Hi All: Haven't a clue what information may be "out there", or how to proceed so thought I'd ask for some input. Here goes... I'm beginning to research the Hot Springs RR. To date my most comprehensive resource for this rail line is Clifton Hull's book "Shortline Railroads Of Arkansas". I would really like to learn more. I have found a site or two that has some info via Google... but I'm hoping some of you may know a good direction to point me toward. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks. Andre
If we are talking about the Hot Springs Railroad, Andre, then you may be talking about the S.A.&A.P.'s founder, Uriah Lott, who got one of his first railroad venture experiences trying to bring a road down to hot springs from Benton, AR. My understanding is that he acquired promises of cash from each township in the form of debtedness of $50,000.00 for the right of way to go through their town. After many "We will!" from towns, it slowly collapsed and the route was abandoned without a shovel being turned. I'm not familiar with any other routes making it there, albeit I'm not an Arkansas historian regarding railroads. For those, I'm in Texas. I'd suggest you look up history on Uriah Lott and his early ventures. This should help lead you in the right direction of the famed timeline you are looking for, as his failure will lead you to the others successes. Read here for info on the Little Rock and Hot Springs R.R. Thundertrain.org
Hi Manny! We get around, don't we? (i.e. We're both on the Early Rails list, too.) Thanks for your input. The railroad I'm interested in is the "Hot Springs Railroad", and not the "Little Rock & Hot Springs Western" of which Mr. Lott was involved. Two different lines entirely. The Hot Springs Railroad was founded/built by Joseph "Diamond Jo" Reynolds of riverboat fame and preceded the LR&HSW by about 25 years. The HSRR was started in 1875 as a 3' narrow gauge line. All 22 miles of it was converted to standard gauge in 1889 in THREE HOURS. The HSRR was purchased shortly after the turn of the 19th century by the Rock Island in order to retain their access to Hot Springs, AR. It is a fascinating little railroad that I would LOVE to learn more about. Thanks again. I shall persevere! Andre
Okay, well, I'd check the sources from that Thundertalk I posted up. They should be able to direct you. If it was a narrow gauge railroad to start, then I'd start fishing around in the narrow gauge quarters.
Andre, I believe the North Little Rock public library got most of Clifton Hull's archives, wonder if any of his notes or other information on the Hot Springs RR might be included? John Chambers
Hi All! Thanks for the input. I have been beating the bushes and have come up with a couple of tidbits. Plus, I'm finding/saving some early Hot Spring, AR pictures. Fascinating town, really. Sort of like the southern version of Eureka Springs. (Another fascinating town!) In regards to the conversion to standard gauge in 3 hours. This was prepared for several months in advance by a massive re-tie effort, as well as having the needed supplies spread all along the main line. There were also several large groups of rail layers. At the given time the work commenced: The spikes were pulled on one side, the rail(s) slid over, and respiked in standard gauge. Doing this with several hundred men working their district, and several such forces spread over the length of the 22 mile route... it went like clockwork and 3 hours later the narrow gauge was no more! (Took a few more days to get the sidings/spurs/etc re-gauged. So many things to learn: When did lead mining start? How is lead mined and smelted/processed/whatever? There seemed to be ore mining along the line... and I'm still trying to figure out what exactly was being mined. (Indications are that it was lead.) Off to Google some more!
I think the ore was silver. Google "silver mining in arkansas" http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3182 Out of the hundreds of claims and prospects within a few miles of Silver City that were worked during the boom years, about three dozen produced ore for the market and were followed in the news of the day. The most prominent of these mines was the Minnesota, owned by Joseph “Diamond Jo” Reynolds, the riverboat magnate and builder of the Hot Springs Railroad. http://www2.arkansas.net/~arkrail/malvernroundhouse.html Malvern Roundhouse Hot Springs Railroad (pretty good history includes photos, trackage map, and Sanborn maps) "built as a narrow gauge line (3 feet between rails) ...but the entire line was eventually converted from narrow gauge to standard gauge (4 feet, 8.5 inches between rails) to allow passenger and freight cars to be readily exchanged with the Iron Mountain (Missouri Pacific) at Malvern." http://www.mindat.org/loc-10695.html Diamond Jo Mine (Minnesota Mine), Bear City, Garland Co., Arkansas, USA " A silver property started in the 1880's and owned by Joseph "Diamond Jo" Reynolds. Located near Bear City, which is West of Hot Springs."
Hi gbnf! Thanks for those links. The middle link I had found... but the other two are new to me. According to the info contained above, the silver mining was not very profitable. A few of the abandoned mines that I'm seeing on the topograph maps were large, going concerns in the mid-20th century and beyond. The largest is found just north of Butterfield, and was in operation well into the 70's that I know of. That large operation was called a "mud mine" (whatever that is) by a retired Rock Island friend of mine that used to work the Hot Springs Branch in the 60's. The branch up to the mine was a few miles long, and the grades exceeded 4% at places. Specific rules concerning descending that grade are found in the Rock Island 1972 ETT that I have! In all, this is a fascinating area that I am enjoying learning more about. Thanks to all for indulging me on this off-topic veer. Shame the Frisco was never in the region! However, the Frisco was into lead/zinc mining in some locations on its system... so what we learn of lead/zinc mining can be applied to the Frisco.
The "mud" mine near Butterfield was a barite mine and processing facility, barite being the main clay component in drilling mud. I will dig around my files and see if I can get a company name. How in-depth do you want to go in a general description of lead mining? Lead ore is mined underground, brought to the surface and sent through crushing and flotation processes to produce lead concentrate. The concentrate is then transported to a lead smelter, where it is melted and refined into lead metal. Ted Ferkenhoff Flagstaff, AZ
