comes from good customer service all contribute to keeping sales robust. Since operations began in the summer of 1992, nearly 863,000 people have ridden ASTA’s trains.

20152010200520001995

10,000

20,000

“Such a wonderful day out. My family has done the train ride three times now, and have always enjoyed ourselves. The train cars are nicely maintained, and the staff is always very helpful. We hope to make it back for a fourth trip at some point.”

-- Yael G.

“I love Austin Steam Train. I try to book regularly. I’ve been on the Mystery Dinner Ride (good entertain-ment and good gourmet boxed lunch), the Father’s Day train ride, and the Peach Cocktail Ride. There are lots more I want to try. The staff is friendly and the cars are like taking a trip back in time. It’s the coolest experience.”

-- Naomi W.“Everything was great. Our first train ride; it won’t be the last. I loved the appreciation and pride the volun-teers have for the cars and engine. Yes, that is right, from the engineer down, they do this out of love for steam trains. Amazing the dedication they have to keep-ing this great American history alive.”

-- Gina F.

“Exceptional all the way around! The staff and vol-unteers are the best! Highly recommend to all! Thank you, Austin Steam Train!”

-- Terri S.

Much-Appreciated Words From Some of Our Patrons. . .

Bertram

Burnet

CedarPark

Austin

Summit

Liberty Hill

Leander

McNeil

A variety of special trains operate over different parts of the railroad through the year, culminating in the fes-tive North Pole Flyers® at year’s end.

The Bertram Flyer operates on a shorter route between Cedar Park and the historic Bertram depot.

The Hill Country Flyer, the A&TC’s original route, oper-ates at various times through the year between Cedar Park and Burnet.

Some special trains oper-ate between Cedar Park and downtown Austin.

“Rode on the Hill Country Flyer today and had a blast. We were in the City of Chicago car and it was very nice and clean. The staff was very friendly. My daughter had so much fun! We will definitely have to go again soon.”

-- Candace N.

“Perfect family trip for us. Our two children were so excited to go and were not disappointed with the train ride. This is such a wonderful op-portunity that you provided. We will be visiting again for another great day!”

-- Susan S. C.

“Awesome experience for the kids and for the kids at heart! Will definitely do this again! North Pole Flyer will become a yearly tradition!”

-- Jonathan R.

“We had such a great time today on the train! We are visiting from Kentucky and were told to check out the trains. I am so glad we did! My kids (8 and 5) absolutely loved it! We had a private space (The Turquoise Room), but spent a lot of our time standing in between the cars feeling the wind! Such an awesome experience! Thank you to one of the conductors who answered lots of questions my little guy had! I wish we lived closer so that we could do it over and over!”

-- Amanda S.

The Donors Who Make ASTA’s Wheels Turn....City of Chicago

Restoration:($25,000 and above)

Dr. Henry Renfert Jr. Fund

Matching Gifts Programs:($500 - $999)

BNSF Railway Foundation

($100 - $499)AT&T Matching Gift ProgramExxonMobil Foundation Matching Gifts ProgramMobil Retiree Matching Gift Program

($50 - $99)IBM Matching Grants Program

New Concession CarRestoration:

($10,000 and above)Joe and Janis Pinnelli

($5,000 - $9,999)Dave and Eileen Shannon

($2,500 - $4,999)Texas Historical Foundation

($1,000 - $2,499)Dennis KearnsWilliam OsbornBen SargentRoger and Jeannie Shull

($500 - $999)Anonymous (2)Craig BowermanDavid and Renate HughartJoe PinnelliLuEllen SchoenRobert W. Schoen M.D.Clinton Waggoner

($250 - $499)AnonymousDavid and Laura GracyVirginia and Brian Urban

($100 - $249)William BinghamJohn FischerAnn and James Hopkins (in memory of John Pound)Scott LewisLinda McDonoughCrystal McFaddenLarry SpringerGregory SquiresZena and Chris Vaughn

($40 - $99)Matt ArnoldYolanda BakerOlivia BuffaloeJimmie and Kathy BurleysonPaul CalmesEric ColeDiane DucoteRon and Donna DucoteBarry HugheyClifton JonesAnnette and Ray Juba (in honor of David Gracy)Larry and Lindy McGinnisDustin McKeeLouise MillikanArt SerafineLil and Pat SerafineBarbara TurleyMichael S. Warburton

($20 - $39)AnonymousVicki BaughmanAna BreestJ.R. CantuMelvin ClarkKalima DrgaDavid GunnSara HamsaBarry HutchesonDales Kent (in memory of Elaine Kent)Inga and Mark McFaddenVincent Poliseno

786 Fund:($1,000 - $2,499)

The Lengel Family Fund

($250 - $499)Kenneth Keels

($100 - $249)Vicki HernandezIra SchneiderLewis F.H. Smith (in honor of Brian J. Smith)

Virginia Urban

($50 - $99)Gary BonineDawn McIntyreEdward K. Mellon Jr.Roger and Joanne ScarboroughCraig M. SmithDoug and Debbie SmithJim and Jill Wadlow

($20 - $49)David BallRichard DolifkaAna GonzalezBrian HensleyAnderson JeffreyThomas KelcecRichard LewisDiane MathewsPatrick PhelanGeorge RodriguezLewis F.H. Smith (in honor of Brian J. Smith’s birthday)George Tereshkovich and Carol T. RobertsonBradley TruittDonald Wilson

Our Member / Donors:($1,000 - $2,499)

Robert Edwin AndersonM.H. Crockett Jr.Bert DockallLast ResortJames Neves

($500 - $999)David and Laura GracyRick PeeblesGary D. PowellVendini Loves the Arts Program

($250 - $499)Marilyn GaddisSusan C. GentzWalter GreyRandy LeoBob and Mollie Schluter (in memory of Maurice Beckham and Robert Crossman’s father, and in honor of Clint Waggoner)

($100 - $249)Robert L. BucherBurnet Gunfighters Inc.Renee CurfmanAndrew Diefenthaler

Jerry and Mary ElderMargaret FrihartSusie GrizzardRichard and Suzanne HallWilliam L. Hanks (in memory of Kent Rider)William and Susan JefferysClifton JonesLanelle MontgomeryTara MustafaWilliam NanceSam NicastroWayne and Darlene SchildHank T. SmithJames D. SpatesLeland and Frankie StewartWest Lake BeachKirk Yoshida

($40 to $99)David BallTim BauerkemperGary BonineSandra S. Bosley (in memory of Kent Rider)Craig BowermanJohn C. BurksDouglas BoydOwen and Jan CarpenterMelvin ClarkBrian D. EuwerJohn and Barbara FibigerGenie HurtaHarvey JonesPaul and Maria LewisJohn K. MeadowsFrank E. RugglesSkip Waters

($20 to $39)Randal BeatrizCathy Brandewie (in honor of Larry McGinnis)Gloria HarrisonAnderson JeffreyStephanie KremlDawn Mcintyre

In-Kind Donations:

Lanelle Montgomery: Historic calendar, uniform tags and pins, switch keys, cards and matchbooks.Bruce Blalock: Framed prints.

ASTA Donated $38,000 in gift certificates in 2016, to help 369 public-service organizations. Here’s what some of them told us:

“Hand to Hold provides timely, meaningful, ongoing support during and after a NICU stay to prepare parents to navigate their NICU journey and meet the needs of their medically fragile child following discharge. Your generous donation helped us underwrite the development of new educational resources and allowed Hand to Hold to expand our services to ensure a bright future for NICU gradu-ates and their families.”

-- Kelli D. Kelley,Founder and executive director

“It is with considerable appre-ciation that we send this letter to thank you for your donation to the Lago Vista Women’s Club. Be-cause of you, we are able to award scholarships to Lago Vista High School students and make contri-butions to many local and neigh-boring community non-profit organizations.”

-- Donna Nash,President

“On behalf of the Texas Associa-tion of School Boards Inc., I want to express our sincere apprecia-tion for your contribution to our Fall Bazaar 2016. I hope that we can continue our relationship again next year, as your generosity greatly enhanced our event.”

-- Kristi Powell,Division director of finance

Austin Steam Train Association Inc.401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Suite C-100Cedar Park, Texas 78613

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDAustin, Texas

Permit No. 3134

ASTA’s 2016 Annual Report!

“Thank you for your generous donation to the 2016 Liberty Hill Public Library Summer Reading Program! Because of your gift, we were able to have an absolutely amazing summer reading program for our teens and adults.”

-- Angela Palmer,Read for the Gold Program