Ride the rails aboard Jackson train

Dear readers,

Another great day trip that's close to home is in Jackson. Why not take a ride on the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway?

The railroad is at the intersection of U.S. 61 and Highway 25.

The railroad is a restored line and has various trips to Gordonville. There are trips that include a murder mystery where someone is killed on the trip and passengers try to figure out who did it. There is a trip where the train is attacked by robbers on horseback. And there are trips where a magician performs. I have performed on the train myself.

You can call them at 243-1688 to check times or prices, or if you are in Jackson just stop by and pick up one of their schedules.

There is a restaurant inside the station so you can plan your trip to eat either before or after your train ride.

You might find this interesting: Lowes Kitty Litter bought a section of track down by Gordonville, and the manager at the local plant called me and wanted to know if I could make a cat vanish. I said yes and was booked for a trip.

On that trip, a buffet meal was served on the train. People from the Lowes Kitty Litter company, including Ed Lowe who was still alive at that time, were passengers on the train. During the trip, that section of line was inaugurated as the "Golden Cat Railroad." The line runs down to the location where the Lowes company digs some of the clay for their products.

The following information comes from the railroad itself:

Come take a ride back in time on the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway. Relax in a coach car pulled by "The Shelby Brown" steam engine built in 1946. Let the sights and sounds of a trip behind Engine No. 5 of the historic "Iron Mountain" line spirit you away to the glory of the steam train era.

The St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, the region's only steam passenger train, has become a "must" for rail fans and those too young to remember the adventure that accompanied steam train travel.

Whether you have an hour or a day to take in the other attractions of Southeast Missouri, you will enjoy the stories of Jesse James, Civil war battles and the pioneering spirit that made the Iron Mountain one of America's great railroads.

Send your comments and suggestions for Bill Coomer to the Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or e-mail him at bcoomer@semissourian.com.