Fort Smith Union Station - Hypothetical What If Modeling Opportunity

Discussion in 'Buildings and Structures' started by Turky44, Aug 21, 2018.

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  1. Turky44

    Turky44 Member

    What if in 1966, Fort Smith's Union Station wasn't demolished and that it stayed up until Amtrak came along.

    Would have Amtrak gone to Fort Smith?
     
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  2. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    No.

    Amtrak goes lots of places where former depots no longer exist, and in some cases there is little more than a platform with a shelter. The absence or presence of a depot structure does not and did not determine where Amtrak chooses to run its trains. Potential ridership did and does.

    If there was no market in 1965 for a train operating between St. Louis and Fort Smith, when the last trains came off, there would be no market in 1971. No Frisco routes survived into the Amtrak era, or even past 1967, for the simple reason that by that time they generated practically no traffic.

    GS
     
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  3. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Reality sucks sometimes. :D

    Of course, it's your layout. And like the imitable Isley Brothers sang in their song: "It's your thing... do what 'chew' want do".

    Andre
     
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  4. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    Rule #1, it's your layout, do what you want.

    Rule #2, nobody can change Rule #1.

    Joe
     
  5. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Rule #3. All other rules can be referred back to Rule #1.
     
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  6. Turky44

    Turky44 Member

    Time for an alternate like history of Fort Smith, this time with Amtrak or at least a passenger train.
     
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  7. There is talk of expanding Amtrak to new corridors.

    With a healthy application of Rule 1 you can make it work.
     
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  8. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    With the tremendous population explosion in northwest Arkansas plus a bit of modeler's license you could convincingly make a case for a Kansas City-Monett-Springdale-Fayetteville-Fort Smith corridor operation.

    Of course, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas would have to pitch in as it's less than 750 miles

    GS
     
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  9. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    The A&M would likely be a willing host.

    They already run an extensive excursion service.

    So they're not afraid of passenger traffic.

    Have fun!

    Andre
     
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  10. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Indeed!
     
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  11. Turky44

    Turky44 Member

    Psgr?
     
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  12. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    Greg,

    What route would you use North of Monett?

    Tom G.
     
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  13. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Sorry.

    Psgr - RR abbreviation for "passenger".

    Andre
     
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  14. fr613

    fr613 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I've been dreaming of an alternate version of Ft. Smith for many years.

    My thoughts aren't completely developed yet, but it's based on the concept of FSM being a larger, more important town with much more rail traffic. It would still look similar to the reality, but I'll magically enhance the community's financial health, hotel markets, and rail development, by just picking up the oil patch and moving it.

    I figured that about 100-150 miles to the east should give FSM an importance that would compete with Tulsa. Then Ft Smith would by a player for Amtrak and before that some enhanced Frisco and M.P. operations, and maybe even KCS and Rock Island Mainlines.

    I might even name the town "Belle Point" to get a little more creative freedom.

    Dan Hall
    Ft Smith

    P.S Don't you think a walking beam by the front door of Miss Laura's would add a nice ambiance?
     
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  15. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Sorry, I seem to have overlooked this question.

    Monett to Springfield to Fort Scott to Kansas city Union Station, of course. Otherwise, there are no population centers of any consequence. Of course, if we are using Rule #1, might as well have the train connect with a St. Louis-Springfield turn, to serve the college crowd at Rolla and Missouri State, like Amtrak does on the Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale run.

    GS
     
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  16. Don't forget to include route to the south.

    Fort Smith to Paris Texas to Dallas.

    Or Fort Smith to Texarkana to New Orleans.
     
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  17. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    General Notice
    Safety is of the first importance in the discharge of duty, unless it delays a scheduled train.
    Obedience to the rules is essential to safety, unless otherwise provided.
    To enter or remain in service is an assurance of willingness to obey the rules and if your supervisor likes you.
    The service demands the faithful, intelligent and courteous discharge of duty and do not piss anybody off.
    To obtain promotion, ability must be shown for greater responsibility and be a brown noser.
    Then "Arrange to Attend"
     
  18. Ft. Smith was one of my options to model and I chose Ft. Smith for several reasons.

    First was the number of railroads that had served the city at various times (6). Other reasons were a streetcar line, the river bridges, coal industry, had its own oil refinery for a while, glass industry, numerous wood plants and furniture factories, and Camp Chaffee.

    There are several more industries today to encourage modeling Ft. Smith: a steel mill, feed and grain elevators and even a Planters peanut factory.

    Lots of opportunity to be creative even by developing a "Union Station" to serve passenger trains.
     
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  19. dwoomer

    dwoomer Member

    Sounds like more places of employment than just the railroad!
     
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  20. Sirfoldalot

    Sirfoldalot Frisco.org Supporter Frisco.org Supporter

    FSM now has a steel mill?

    I did not know that!
     
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