We spent the week at Branson, Missouri this week, and one of the highlights of the trip was taking a 2-hour ride on the excursion train provided by the Branson Scenic Railway (BSRX). So, here’s a little narrative of the trip along with some photos.
The entire consist was made up I believe of 8 or 9 passenger type cars with the F9 on the head end and a GP30M on the tail end. At the start of the excursion, the F9 leads the way. At the half way point, the GP30M takes over and we go in the same direction we came from, only we’re now being led by the GP30M.
What was really nice was that there were only about 30 or so people on the entire train, so in many of the cars, we were the only ones in there as we moved about exploring the train. Talk about feeling like VIPs!
At the head end of the consist is BSRX #98, an F9. Isn’t it a beautiful sight? Was thrilled to see that an old F unit is still being put to good use.
Here’s another shot of the head end of the consist, showing the F9 at the tip of the depot spur track waiting to enter the mainline. The main is the former Missouri Pacific main, now owned and maintained by the Missouri & North Arkansas (MNA) and the BSRX operates with a warrant over the MNA trackage using MNA engineers.
Here’s a pic of the GP30M:
Here’s a pic of me and the Mrs. in one of the dining cars as the train speeds through a rock cut (you can see the slate walls of the cut through the window). We’re having FUN!
And here’s a pic of my whole clan in one of the vista dome cars. There was a roving train employee offering to take pics of families.
Here’s a pic of the train heading into 1 of the 2 tunnels on the route.
Here’s a pic of the train as it passes over one of the trestles with the valley far below. Was kinda spooky:
Another trestle shot:
And yet another trestle shot:
All in all, a wonderful time. If you ever get to Branson, put this high on your list of things to do.
The entire consist was made up I believe of 8 or 9 passenger type cars with the F9 on the head end and a GP30M on the tail end. At the start of the excursion, the F9 leads the way. At the half way point, the GP30M takes over and we go in the same direction we came from, only we’re now being led by the GP30M.
What was really nice was that there were only about 30 or so people on the entire train, so in many of the cars, we were the only ones in there as we moved about exploring the train. Talk about feeling like VIPs!
At the head end of the consist is BSRX #98, an F9. Isn’t it a beautiful sight? Was thrilled to see that an old F unit is still being put to good use.
Here’s another shot of the head end of the consist, showing the F9 at the tip of the depot spur track waiting to enter the mainline. The main is the former Missouri Pacific main, now owned and maintained by the Missouri & North Arkansas (MNA) and the BSRX operates with a warrant over the MNA trackage using MNA engineers.
Here’s a pic of the GP30M:
Here’s a pic of me and the Mrs. in one of the dining cars as the train speeds through a rock cut (you can see the slate walls of the cut through the window). We’re having FUN!
And here’s a pic of my whole clan in one of the vista dome cars. There was a roving train employee offering to take pics of families.
Here’s a pic of the train heading into 1 of the 2 tunnels on the route.
Here’s a pic of the train as it passes over one of the trestles with the valley far below. Was kinda spooky:
Another trestle shot:
And yet another trestle shot:
All in all, a wonderful time. If you ever get to Branson, put this high on your list of things to do.
