BRANSON, Mo. — American Heritage Railways, owner of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and other properties, has acquired the Branson Scenic Railway, the tourist rail operation launched in 1993 on a former Missouri Pacific route.
The new owners will take over operations this Sunday, Sept. 1.
The purchase was prompted by the current owners’ retirement, AHR said in a press release. Founders Alsan Kamp, Illa Kamp, and Thomas Johnson have spent more than 30 years establishing the railroad as a Branson attraction, and American Heritage says it will maintain the company’s pride in quality customer service while exploring opportunities to expand operations and product offerings.
“Alan, Illa, and Tom have done an amazing job building a first-class operation and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to continue their work preserving history in this exciting market,” said John Harper, AHR general Manager and chief operating officer. “We look forward to honoring their legacy here in Branson and within the heritage rail industry for many years to come.”
Current employees will remain on staff with additional positions available as operations grow, the company said.
The Branson Scenic offers 1-hour, 45-minute excursions from a downtown Branson depot built in 1905, running on trackage operated by Genesee & Wyoming’s Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad. Trains are powered by an F9PH (former Baltimore & Ohio/MARC) and GP30M (former Chesapeake & Ohio) and feature a fleet of nine Budd Co. passenger cars, including three dome cars, built between 1939 and 1956. Four of those cars are of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy heritage; others come from the Pennsylvania Railroad; Texas Pacific; Atlantic Coast Line; Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac; and Southern Railway.
The Branson Scenic joins the Durango & Silverton and Great Smoky Mountains Railroad as American Heritage’s current rail operations. Other properties include Rail Events Inc., which licenses Polar Express train rides and Peanuts-themed rail events, and Heritage Rail Management, which provides consulting, management, and leasing services for other heritage rail operations.
