Hello, I know I am a little late giving you a little bit of information about me, but I going to give a little more information about me. Most of you should know who I am and some of you don't know who I am. Here I go... Hello, my name is Brian Waller, I am 23 year old, I was 21 or 22 when I join here on Dec. 2008. I lived in Eagle Rock, Mo., Born in Arkansas but rises in Mo. I lived in Eagle Rock my whole life. I went to Cassville School in Cassville, Mo., and garduate from there. I lived about 1 mile North from the Missouri/Arkansas State line. I am an Model Railroader, I have my own layout in my bedroom, only half of it. My layout is on a foot (12 inches) wide shelf board going around only half of my room and also on top of table tops for my town. My layout is set up simpler to a little Railroad here in Eureka Springs, Ark., called The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railroad. I am still working on my layout trying to set it up like The ES&NA RR, but there is so much that I can do. I am also an Railroads Historian, also as well as an Railroad Fan of The ES&NA RR. I know the whole History of The ES&NA RR in Eureka Springs, Ark. Also along with the History of all the Railroads that ran on The North Arkansas Line, The Eureka Springs Railroad, 1880 - 1889, The St. Louis & North Arkansas Railroad, 1900 - 1905, The Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad, 1906 - 1934, The Missouri & Arkansas Railroad, 1935 - 1946, The Arkansas & Ozarks Railroad, 1946 - 1961. I also know the History of The Cassville & Exeter Railroad, 1896 - 1957, in Cassville and Exeter, Mo. I am also the President and Member of new Railroad Historical Society here in Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas, called The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railroad Hisstorical & Restoration Society. I started this to get people interested in The ES&NA RR along with the History of ths RR. I have created a website for this railroad and The ES&NA RR Historical & Restoration Society, you can visit this website at http://www.savingesnarailroad.com. I am also trying to find help to save this RR, but don't mind about all that. The only reasons why I join here is to get access to whatever informations I can find on The C&E RR, along with whatever information I can find on any RR that ran on The North Arkansas Line. Also as well remember The Frisco Line. I knew a little about The Frisco Line that ran though Seligman, Mo., The St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad. I lived about 20+ miles from Seligman, Mo. I remember when The Frisco Line chages it name, or whatever happen, to The BN&SF RR, and agian when it changes it name or whatever to The A&M RR. When I came here I started three Thread's about The ES&NA RR, one was "Saving The ES&NA RR", the other one was "The ES&NA RR - Then & Now" and the third one was "Reasons Why My Thread's Keep Getting Closed", this one was removed. All of them are closed now due to some members here did not like what I was doing and of course The ES&NA RR is not an Frisco Oirgin Railroad. But I hope that we, all, can get past all of this and begin all over agian and welcome me aboard?? Please I hope you all can welcome me back aboard?? I like being here I am learning how to meet new people and how to do this, starting new Thread and all and enjoying whatever else that is going on here. I do hope you can Welcome Me Aboard?? I do want to know more History of The Frisco Line. Thanks, Brian Waller
Brian--Maybe you were just a little too much in everyone's face when you first arrived. Nobody much minds your enthusiasm, but it was kind of overwhelming just all at once. And, maybe...there just comes the time when a piece of "vintage" equipment, or even an entire railroad, no matter how fondly remembered just has to be let go. Hopefully, you can find a benefactor with bottomless pockets, but most of the "guys" on this chat board can't really do much more than just "pass the hat." Tom
I know what I did was a little overwhelming to everyone when I first arrived here, but I hope you can all welcome me back aboard. Thanks, Brian Waller
Sure Brian: Welcome again to the Frisco Forums. Feel free to join in and enjoy with us discussions about Frisco-related topics. We all have indulged in a few off-topic "tangents" every now and then, but as a rule, we self-govern and bring it back to our chosen topic, or, we keep it short and move on to the appropriate topic. Andre Ming
One good thing for me that came from Brian's threads, was that I bought a used copy of Dr. James Fair's book, "The North Arkansas Line." I haven't gotten around to reading it all, but it's LOADED with North Arkansas railroading information! Much more that I would have imagined. Tom
Brian .. I'll add a welcome as well. I am always glad to see a young person who is interested in RR's and history - and... you model as well.
Thanks Sherrel for the Welcome Back. Yes I do model, my layout is almost lay out as The ES&NA RR, as what I said in first post I made earlier in this Thread. I am still working on it, but there is only so much I can do. Also Thanks Andre for the Welcome Back. I will try to do better and be nicer too. Brian Waller
Welcome back. Like you, Brian, I wish I could buy the ES&NA. For me it would be purely due to sentimental memories of riding it and my love of trains, steam in particular. However, oh me of little $ and no rich friends. Anyway, my wife and I are going back to Eureka Springs (where we spent our honeymoon) in a few days for our 10th anniversary (and first time back since) and I'm wondering how much of the old railroad bed is still "findable" past the endpoints of the ES&NA. If there is any "findable" roadbed, where would I find it? About 25 miles from where I grew up and live now, there was an 8 mile branch of what was originally the Canton, Aberdeen, & Nashville RR which was later aquired by the Illinois Central RR, Later the branch was aquired by the Frisco which was aquired by Burlington Northern. (It was dismantled before the BNSF merger.) This 8 mile segment of the Canton, Aberdeen, & Nashville extended from the interchange with the KCM&B/Frisco mainline in Winfield, AL to the coal mines in Brilliant, AL. This was the only portion of the CA&N ever built between Aberdeen, MS and Nashville, TN. The Canton, Aberdeen, and Nashville was never completed. There was about a 50 mile gap from Aberdeen to Winfield and another approx. 200 mile gap from Brilliant to Nashville. The only way CA&N could get from Aberdeen to Winfield would have been to use the KCM&B/Frisco which had interchanges with the CA&N (later ICRR) in Aberdeen and in Winfield. I think the Brilliant coal was hauled to Winfield then hauled by KCM&B/Frisco to where ever. The reason, this segment was built by the CA&N was to tap into the coal hauling business in Brilliant. Plans were to finish the line from Aberdeen to Winfield, then from Brilliant to Nashville...which never happened. I'm 32 and I barely remember the branchline's crossing on the main highway in Winfield. I think the line had already been abandoned but I'm not sure. Anyway, at some point the rails and ties were removed except for the first few feet which is (or at least was) used as a siding/spur by BNSF. All that is left are traces of a right-of-way and roadbed. I have visited every such place that is "findable" by car. While I'm up in Eureka Springs, I'd like to "find" traces of the old right-of-way up there if I get a chance to look. Any suggestions on where to look?
Welcome back Brian, Being from Seligman MO, I also have a soft spot for Frisco and the various iterations of the M&NA. As well as the Katy, KCS, and MOPAC just because.
