Arkansas & Missouri Railroad Excursion Train

The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad operates excursion passenger trains from the historic depot in Van Buren through the Ozark Mountains to the town of Winslow, Arkansas — a journey of about 70 miles each way through some of the most dramatic scenery in the state. The route climbs through the Boston Mountains using curves and grades that would have been considered engineering feats in the nineteenth century. Day excursions are offered on weekends from spring through autumn, with dinner train options on some dates.

The trains use restored vintage equipment and the excursion is primarily aimed at scenic tourism — the ride itself is the attraction. Van Buren's depot is the main boarding point. The schedule varies by season; book in advance as the trains fill up on weekends.

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A story
The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad follows a route originally surveyed in the 1870s, passing through a stretch of Ozark Mountains terrain so difficult that the railroad engineers used a series of horseshoe curves and switchbacks to gain altitude. The line through the Boston Mountains between Van Buren and Winslow is considered one of the most scenic railroad routes in the South, and was originally built to haul timber and coal out of the Ozarks.