Serengeti Express
The Serengeti Express in September 2022, with the No. 9 locomotive in the lead
Overview
LocaleBusch Gardens Tampa Bay
Dates of operation1971–present
Technical
Track gauge3 ft (914 mm)
Length2.2 miles (3.5 km)
Serengeti Express
Legend
Roundhouse
(not open to public)
 Congo
Gondola lift transfers
(via short walks inside park)
 Nairobi
Stanleyville
Bus transfer
(via short walk outside park)

The Serengeti Express, formerly known as the Trans Veldt Railway, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge heritage railroad and amusement park attraction located within the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay amusement park in Tampa, Florida.[1][2] Opened on July 3, 1971,[2] the railway is about 2.2 miles (3.5 km) long, and has stations in the Nairobi, Congo, and Stanleyville sections of the park. It uses three trains pulled by one of four 4-4-0 type steam locomotives manufactured by Crown Metal Products.[3]

Locomotives

Serengeti Express locomotive details[3]
Number Wheel arrangement Date built Builder Date entered service Notes
4 4-4-0 (American) 1971 Crown Metal Products 1971 1890s African-themed.[2] Painted in green livery. Currently out of service.
5 4-4-0 (American) 1970 Crown Metal Products Painted in yellow livery. Originally built for Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri.
9 4-4-0 (American) 1971 Crown Metal Products 1971 1890s African-themed.[2] Painted in red livery (originally blue).
601 4-4-0 (American) 1974 Crown Metal Products Painted in green livery. Originally built for Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Park History - BGA Online". sites.google.com. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d McMorrow-Hernandez, Joshua (2017). Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Images of Modern America (1st ed.). Arcadia Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-4671-2495-9.
  3. ^ a b "Crown Locomotive Roster". trainweb.org. Retrieved December 9, 2018.

External links

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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Railroads of Florida
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