Hello everyone, I recently heard a rumor from a rather trusted source that the Kansas City Southern has offered OK Foods in Ft. Smith, AR some land to build a modern elevator in Poteau, OK. If OK Foods accepts, this would see the former Frisco Central Division from Poteau to Ft. Smith, either sold off, abandoned, or leased to another operator(perhaps Arkansas Southern(Watco)). I don't want to spread a rumor, so if I find this is false I will delete this thread. I honestly hope it is false, because I love watching the Ft. Smith Dodger(KCS term for Local), and I would hate to see another portion of my favorite railroad, the Frisco, go for scrap. I included a photo of the Dodger at the OK Feed Mill, and another photo of a Frisco Covered Hopper that came in on the Dodger(I catch the most Frisco cars on this train). If anyone knows anymore about this please let me know. If the line is bound for abandonment, I would at least like to see an attempt to save it(perhaps A&M needs to add some more trackage). Thanks, Murphy Jenkins
Hope it's not correct, but would some other entity use that old elevator? Is this the only customer out there?
OK foods is about it on the line, same with the Waldren Branch. The Tunnel leaks bad and the line has several bridges in disrepair. The revenue on the line just don't justify, large capitol investment. I would say "it's history"
William, I understand the current state of the line. However, when Arkansas Southern took control of the Waldron Branch, it wasn't in much better shape. Now the Waldron Branch has been greatly rebuilt. I guess the lone customer, Tyson Foods, was worth putting all the effort in to save that line. The Ft. Smith Branch's major problem as you mentioned, is the leaking tunnel. If only the Frisco had upgraded the Jenson tunnel in 1969 like they had the Winslow tunnel. If the line can't be saved, I would at least like to see a passenger special on the line before it is abandoned. I don't expect abandonment soon though, as OK Foods hasn't even excepted KCS's land offer. I don't see why OK Foods would except the offer anyway. From what I understand KCS has only offered the land to build a new elevator. OK Foods would still have to shell out a ton of money to build the elevator, move it's staff, and everything else, just to benefit the KCS. Murphy Jenkins.
Rather than speculate based on a rumor it might be better to await something specific such as the KCS filing an application to abandon with the Surface Transportation Board. The Waldron,AR line was rebuilt with federal /state money because closure of the Tyson Waldron feed mill would have a devastating effect on the local poultry industry in an area with little other economic activity. On behalf of the local NRHS CHapter I have contacted KCS twice in the past seven years about a passenger special on the Fort Smith -Poteau segment. The answer in both cases was a resounding no. I believe the line is rated at 15 mph and of course several of the A & M passenger cars are banned from interchange due to friction bearing.
Thanks for the information Tom. I know right now this is just a rumor, but I just wanted to find out the facts, and by the time KCS files for an application to abandon the branch it might be too late to do anything with the line. I was unaware that you had contacted the KCS about running a passenger excursion on the branch. Too bad KCS turned you down, I would have definitely bought a ticket. As for the A&M passenger cars, our newer streamlined cars have roller bearings, although I'm not sure if the dome car can fit through the Jensen tunnel. Murphy Jenkins
I remember as a kid seeing the KCS crews work Ft Smith. The locomotive I remember the most was an H-15-44. I took my boys and walked the line before the trolley took in over were KCS ran in front of the National Cemetery. My dad always drove the truck route, North 6th Street to Division, then around the curve by Buster Browns onto North 5Th. Jog around the Post Office onto South 6th then onto Wheeler. We pasted the Frisco yard and the KCS yard close enough to see any activity. We went through Arkoma when we went to visit my uncle in Poteau. The KCS yard was at the back of their house. My brother & I always enjoyed seeing 5 or 6 F units pulling a train into Poteau. I don't recall ever seeing the Southern Belle run through Poteau.
OK Feeds already has a new (within the last 10 years) feed mill in Heavener, OK, some 14 miles south of Poteau. Why would they want another mill so close to their Heavener facility? That would not be good business, for they want their feed mills distributed throughout their territory within reasonable truck-driven miles for timely feed distribution to the growers as well as holding truck-miles to a minimum. Concentrating two feed mills in such close proximity and closing one that is quite a distance from those two, wouldn't make good distribution sense or cost effectiveness in regards to delivery costs. It is no secret that some of the city fathers of Fort Smith have wanted the OK Feed Mill on Wheeler Ave GONE on account of civilian complaints about supposed "smell". However, this is a two-edged sword in view of the loss of tax revenue as well as jobs (including parasitic jobs such as contract trucking/etc.), thus nothing has ever come of it. IF the OK Feed Mill on Wheeler moved/shut down/ceased to produce, there would be NO reason for the former Frisco line to Poteau to remain intact, for there is very little other interchange, saving for small amount of daily interchange to/from the Fort Smith RR and the A&M. There are occasional larger blocks of corn and/or soy meal from the A&M to the KCS for the OK Feed Mill on Wheeler, but that in itself can be delivered/switched by the A&M if the KCS pulls out. However, at this point, the bulk of the corn for the OK Feed Mill comes from the KCS. Lastly, it's my understanding that (excepting for slow orders) the track speed once out of Yard Limits for the Ft. Smith to Poteau line is 25 MPH.
