I wrote about the second trip of this train last July but since Winston and Christy Walker wanted to ride it, I was only too happy to ride it again. We left the Depot Inn and Suites at 4:00 PM to give us plenty of time to drive south to Columbia via Centralia, pulled into the parking lot and the security guard came out, gave us our tickets and told us we were free to take all the pictures we wanted, and the train would be boarding at 6:30 PM. I started my picture taking.
The Columbia Star will be offering dining on-board our beautifully appointed vintage 1930's and 1940's passenger cars pulled by 1950’s streamlined passenger locomotives on a relaxing 3 hour journey between Columbia and Centralia. Come and recapture the romance of a bygone era while watching the Missouri landscape roll by your window. While on-board, our guests will be treated to unique appetizers, drinks and a Chef-prepared elegant five course gourmet meal all prepared right on the train. Prestigious railroad dining is recreated on white linen and fine china by candlelight with exemplary service from our wait staff. Friendly, courteous bartenders will do their part to get your journey off to a cheerful start with only the best brands of beverages, liquors, wines and liqueurs from our fully stocked bar.
The train operates on the Columbia Terminal Railroad, Columbia Branch Railroad, or COLT, a short line in Boone County, Missouri owned by and serving the city of Columbia, Missouri. The railroad runs from Columbia to the Norfolk Southern Railway mainline in Centralia. Formerly, the line carried passengers to the Wabash Railroad station and freight house in Columbia. It was created by the Boone County and Jefferson City Railroad Company, incorporated in 1857; construction began after the American Civil War and was completed by 1867.
Columbia Star Dinner Train F7A 1951, ex. Grand Traverse Dinner Train 1951, exx. Central States Rail Associates 1951, exxx. Wabash 1951, exxxx. Seattle and North Coast 102, exxxxx. Burlington Northern 684, nee Great Northern 464A built by Electro-Motive Division in 1953.
The nose of F7A 1951.
The Columbia Star Dinner Train.
Columbia Star Dinner Train table car 300, ex. Yreka Western 300, exx. Amtrak 7525, exxx. Southern Pacific 2456, nee Texas and New Orleans articulated coach 504 built by Pullman Standard in 1937.
Columbia Star Dinner Train Table Car 400, ex. Yreka Western 400, exx. Amtrak 7524, exxx. Southern Pacific 2455, nee Texas and New Orleans articulated coach 505 built by Pullman Standard in 1937.
Columbia Star Dinner Train kitchen car 200, ex. Grand Traverse Dinner Train, nee Canadian National baggage-express car 92xx built by National Steel Company .
Columbia Star Dinner Train Table Car 100, ex. Grand Traverse Dinner Train 100, exx. Yreka Western, exxx. Amtrak 7529, nee Southern Pacific articulated 2464 built by Pullman-Standard in 1941.
Columbia Star Dinner Train Table Car 500, ex. Grand Traverse Dinner Train 500, exx. Yreka Western, exxx. Amtrak 7528, nee Southern Pacific articulated coach 2463 built by Pullman-Standrd in 1941.
The articulated trucks on one of the table cars.
Colt Railroad GP7u 2001, ex. BNSF 1343 nee Santa Fe 2705 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1952.
Columbia Star Dinner Train F7A 1950 and Colt Railroad GP7u 2001.
Columbia Star Dinner Train F7A 1950, ex. Grand Traverse Dinner Train 1950, exx. Central States Rail Associates 1950, exxx. Wabash 1950, exxxx. Seattle and North Coast 103, exxxxx. Burlington Northern 9726, exxxxxx. Burlington Northern 704, nee Great Northern 364A built by Electro-Motive Division in 1950.
Our happy group of dinner train riders for tonight's trip were Theodore Vincent Picraux, Pam Picraux, Michael Lee Strong, Winston Walker, Christy Walker and myself. At 6:30 PM we boarded and I was seated with Theodore, Pam and Michael.
The trip started as the train headed out onto the mainline by crossing Brown Station Road.
Leaving Columbia, we passed some homes along our route.
We were soon out into the Missouri countryside.
Down towards the end of the road.
The train ran through Browns Station.
The sun was in the process of setting on a very warm spring day.
The guests inside our dining car.
The train crossed another road along our route.
A water tower.
First we enjoyed a Salmon cake.
We briefly saw the sunset.
Still pre-sunset.
We have reached sunset.
Now we were in twilight.
Next our table was given a shrimp cocktail as a special treat.
Rolls were served next.
The train was rolling through Hallsville.
Burro cranes.
Salads were served.
Twilight aboard the Columbia Star Dinner Train.
The floodlights on the cars started to take effect. The train reached the turn-back location and the main courses were then served. I had an excellent Prime Rib with a baked potato. Good conversations were had at our table during the evening and dessert was a piece of lemon shortcake. We settled our bills but all too soon the train arrived back into Columbia and we detrained from the Columbia Star Dinner Train then left nd drove straight back to La Plata, arriving there at 11:07 PM, ending a very good first day back here.
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