Here is a picture of Branson Scenice Railway F9.
In Branson Missouri on Monday
Very nice
Cool!
Thanks for posting, Orcherd.
I recorded a PBS special about tourist railroads. The Branson Scenic was one of the lines featured.
Neat story about it is that originally the plans were to create a commuter type of operation in Branson. Then it was decided to make this railway “an attraction”, instead. The idea worked. The F-unit and a Geep were shown alternately hauling the train.
The streamlined passenger cars appear to be Budds from the 1950s.
Anyone know the history of this particular F9? Only a few railroads bought these and were not as wide spread as the F7.
Just from the looks of it, it’s an ex-VIA FP9 (originally Canadian Pacific). If you note the rear of the loco, in the location originally used for the steam generator, there’s and exhaust stack with muffler. I may be wrong, but I think these locos had the steam generator replaced with a small diesel engine driving a generator for head end power late in their lives.
Compare the Branson loco to this FP9 still in VIA colors. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=82583
Quite a few of the ex-VIA engines have found new homes pulling tourist trains.
Andre
Taken from the Branson Scenic RR web site
TRAIN EQUIPMENT
BSRX 98, Locomotive, 1951 EMD F9PH, rebuilt 1981, has HEP (Formerly B&O, then MARC #83)
BSRX 99, Locomotive, 1962 EMD GP30M, rebuilt 1982 (Formerly C&O, #4625)
PPCX 800603, “Silver Eagle”, 1949 Budd 60 Seat Coach (Formerly the Eagle from the Texas Pacific Railroad)
BSRX 3118, “Silver Lake”, 1951 Budd Buffet Lounge (Formerly the Parlor Car Casimir Pulaski from the Pennsylvania Railroad, then converted to a buffet lounge by Amtrak)
BSRX 9540, “Silver Island”, 1947 Budd Dome Lounge (From CB&Q, Twin-City Zephyr)
BSRX 8503, “Silver Chef”, 1956 Budd 48-Seat Diner (From CB&Q, Denver Zephyr)
PPCX 800287, “Silver Garden”, 1952 Budd Dome Lounge Coach (From CB&Q, Kansas City Zephyr)
PPCX 800336, “Westport”, 1939 Budd Lounge Observation (From Atlantic Coastline “Champion” Train)
BSRX 9320, “Silver Terrace”, 1952 Budd Dome Observation (From CB&Q, Kansas City Zephyr)
Well, I sure was way off.
Not to mention disgusted with myself. I coulda looked it up on the website, too.
As penance, here’s a link to a cool shot of Maine Eastern’s pair of ex New Haven FL-9’s.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=114177
Andre
In general, they run the trains with a loco on each end so that the engineer has a cab coming and going. The scenery, especially to the south, is beautiful, and the food ain’t bad.
Patallin,
How long is the ride?
Anyone know what railroad trackage this train traverses? (MKT, CSX?)
http://www.bransontrain.com/depot/depot.htm
It is all written down on the History page on the web site
It runs on the old MoPac line. I rode it a few months ago great scenery. TIP: Buy tickets early for the best seats. They board the train by ticket number so if you like to have a Dome seat get it quickly. Friendly staff and great place for the family.
Nice picture, Daniel! Interesting paint scheme.
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