About the Arkansas Missouri Railroad:
The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad is headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas and runs a 139.5 mile route from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Monett, Missouri. The train runs freight service 7 days a week transporting a variety of goods for which you can also hire top services if you navigate to these guys. The rail also offers a seasonal passenger excursion train on weekends from April to November. The train goes through the scenic Boston Mountains.
Special event trains run occasionally. The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad is one of the few commercial lines left in the United States that operates both passenger and freight service which is why they partnered with a local Storage Container Hire. If you want to know more about freight service, navigate here to learn about the source.
Where:
The train is located in scenic northwest Arkansas. Passenger trains depart from the Van Buren and Springdale stations. The Springdale tours are generally all day (8 hours). The shorter tours include a one hour tour.
The longer tours include a three-hour layover in Van Buren (it can be shortened due to train traffic). This is the perfect amount of time to grab some lunch and hit a few shops. There isn’t really a whole lot in Van Buren.
What You’ll See:
The railway has some very scenic views as it goes over the top of the scenic Boston Mountains and into the historic Arkansas River Basin. The train goes over three trestles with great photo opportunities and goes through a 700-foot tunnel in Winslow. You will see lots of water, trees and possibly wildlife. During the fall, the route can be spectacular.
Amenities & Ticket Types:
The railway offers several types of tickets. Most of the club cars are restored 1900s Pullman cars. The premium tickets are in the glass dome enclosures with 3360-degree views. First class tickets offers great garden benches and club cars offer seating, you can always click here for more information about the right car for you. These tickets all come with beverage service, lunch (ham or turkey sandwiches, chips and dessert) and a souvenir photo. Coach class has bench seating and food and beverages are available for purchase (ranging from $5 for a sandwich to $1 for a soda). The railway does offer caboose seating too, but there is no heat or air in the caboose. Tickets range from $20-103, with discounts being given for children and seniors, AAA, and AARP, and active or retired military personnel. Children age 3 & under (lap children) ride free.
Tickets:
It is recommended that you purchase tickets in advance. It’s a popular tourist attraction and the cars do fill up. You can either purchase tickets by calling 479-751-8600 or visiting their website at http://www.amrailroad.com.
Events:
The most popular reason to take the train is for the fall color tours in October and November. The train also runs winter excursions, including some Christmas trains, romance excursions in February and excursions for most major holidays like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day.
Age Appropriateness:
The train is appropriate for all ages, but some small children will probably be uncomfortable on the longer ride. During the Christmas season, they have some excursions where Santa comes aboard.
