The Railway

The Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway brings the town's railroad heritage back to life, and it does so in an appealingly low-key way. The tourism board describes rides on a 1940s-era diesel locomotive that depart from the depot at the north end of Main Street. The railroad was part of how visitors reached the springs in the first place, so riding it is a way of retracing the journey that built the resort. The pace is slow, the scenery is wooded and hilly, and the narration weaves in history as the train rolls through the Ozark countryside. There are three main ways to ride. The excursion ride lasts about an hour and covers roughly four and a half miles, narrated by the conductor. The lunch train boards at noon and runs for about ninety minutes, with a meal served in the Eurekan Dining Car. The dinner train departs at five in the afternoon and lasts around two hours. Together they offer something for families with restless children, couples celebrating an occasion and railfans who simply enjoy the sound of a diesel engine on a quiet afternoon.

For families, the ride is one of the easiest activities in the area, because there is little walking and children can watch the scenery from their seats. For couples, the dinner train offers an unhurried evening before a walk to a ghost tour or a nightcap on a downtown balcony. Photographers will appreciate the locomotive and the depot, particularly in the warm light of late afternoon.

If you are choosing between the three rides, the excursion is the simplest, the lunch train is the best value for the time, and the dinner train is the occasion. Mention dietary needs when you reserve a meal, ask about seating if your group is large or includes wheelchair users, and arrive early enough to see the engine up close before boarding. Children often remember the whistle longer than any other part of the trip, so keep a camera ready.