BRANSON SCENIC RAILWAY
By Harold Merton
If you love old trains then you have a treat in store when you visit Branson. You can relive the memories aboard an American Classic at the Branson Scenic Railway (formed in 1963) as you ride aboard a collection of unique passenger cars that travel through the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. This one hour and forty-five minute trip takes passengers through tunnels, over trestles and through southwest Missouri or northwest Arkansas depending on which route the train takes when you travel. The restored cars and diesel engines travel on a working commercial railroad line on a route determined by the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad just prior to departure. Sometimes they go north, sometimes south.
Photos by Harold Merton
ticket office and a gift shop. Boarding is assigned in the order that reservations are made and because seating is not assigned it is a good idea to make your reservations as soon as possible. Of course nearly everyone wants to sit up in one of the dome cars to get a panoramic view of the scenery. Some people share their seats in the dome moving throughout the train while others stay there for the entire trip. I would suggest heading there first to try for a seat and if not successful sit somewhere else then check periodically for seat availability in the dome.
The locomotives that pull the trains include BSRX98 a 1951
EMD F9PH which
was rebuilt in 1981, and BSRX 99 a 1962 EMD GP30M rebuilt
in 1982. Cars include "Silver Eagle" a 1949 Budd 60 seat
coach formerly the Eagle from the Texas Pacific Railroad, "Silver
Lake" a 1951 Budd Buffet Lounge from the Pennsylvania Railroad,
"Silver Island" a 1947 Budd Dome Lounge,
"Silver Chef" a 1956 Budd 48 seat diner, "Silver
Garden" a 1952 Budd Dome
Lounge Coach, "Westport" a 1939 Budd Lounge Observation
and "Silver Terrace"
a 1952 Budd Dome Observation. The folks who restored these classics did
a
fantastic job!
From April to December at 5 p.m. each Saturday you can enjoy a four course
candlelight dinner just the way travellers did years ago. You can enjoy
traditional-style dining of a beef, chicken or fish entree that was the
ultimate experience long ago when riding the rails. The Ozark Zephyr is
a unique experience and one your children might really
enjoy while in Branson. Regular excursion tickets are $22.10 plus tax
for adults 13 and up or $12.10 for children 3 to 12.
The dinner train costs are $50.10 plus tax for all tickets regardless
of age. They recommend it for passengers 13 and over. A discount is offered
for AAA members with membership card. Children 2 and under are free providing
they do not occupy a seat.
Branson Scenic Railway
206 E. Main Street
Branson MO 65616
1.800.287.2462
417.334.6110
Fax: 417.336.3909
www.bransontrain.com
Legends in Concert
Silver Dollar City, Branson Missouri
BRANSON BELLE SHOWBOAT
ELVIS SHOW AT BRANSON IS ONE OF THE BEST ON
THE STRIP
MUSIC SHOWS ARE THE MAIN ATTRACTION
AT BRANSON