American Heritage Railways (AHR) will take over the Branson Scenic Railway on Sunday, September 1. The purchase will be made by new owners of the tourist railway that began operating on the Missouri Pacific route in 1993. The Branson Scenic Railway is a train service that runs on tracks built in 1905 and is operated by the Genesee & Wyoming's Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad.
The purchase follows the retirement of the current owners. Founders Alsan Kamp, Illa Kamp and Thomas Johnson worked for more than 30 years to make the railroad a Branson attraction. American Heritage Railways plans to continue the company’s quality customer service and expand operations.
“Alan, Illa and Tom have done a fantastic job building a world-class operation, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue their historic preservation work in this exciting market,” said AHR General Manager and Chief Operating Officer John Harper. Harper noted that the legacy of Branson and the heritage rail industry will be honored for years to come.
The new owners announced that current employees will remain on staff and additional positions will open as the business grows. The Branson Scenic Railway operates from downtown Branson, offering 1-hour, 45-minute trips. The trains are powered by F9PH and GP30M locomotives, and the fleet includes nine Budd Co. coaches built between 1939 and 1956. The coaches are a legacy of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Pennsylvania Railroad, Texas Pacific, Atlantic Coast Line, Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac, and Southern Railway.
Branson Scenic adds the Durango & Silverton and Great Smoky Mountains Railroad to American Heritage Railways’ existing rail operations. It also operates through other properties, including Rail Events Inc., which offers Polar Express train rides and Peanuts-themed events, and Heritage Rail Management, which provides consulting, management and leasing services for heritage railroad operations. With this acquisition, AHR aims to continue its mission of preserving railroad heritage and history.
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