We arrived at the Rothwell Park Magic City Line Miniature Railroad and their volunteers were to give us a ride on this unique railroad.
The Magic City Line has become the main attraction for Moberly's Great Train Adventure with around 6,000 paid riders per year! The train is open 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., with the last train ride at 4:00 pm. The train runs each Sunday from May to the end of October, weather permitting. The train is also open for the 4th of July (12-4pm) and by special booking for reunions, birthdays, and other private parties.
This amusement ride represents the historic Wabash and Norfolk & Western Railroads and transports passengers of all ages on a one mile long adventure in Rothwell Park on a 12 inch gauge! The train travels through gardens, by wood carvings, crosses a bridge and trestles in Moberly's beautiful Rothwell Park.
The group operates under the Moberly Friends of the Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Missouri corporation. The trains, rails and gardens were built by volunteers of the Rothwell Park Railroad, often working with donated materials. The railroad operates through the sale of rides or group events, donations and grants.
Our train was waiting for our trip this afternoon.
Our engine is painted for the Norfolk & Western Railway.
They showed us their handicapped car then we walked down to the engine house.
This is their engine shed.
The first engine the group owned.
This is a Crosby engine.
A Norfolk Southern locomotive.
They have a drop pit in their engine house which is unusual.
A trolley style switch is in use here.
They use this car to spread ballast on their track.
This 4-4-0 was built by Ottaway Amusement Company in 1948.
There is a water and coaling tower.
We walked through the tunnel to get back to the boarding area where it was now time to get on the train.
Me aboard the Magic City Line Miniature Railroad. The train started its trip.
We left the station passing the Coates Street sign.
Intricate wood carvings of an animal not seen in Missouri.
We crossed this bridge.
Interesting wooden carvings.
Rolling through Rothwell Park.
Views of Rothwell Park.
Nathan was video taping the trip.
I was enjoying my ride in Rothwell Park.
The Bertley Street crossing gates were not working.
Approaching the southern loop.
The road in Rothwell Park.
The reversing loop track on which we would be returning.
Views in the park.
The train about to make the big turn.
Taking the loop. New dogwood trees had been planted on the inside of this track loop.
There is a station at the south end of this railroad.
We passed the southern station.
A culvert on the loop.
The train crossed this bridge.
Another view of the culvert.
Leaving the dogwood trees behind.
The train has returned from the loop and will head north.
The engineer checked the train as it went through the switch.
Re-crossing the bridge.
It was nice to see so many trees in the park.
The train recrossed the bridge.
Going through the switch to take the northern loop.
We did not go by the Coates Street sign.
Views north along the northern loop track.
Passing the Burma Shave signs.
We went by the direct loop back to the station.
The train crossed this bridge.
The train took this northern loop.
Crossing another small bridge.
That bridge we crossed was made out of a flat car.
That flat car was Norfolk and Western 985074.
Our route took us beside the train shed.
I had already seen these.
On our way to the tunnel.
A Barnum and Bailey circus poster on the tunnel wall.
We returned to the station and all detrained.
The volunteers asked me to sit in the engine for pictures, after which we thanked them for an excellent train ride on the Magic City Line Miniature Railroad.
The three of us departed Rothwell Park and stopped to put four gallons of petrol in the van then drove out to Mexico, Missouri to see the stations there.
The Wabash station, which was demolished in 2013.
There was a Norfolk Southern GP59 down the tracks.
The Chicago & Alton/Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Mexico station, now used by Kansas City Southern, built in 1879.
Norfolk Southern GP59 4624, built by Electro-Motive Division in 1984. From here we drove back to Centralia then south to Columbia where we found the Columbia Terminal Railroad engine.
Colt Railroad GP7 2001, ex. BNSF 1343, nee Santa Fe 2705 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1952. We then drove to the Columbia Star Dinner Train's parking lot.
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