1291 is in excellent mechanical condition and back on live rail with the A&M at Springdale for the first time in more than 35 years. Check out the contrasting images, A&M 68 passes 1291 at Exeter Mo in 2003, and in 2023 engine 68 is coupled to her. The friends of the A&M museum will be finishing out the interior of 1291 and her first run back in service will take place late this summer. Friends of the A&M also have caboose 1288 it weas donated to them and they plan to restore it and put it in service, word is they want to paint 1288 in the orange and white scheme. Good times its been a fun 9 years but it is finally becoming a reality.
This is wonderful! (Would have put a "Wow!" on the posting of the two pictures, but the software limits us to "Like!")
Paul, Thank you for all your investment of finances, time and hard work to help preserve these cabooses! Looking forward to having the opportunity to have a great ride these cars on Frisco trackage on the old Central Division. Should be a real treat experience. Thank you again! Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
Thats looks wonderful Paul! Maybe A&M will get a GP38 some day and paint it Frisco (hey I can dream). But that caboose looks most spectacular rolling around on home rails. Ya done good!
1291 made her debut run on the A&M on Saturday August 14 2023. She ran 3 trips this day from Springdale to Johnson twice and the third run was Springdale to Fayetteville. The air and brake systems performed well and the ride was smooth with no bobbing side to side. I was on the caboose along with Caren Kraska the owner of the A&M , and my 13 year old son Jake. We had a lot of fun and the caboose is scheduled for more runs in October it will move from Springdale all the way south to Van Buren. By spring 2024 the caboose should be finished out and be available for riders that want to buy tickets and available for charter. Saturday was an awesome day it was a lifelong dream come true. I have now traveled in the cupola of an original Frisco caboose and did it on original Frisco rails. If you go back and see page one of this thread and this page it is quite a contrast !
Paul, Congratulations and many thanks for a job well done. Looking forward to cooler temperatures and the opportunity to enjoy a ride on this remarkable accomplishment. Again thank you very much! Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
The A&M Christmas train made 4 runs on 12/17/23 from Monett down to almost Exeter with a combined total of almost 600 riders. The train left Springdale Ar at 0700 and arrived at Monett just before 1000. The last run ended at 1700 and after that the train returned to Springdale and most of the return trip was at night. It was a very long but awesome day I was so happy to get to take 1291 on a long run with speeds sometimes just above 40mph.
