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We are planning to have FREE rides.

Saturday & Sunday

October 19th & 20th, 2024

October 26th & 27th, 2024

11 am - 4:30 pm

Here is a link to our October 2024 flyer.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xSHLHIvxUlEg7SOed5XOval-uTkm4X32RtQhvyXXkRk/edit?usp=sharing

You may need to copy and paste it in the URL.

FYI

We have Portable restrooms.
Dress for the weather- hats, coats, gloves, sunglasses!

We will do our best to keep our Facebook Page updated on our operation status.

(We can't operate in rain or on wet track.)

Sometimes we run into internet connectivity problems when we are at the railroad.

We only operate a few select weekends, the week around 4th of July and two weekends late October for Halloween.

last updated 09/07/2024 09:00 AM

Joplin & Springfield Railway

Fourth of July

&

Halloween

Free Train Rides since 2002

(weather permitting)

Located 1 mile south of the Springfield-Branson Airport

The Rides are operated on select weekends

(Unless raining) during the tentative hours

11:00 am - 4:30 pm

Gates may be closed early, if we are at capacity.

We cannot operate in the dark or on wet track

The owners do not charge admission, accept gratuities, or preach.

Dress for the weather!!!

Guests should bring their own--

July - Sunscreen, bug spray, hats, chairs, water.

October - Water, coats, hats, gloves, and blankets.

It can be cold and windy.

Please take away your own trash & wastepaper etc.

No fireworks allowed.

Ride at your own risk.

Virgie & David Holberg

Our President & Our Chief Engineer

Our Founders

Why is named that?

Does it go from Joplin to Springfield?

No - Not, the Missouri cities you know, but the railroad is named after two places with those city names.

Please read on to grasp the name's meaning.

So, what's the story? How does it go from Joplin to Springfield?

Joplin & Springfield Railway is a real, passenger-carrying 24-inch gauge railway that was built on land that began on land owned by Joplin Stone Company and crossed into land owned by Springfield Underground. And Dave and Virgie had a thing for mining rock and railroads. The railroad carries thousands of passengers each year.

Our history: In 1998, Virgie and Dave Holberg unloaded the first narrow-gauge cars and the red engine on land in Greene County, Missouri. The site was owned by the Joplin Stone Company, a subsidiary company to Springfield Underground, Inc., which also owned adjacent land. The site was (and still is!) an underground limestone mine, but the surface was largely vacant. Virgie and Dave occupied the old house, and there was an empty barn and acres of tranquil natural scenery. What better place for a railway?

But railways require more than just a train, and years of work followed to build the infrastructure. The mud floor of the old barn was excavated and tracks in the barn were installed, creating a protective home for the trains and shop space to work on them. To connect the barn’s storage tracks to the mail railway line, a gallows-style turntable was constructed from an old school bus frame, Ozark oak timber, and driller's steel. Elegant and functional, it is now also a landmark displaying the Joplin & Springfield Railway's logo.

Over time, Virgie and Dave laid the tracks themselves, working eastward to the woods, then south through the woods, crossing the Joplin Stone Company’s property line onto the Springfield Underground land. Thus, the Joplin & Springfield Railway name reflects that it connected the properties of the Joplin (Stone Company) and the Springfield (Underground), as the land was titled when the track was laid.

Interesting fact: during the first years of operation, about half of the train ride was in reverse! Yes, trains ran to the end of track, and then without a way to turn around, they backed up. As time passed, the railway’s tracks were extended southward to a “wye” (a triangular junction used for turning trains) constructed near the pond on top of the hill, which made a “round trip” possible. Trains turned on the wye, and the engine was turned on the turntable. Finally, return loops of track were built around the pond and the barn area, so the entire train can be turned at once.

The total length of the track is nearly two miles. A round trip usually takes about 20 - 30 minutes, including passenger loading time.

The Joplin & Springfield Railway is a private 24-inch gauge, amusement park style, hobby railroad that offers a 2-mile 20-minute free ride with over 100 hand-made figures and exhibits for all guests and friends.

The red Chance, CP Huntington replica, locomotive was used in Osage Beach and Kansas City before coming to Springfield, MO. The green Chance, CP Huntington, replica was used in Omaha and Kansas City before being completely rebuilt by the Joplin & Springfield Railway.

Both Engines are equipped with sound stack systems and smoke generators.

The engines are powered by a 4-cylinder gas engine.

Passenger cars seat 14 people each and are equipped with automatic air brakes. Each engine is generally operated with 3 to 4 cars to provide a way to view the unique figures in an outdoor setting.

Construction of the Joplin & Springfield Railway started in 1998.

The trains are NOT ADA compliant. We do have one car with more open space to accommodate some special needs. Call for more information.

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Restrooms

Portable restrooms will be provided.

No Fireworks

FYI

Parking

Follow the parking figures or mannequins to the parking area. Parking is in a grass field.

No Camping

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Dress for the weather

July... Water, bug spray, sunscreen, chairs.

October... Coat, sweatshirts, gloves etc.

Please be sure to check this out!
We were honored to be featured

in this YouTube video by Wandering North America.

It was great to share the history of the Joplin & Springfield Railway,

and our love for Springfield and all things railroad.

https://youtu.be/FKX8iIaOnYU

In Memoriam

The Joplin & Springfield Railway has been a labor of love for many, beginning with its founders, Virgie and Dave Holberg. Here, we remember some key players for their contributions with affection and gratitude.

Virgie Holberg, President, Dec. 18, 1939, to Jan. 6, 2016

John Ward Lease, Engineer, Jan. 31, 1940, to May 14, 2016

George Arthur Lee Garrison, Conductor, Jun. 8, 1950, to May 24, 2018

Michael “Mike” Lester Hayden, Mechanical Wizard, Aug. 29, 1948, to Oct. 13, 2019

Robert “Bob” Raymond Eimer, Engineer, Nov. 6, 1928, to Oct. 28, 2019

Gordon Lee Garrett, Crowd Control, Dec 16, 1953, to Aug. 20, 2020

Virgie was the dreamer who joined Dave in acquiring and building the Joplin & Springfield Railway. As Dave recalls, she always said that some couples buy boats or second homes in retirement: why shouldn’t they have a train?

With Virgie’s wholehearted and loving participation in this grand project, the couple acquired the trains, and devoted their time and resources to building the necessary infrastructure bit by bit over the years. Virgie was a curious and energetic extrovert, who made many friends in Springfield, drawing others into a circle of rail enthusiasts who helped keep the trains running and created a unique asset for the Springfield community.

Virgie’s love of Halloween was the impetus for the annual pre-Halloween public weekend rides. She and her helpers created elaborate displays to entertain and delight riders, and she made sure that every rider received a generous share of Halloween candy. To help riders pass the time while waiting to board, she arranged for face painting and other activities, too.

Virgie’s death in 2016 was not only a terrible loss for Dave and her family, but also for the many friends, volunteers, and rail fans whose lives she touched. We remember her fondly each time the trains run.