Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway |
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Depot of the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway, originally built in 1912-13.
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| Locale | Carroll County, Arkansas |
| Terminus | Eureka Springs |
| Coordinates | 36°24′49″N 93°44′02″W / 36.413573°N 93.733871°W |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Eureka Springs Railway |
| Preserved operations | |
| Owned by | Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway Company |
| Stations | 1 |
| Length | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1882 |
| 1899 | Becomes St. Louis and North Arkansas Railroad |
| 1906 | Becomes Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad |
| 1913 | Current depot built. |
| 1922 | Becomes Missouri and North Arkansas Railway |
| 1935 | Becomes Missouri and Arkansas Railway |
| 1949 | Becomes Arkansas and Ozarks Railway |
| Closed | 1961 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1978 | Preservation begins. |
| 1982 | Filming of The Blue and the Gray. |
| 2007 | Demolition of engine shed. |
| Headquarters | Eureka Springs |
| Website | |
| http://www.esnarailway.com/ | |
The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway is a special train line in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It was started in 1981 by Robert Dortch, Jr. and his wife, Mary Jane. This railway offers fun train rides for visitors.
You can take a one-hour trip, or even enjoy a special lunch or dinner on the train. These trips run from April through October. The railway uses about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of old tracks. These tracks once belonged to a railway called the Arkansas & Ozarks Railway Co.
Contents
History of the Eureka Springs Railway
The first railway in this area started way back in 1882. It was called the Eureka Springs Railway. This line connected Seligman, Missouri, to Eureka Springs. Over the years, the railway changed its name many times.
- In 1899, it became the St. Louis & North Arkansas Railroad Co.
- In 1906, it was renamed the Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad Co.
- In 1922, it became the Missouri & North Arkansas Railway Co.
- In 1935, it changed to the Missouri & Arkansas Railway Co.
- Finally, in 1949, it became the Arkansas & Ozarks. This last version closed down in 1961.
By 2011, the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway had used these tracks for the longest time. At its busiest, the original North Arkansas Line stretched 360 miles (580 km). It went all the way from Joplin, Missouri to Helena, Arkansas.
Bringing the Railway Back to Life
Robert Dortch, Jr. loved trains. He had even started a small railway at a museum in Arkansas in the 1960s. After he passed away in 1978, his son decided to move the trains. He brought steam locomotives, train cars, and tracks to Eureka Springs.
Robert's son, David, John, and Robert, along with his wife, Mary Jane, worked hard. They fixed up the old stone train station, which was built in 1913. They also rebuilt several trestles (bridges) over Leatherwood Creek. They added a steel water tank and other buildings. A special kitchen was set up to prepare meals for the lunch and dinner trains.
They also installed a large turntable from the Frisco railroad. This turntable helps turn the locomotives around. There's also a special track shape called a "wye" at "Junction, Arkansas." This also helps turn the trains at the end of the line.
Locomotives: The Engines That Pull the Trains
Locomotives are the powerful engines that pull the train cars. The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway has had several interesting locomotives.
Past Locomotives
- No. 1 (2-6-0 Mogul): This steam engine was built in 1906. It used to burn wood to create steam. It was retired in the late 1990s because burning wood was very expensive. Also, it needed a big repair to its boiler. In 2011, it was moved to the Reader Railroad for possible repairs.
- No. 8 (Shay Engine): This unique steam engine was built in 1918. It's now on display in Croghan, New York. It's waiting for its boiler to be rebuilt.
- No. 201 (2-6-0 Mogul): Built in 1906, this engine originally burned coal but was changed to use oil. It's special because it's one of only three known engines that worked on the Panama Canal. It was retired because its boiler needed a major repair. No. 201 was given to the city of Anna, Texas, and has been fixed up to look nice. It was moved to Sherley Heritage Park in late 2022.
Current Locomotives
- No. 226 (2-8-2 Mikado): This large steam engine was built in 1927. It was changed from burning coal to using oil. It has always been a "display" engine at the railway. It has never been fully fixed to run on the tracks.
- No. 4742 (EMD SW1 Diesel): This is a diesel-electric engine built in 1942. For many years, it was the only engine that could run at the railway. It now pulls both the regular passenger trips and the lunch/dinner trains.
- Un-numbered (0-4-0 Narrow-Gauge): This small engine was built in 1935 in Germany. It used to burn coal but now uses oil. It's often used on a rotating sign to advertise the railway.
- No. 700, Oscar (0-B-0 Diesel): This 25-ton diesel-electric engine was built in 1950. It was originally less powerful but was upgraded in 2006. It arrived at the railway in December 2018.
Rolling Stock: The Train Cars
The railway uses several types of train cars, also known as rolling stock.
- Passenger Coaches: Six old passenger coaches from the Rock Island are used. They are about 80 feet (24 m) long.
- Two coaches are used as static displays: one is a snack bar (No. 2515), and another is an office (No. 2523).
- Two green coaches (No. 1, The Eurekan; and No. 2) are used as dining cars.
- Two coaches are used for regular trips: one maroon (No. 2560) and one green (No. 2585).
- Other Cars:
- Three cabooses are on display, including one made of wood.
- There are two tank cars, two flat cars, a coal hopper, and a special cage car. The cage car was used for carrying circus or zoo animals.
- Five box cars are also on site. One of these is used to store supplies for the lunch and dinner trains.
Maintenance Vehicles
The railway also has special vehicles for maintaining the tracks:
- At least three yellow motorized speeder cars. One of them still works.
- A 1951 Chevrolet car that was used by track inspectors.
Facilities: What Else Is There?
The railway yard is a busy place with many tracks and switches. It has lights, buildings, and a working 75-foot (23 m) turntable. There's also a water tower.
Around the yard, you can see many old railroad items on display. These include:
- Two steam-powered tractors
- Early gas-powered tractors
- Compressors and pumps
- Train wheels
- A two-man handcar and a one-man "tricycle" handcar
- Old bells, signals, and luggage carts
An engine house was planned but never built. A shed that was used to protect Engine No. 226 during its restoration was taken down in 2007.
The owners hope to make the train line longer in the future. They would like to extend it east for 3 miles (4.8 km) to an old tunnel. Or, they hope to extend it west for 5 miles (8.0 km) to Beaver, Arkansas.
The train station, built in 1913, is like a museum itself. It holds many railroad items. It even has props that made the two Mogul engines look like 1860s 4-4-0 American engines. These props were used when filming scenes for the 1982 TV mini-series The Blue and the Gray.
Images for kids
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Track Inspection Car, a converted 1951 Chevrolet wagon, is among the exhibits at the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway.
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ES&NA Diesel Engine No. 4742 is turned on this former Frisco turntable.
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ES&NA No. 201 is displayed on a siding in the railyard; she was formerly the iron workhorse of the excursion trains. Depot of the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway, originally built in 1912–13 to replace a wooden depot built in the 1880s.
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ES&NA Speeder, still operational, assists in the yard.
