‘Bounced up Like It Hit a Bump’: Train Derails at Missouri Amusement Park

Silver Dollar City amusement park's Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train derailed from the track in Stone County, Mo., on Oct. 26, 2022. (Courtesy of Gary Eldridge/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

A Missouri amusement park has reported that a steam train derailed on Wednesday night, injuring six guests and one employee. A passenger and guest of the park said the carriage “bounced” before tipping.

“Silver Dollar City confirms that earlier this evening, sections of the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train derailed from the track,” the company said in a statement.

“Onsite paramedics provided emergency care until first responders arrived. Six guests and one employee have been transported by ambulance to nearby medical facilities.

“At this time, we are wholeheartedly focused on providing support for guests and team members in partnership with Stone County first responders. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available,” the statement reads.

Guest Describes What Happened

Gary Eldridge boarded the last carriage of the train with his family around 6 p.m. with his wife, mother-in-law, and two daughters, one aged five and the other just three days old. Theirs was the only carriage that didn’t flip over.

Eldridge said his family was enjoying a performance about train robbers when the carriage in front of them “bounced up like it hit a bump.”

“It then shook for about 10 seconds before it derailed. The two cars in front of us laid over directly on their side. The other cars in front of them were partially leaning over,” he told The Epoch Times.

He said they had to break the windows out of the two cars lying on their sides to be able to get everyone out. He added, “After what seemed about 20 minutes, we got everyone out and emergency personnel showed up.”

Eldridge, his family, and the other guests waited at the top of the hill from the train wreck for about an hour, he said. Eventually, they were shuttled to another area of the park.

Eldridge shared a video of the aftermath, which shows most of the train on its side while emergency crews work.

Authorities Investigating

Stone County Office of Emergency Management Director Tom Martin told Ozarks First that the train was almost full of guests.

Television station KOLR10 reported that one of the guests in the second last carriage of the train said it was completely on its side. Guests smashed the windows to get out, she reportedly said.

Authorities have said injuries range from minor to moderate.

The Missouri Division of Fire Safety said its Amusement Ride Safety Unit is investigating. 

“[Missouri Division of Fire Safety’s] Amusement Ride Safety Unit is responding to Silver Dollar City, where there was a derailment of a train ride tonight with several injuries,” the agency said in a statement on its social media channels. “They will begin their investigation tonight and be back on site to continue the investigation in the morning.”