By Ryan Duey

The Abilene & Smokey Valley Railroad has announced in a press release that they have designated names to two of their trains. The often-run excursion trains will now be known as the “Flint Hills Express,” and their popular dinner trains will be known as the “Smokey Valley Limited.”

President and General Manager Ross Boelling said that as they’ve grown over the past few years, they’ve seen the need to name their trains to establish a brand that consumers can more readily identify with.

Boelling added that the names have special regional and statewide significance, reflecting the fact that the Abilene and Smoky Valley is the state’s only excursion railroad and consequently draws passengers from across Kansas. He said the names better brand A&SV trains as a product of the cultural heritage of the region.

The names will be used in the railroad’s scheduling and ticketing operations immediately.