Big South Fork Scenic Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big South Fork Scenic Railway |
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| Info | |
| Locale | McCreary County, Kentucky, US |
| Transit type | Heritage railway |
| Number of stations | 2 |
| Headquarters | Stearns, Kentucky |
| Website | bsfsry.com |
| Technical | |
| System length | 16.0 mi (25.7 km) |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) |
The Big South Fork Scenic Railway is a special train ride in Stearns, Kentucky. It's called a heritage railroad because it uses old tracks and trains to show you what things were like in the past.
This exciting train journey covers 16 miles (about 26 kilometers). It takes you through beautiful nature in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Along the way, you can stop at Blue Heron, Kentucky. This is a historic town where people used to mine coal. You can explore the town and learn about its history. Blue Heron also has a gift shop, a snack bar, and places to picnic. There are even hiking trails to explore!
The railway uses modern diesel trains for its trips. They are also working to fix up an old steam locomotive. This steam engine was built way back in 1944!
Right next to the railway is the McCreary County Museum. Your train ticket usually includes entry to the museum. Here, you can see how people lived in Kentucky's coal mining towns a long time ago.
The Railway's Story
The train tracks used by the Big South Fork Scenic Railway have a long history. They were first built by the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company. This started in 1901.
At first, the company built the Kentucky & Tennessee Railroad to move wood from the Cumberland National Forest. This forest is now called the Daniel Boone National Forest. Soon after, coal was found, and the company became Stearns Coal & Lumber. Their first coal mine opened in 1902.
In 1904, the railway changed its name to the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway Company. This helped them get money to make the line longer. They extended the tracks to towns like Worley and Bell Farm.
In 1937, the Blue Heron Mining Camp opened. The K&T railway built a one-mile track to reach this camp. To cross Roaring Paunch Creek, they needed a bridge. They bought a steel bridge from the New York Central Railroad in 1936. It was installed upside down to fit the curve of the track! This unique bridge is still used today. It carries passengers to what was once Mine 18.
The K&T railway once had big plans. They wanted to connect with other major train lines. But these plans didn't work out. In the 1960s, the railway started using diesel locomotives. Their old steam engines were retired in 1964. Some of these old steam engines are now at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. One of them, engine #12 (which was Southern Railway #4501), is even running again!
The Big South Fork Scenic Railway started offering rides to tourists on July 1, 1982. They began with seven open-air passenger cars. These cars were built by the railway itself! They also used two ALCo S2 diesel engines. Today, the Big South Fork Scenic Railway is very popular. It brings joy to tourists and train fans. Trains Magazine even called it a "spectacular trip back in time."
Types of Locomotives Used
Over the years, many different types of locomotives have run on the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway. Here are some of the kinds of engines they used:
- Steam Locomotives: These old engines used steam to move. They had different wheel arrangements, like 2-8-0, 2-8-2, 2-6-2, and 2-6-0. Some were built by famous companies like Baldwin Locomotive Works and ALCo.
- Shay Locomotives: These were special steam engines built by Lima Locomotive Works. They were good at climbing steep hills and going around tight curves, which was perfect for logging and mining areas.
- Diesel Locomotives: In the 1960s, the railway started using diesel engines. These were more modern and efficient. They used ALCo S-2 models, which were powerful switching engines.
See also
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
