I drove from Springfield, Missouri to Branson and followed the signs to the train.
I arrived at the Branson Scenic Railroad Parking Lot and parked.
Branson Scenic Railroad historyThe comfort of the vintage passenger cars is quite a contrast to the harsh realities the railroad pioneers found when they undertook bringing rail service to the Ozarks. Laying the tracks for the White River Railway was possibly the most difficult construction task ever undertaken in the Ozarks. It meant creating hundreds of miles of level surface where there were only rugged hills and valleys. It meant stretching tall trestles across valleys and blasting long, damp tunnels through mountains of solid rock. The project required thousands more workers and millions more dollars than railroad construction in a more accommodating terrain. But its difficulty is surpassed by the accomplishment and the opportunities the railroad provided the struggling Ozarks pioneers.
The railway was built in two sections: a northward line beginning at Batesville, Arkansas, and the other going south from Carthage, Missouri. Construction began in January 1902, and the final spike was driven on December 29, 1905, which joined the northern and southern sections. The 239 miles of track cost more than $12 million-about six times normal rail construction costs. According to the White River Railway, an intricately detailed book by Walter M. Adams, in October 1901, laborers were paid $1.25 to $1.50 per day, and men with teams were paid $2.50 to $3.00 per day. This helps to put the total cost of the railway in perspective for that time in history.
The town of Branson is a product of the railroad. Adams writes, "It started out, as did most Ozark towns, as a country store owned by one Rueben S. Branson who was granted a post office in 1882 while on Bull Creek, north or in this case down river from the present location. In 1883 Branson moved to the confluence of Roark Creek and the White River. Here speculators established a small town called "Lucia" and on May 2, 1901, the post office was renamed Lucia". With the arrival of the railroad, rival land speculators got busy and bought up land to the west and north of Lucia. This was the Branson Town Corporation with Charles R. Fulbright as president. Fulbright also held the title as "immigration agent" for the Iron Mountain Railroad. The official plat of Lucia was filed on October 2, 1903 while that of Branson was filed October 26, 1903. When it became obvious that the railroad would run only through the Branson Town Company's plat the land owners of Lucia sold their interests to the town company. Both "towns" maintained their own newspapers for a time, the Lucia "Locomotive: and the Branson "Echo". On June 11, 1904, the post office was renamed "Branson: and the adjoining communities were finally incorporated as Branson April 1, 1912."
The construction of the White River Railway in the early 1900's made the area accessible for tourists and is largely responsible for the development of Branson and the Ozarks as a tourism destination. Before the area's economy was based on tourism, the railroad served a traditional industrial purpose, which continues to this day.
The railroad is known as the White River Route. The route crosses the White River in Branson, now Lake Taneycomo, and then runs along side of it after taking a fifty-mile "short cut" over the Ozark Mountains. This was part of the Missouri Pacific Railroad between Kansas City, Missouri, and Little Rock, Arkansas. It became a part of the Union Pacific after the UP bought the MOPAC. The Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad now operates the line. In 1993, the Branson Scenic Railway was formed, and through a lease arrangement with the MNA, runs excursions through this historic route March through December.
The train sits behind the Branson Scenic station as the active freight line is out in front.
Branson Scenic Railroad F9PH 98 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1951, ex. Maryland Area Rail Commmuter, exx. MARC 7183, exxx. Baltimore and Ohio 4566, nee B&O 369.
This view is from the south end.
Branson Scenic Railroad GP30M 99, nee Chesapeake and Ohio 4625, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1962 and rebuilt in 1982.
Branson Scenic Railroad 60 seat coach "Silver Eagle", nee Texas and Pacific 461, built by Budd in 1949.
Branson Scenic Railroad dome-lounge-coach "Silver Garden", nee Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 320, built by Budd in 1952. Used on the Kansas City Zephyr.
Branson Scenic Railroad buffet-lounge 3118 "Silver Lake", nee Pennsylvania Railroad parlor car "Casimir Pulaski", built by Budd in 1951 then converted to a buffet lounge by Amtrak.
Branson Scenic Railroad dome-observation 9320 "Silver Terrace", nee Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 365 built by Budd in 1952. It ran on the Kansas City Zephyr.
The Missouri and Northern Arkansas Branson Scenic Railroad station built in 1905. I walked back across the street to see some other railroad displays.
St. Louis-San Francisco caboose 1156, nee 156, built by the railroad in 1951.
Branson Scenic dining car 8044, ex. Amtrak, ex. Kansas City Southern 59 "Old Plantation", nee Louisiana and Arkansas 57 "Old Plantation" built by American Car and Foundry in 1948 for the Southern Belle.
Missouri Pacific caboose 13502 built by International Car in 1971. I walked back to the station.
The ticket window where I picked up my ticket then bought a T-shirt and returned outside.
The timetable board written in chalk as it used to be.
One waits behind this chain to board. They called me back inside then gave the sixteen passengers taking the 9:00 AM departure a safety briefing before we were led back outside to the chain and everyone's bags were inspected. Boarding then commenced and I chose a forward-facing seat in the dome car "Silver Garden".
The dome seats of the "Silver Garden
At 9:00 AM, we departed Branson heading south but stopped to unlock the switch to the mainline and pull forward before locking the switch behind us.
The headquaters of the outdoor equipment company Bass Pro Shops.
The conductor punches the children's first letter of their first name, as was done in the film "Polar Express".
He did a "C" for Chris for me. Pretty cool if you ask me.
Lake Taneycomo.
Our train crossing the lake.
Views as we traversed the lake.
Curving into Hollister.
The Missouri Pacific Hollister station built in 1906.
We followed Turkey Creek out of Hollister.
Rounding another curve.
Next the rain started which made photography more difficult.
Through the rain drops, a third curve on the line.
Between the raindrops.
The new Branson Airport being built by filling in three valleys to create a flat landing field for $155 million in private funding.
The Arkansas State Line sign.
Entering Crest Tunnel, a 3,485 foot bore completed in 1903.
Exiting Crest Tunnel.
Looking at the Cricket Valley.
Taking another curve.
Passing through Cricket.
Entering Cricket Tunnel, a 2,746 foot bore completed on October 22, 1904.
Exiting Cricket Tunnel.
Yet another curve.
Making our way onto the Barren Fork trestle, which is 913 feet long and 125 feet high.
Looking east from the trestle.
The rear of the train on the Barren Fork Trestle.
We continued to take the curves all the way to our turn-back point at Walnut Creek trestle.
Our train went onto the trestle then stopped on the 474 foot long and 113 foot high bridge.
Looking both ways from the trestle.
Two forward views before we started back towards Branson.
Crossing the Barren Fork trestle on the return trip.
Taking the curves.
The red signal before Cricket Tunnel.
In and out of Cricket Tunnel.
Passing through Cricket northbound.
Rounding another curve.
An old Missouri Pacific signal.
Looking forward.
In and out of Crest Tunnel.
The conductor's public address office where he gives route information or plays music during the trip. I then walked through the train.
Views of the lower level of "Silver Garden".
Interior of "Silver Eagle".
Interior of "Silver Lake".
Views inside "Silver Terrace".
Our train crew relaxing.
Views along Turkey Creek.
Passing through Hollister.
Our conductor John Moorman making an announcement.
Running along a rock ledge in the rain again.
Crossing Lake Taneycomo and we returned to the Branson Scenic Railroad station after a switch was thrown to line us into the station track. I said my goodbyes to the crew and thanked them for a great trip aboard the Branson Scenic Railroad.
Back in my car, I left Branson and drove south on US Highway 63 to Missouri Highway 86 and stopped for petrol at a Conoco station then drove Missouri 86 west to State Highway 221, which took me south into Arkansas to Berryville, where I took US Highway 62 into Eureka Springs for my next train ride at 2:00 PM.
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