The newly restored Steam Train made its inaugural run on May 1, 2015 during The Great Locomotive Chase & Living History Day as part of Jefferson Pilgrimage and Civil War Weekend. The steam train will run for Rail of Lights Christmas and New Year’s Train. For normal scheduled tours, we will call our gas-powered antique locomotive into service.
Historic Jefferson Railway
The Robert E Lee, our steam locomotive, is more than 50 years old. We will run the steam train for most special events and have commissioned an antique gas-powered locomotive, the Critter, into service for our regularly scheduled weekend tours. This train was built in 1964. The train ride takes you through the beautiful woods and wetlands along the Big Cypress Bayou and lasts about 40 minutes with a stop at the Diamond Don Gator Pit to see the feeding of the live alligators that live there.
The steam locomotive was built in 1964 for Six Guns Territory in Florida and moved to Jefferson in 1986. It is a Crown Metal reproduction of the 1870’s American Class 4-4-0 steam locomotive christened the Robert E. Lee and known as Engine #7. The open car coach seats still carry the custom medallions cast into them and designed especially for the Six Guns amusement park.
The Critter is a gas-powered Plymouth Locomotive. Plymouth locomotives were first built in 1910. Plymouth was one of the world’s most productive builders of small industrial locomotives. They built over 7,500 units of which 1,700 are believed to still be in active service.
The Railway has become a part of the thriving community of Jefferson sponsoring major events throughout the year that bring over 20,000 visitors to Jefferson. Patrons look forward all year to the Terror on the Bayou Runaway Fright Train and Halloween Festival, Rail of Lights Christmas & New Year’s Train, Diamond Don’s National Vintage Motocross, The Great Locomotive Chase and Route 49 Biker Rally.
The train rolls right by the home of the Boggy Creek monster as depicted in the upcoming feature horror movie, “Boggy Creek”, filmed in Jefferson and Uncertain. The movie is loosely based on the old Big Foot or Sasquatch legends, says Brian T. Jaynes, director and producer.