Branson Scenic Railway

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Passengers boarding the train at the depot in downtown Branson.

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A view of the EMD F9 A unit powering the northbound end of the train.

The Branson Scenic Railway is a heritage railroad in Branson, Missouri. The trains depart from a historic depot in downtown Branson and operate in the scenic Ozark Mountains for an approximate 40-mile (64 km) round trip.

As the underlying rail lines are owned by the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA) and are still in use as an active railroad, MNA traffic determines whether a particular trip will operate northbound from Branson to Galena, Missouri, or southbound from Branson to the Barren Fork Trestle in Arkansas.

Equipment

The railroad operates a variety of vintage railroad equipment, including two dome cars, 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.

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 trestles and tunnels were required in order to create a level railroad grade. The lines later became part of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and in 1992 were sold to MNA.

References

• Branson Scenic Railway