Branson Scenic Railway
Encyclopedia
The Branson Scenic Railway is a heritage railroad
in Branson, Missouri
.
It operates tourist trains in the scenic Ozark Mountains between Branson north to Galena, Missouri
, or between Branson south to the Barren Fork Trestle in Arkansas
. Each train operates for approximately 40 miles as a round trip.
s, a dining car, and several coaches built by the Budd Company
. Power is provided by an EMD F9
A unit
on the northbound end of the train and an EMD GP30
on the southbound end of the train. This arrangement makes it possible to make the return trip without having to use a wye junction or a passing siding.
s and tunnel
s were required in order to create a level railroad grade. The railroad made it possible for tourists to travel into the region, and it helped to make Branson and the Ozarks the tourism destination it is today.
The Branson Scenic Railway tourist trains depart from a historic depot in downtown Branson and use trackage still in operation by the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad
. Traffic on the MNA determines whether the train will operate northbound or southbound.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
in Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a city in Taney County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s....
.
It operates tourist trains in the scenic Ozark Mountains between Branson north to Galena, Missouri
Galena, Missouri
Galena is a city in Stone County, Missouri, United States. The population was 451 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Stone County. Galena is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, or between Branson south to the Barren Fork Trestle in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. Each train operates for approximately 40 miles as a round trip.
Equipment
The railroad operates a variety of vintage railroad equipment, including two dome carDome car
A dome car is a type of railway passenger car that has a glass dome on the top of the car where passengers can ride and see in all directions around the train. It also can include features of a coach, lounge car, dining car or observation...
s, a dining car, and several coaches built by the Budd Company
Budd Company
The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and was formerly a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars during the 20th century....
. Power is provided by an EMD F9
EMD F9
The EMD F9 was a Diesel-electric locomotive produced between February 1953 and May 1960 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors and General Motors Diesel . It succeeded the F7 model in GM-EMD's F-unit sequence. Final assembly was at GM-EMD's La Grange, Illinois plant. The F9 was also...
A unit
A unit
An A unit, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive equipped with a driving cab, or crew compartment, and the control system to control other locomotives in a multiple unit, and therefore able to be the lead unit in a consist of several locomotives controlled from a single position...
on the northbound end of the train and an EMD GP30
EMD GP30
The EMD GP30 was a 2,250 hp four-axle B-B diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois between July, 1961 and November, 1963...
on the southbound end of the train. This arrangement makes it possible to make the return trip without having to use a wye junction or a passing siding.
History
The railroad was originally built as the White River Railway between 1902 and 1905. Because of the rugged terrain of the Ozarks, a number of trestleTrestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
s and tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s were required in order to create a level railroad grade. The railroad made it possible for tourists to travel into the region, and it helped to make Branson and the Ozarks the tourism destination it is today.
The Branson Scenic Railway tourist trains depart from a historic depot in downtown Branson and use trackage still in operation by the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad
Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad
The Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad is a Class III short-line railroad headquartered in Carthage, Missouri.MNA operates approximately of line in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. Its main line extends 384.1 miles from Kansas City, Missouri to Newport, Arkansas...
. Traffic on the MNA determines whether the train will operate northbound or southbound.