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Joplin & Springfield Railway

The End of the Line:

A Thank You

For 22 years, the Joplin & Springfield Railway brought smiles, memories, and free train rides to families across Springfield and the Ozarks. Today, we are sharing the bittersweet news that the railway has been sold, and its time in Springfield has come to an end.

While this marks the end of the track here at home, it is also a chance to celebrate the joy, friendships, and lasting memories this little railroad created for so many people.

The 2025 Sale and Final Run

After severe summer storms damaged the track and uprooted trees along the line, the difficult decision was made to sell the railway. The trains have been sold and moved to a new Indiana attraction, and the tracks in Springfield have been dismantled.

In September 2025, the railway was featured in a local Ozarks First KOLR10 news story reflecting on its final chapter and the memories it created over the years.

Watch the Ozarks First KOLR10 story here:

End of the line: Mini-train ride closes after storm damage

Thank You, Springfield

To the families of Springfield, the Ozarks, and beyond: thank you. Every passenger, volunteer, helper, and supporter helped make this railway something truly special. Through storms, setbacks, the 2007 ice storm, the pandemic years, and the final run, your kindness and enthusiasm kept this place alive.

For 22 years, this railway was more than a ride. It was a tradition, a labor of love, and a place where memories were made.

Dave said it best: “If we were younger, we probably would have stuck it out.

I hope they had fun. I sure did.”

22 years. Countless memories. One extraordinary community.

You can also watch this video tribute that captures the heart of Dave Holberg’s railroad and the experience it offered so many families.

Watch here: Free Train Rides in Missouri!

All aboard for one last thank you.

Rest in peace, Dave, and thank you, Springfield.

Fourth of July

&

Halloween

Free Train Rides 2002- 2024

Here is a link to our previous 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.

last updated 09/07/2024 09:00 AM

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.

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.

David Holberg, Lead Engineer, April 10, 1942, to April 26, 2026

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.