Arkansas & Ozarks Railroad-1954

[frisco4301]

I realize I am taking a bit of a risk posting non-Frisco photos on this site but felt there was enough of a connection (as the A & O's only connection to the outside world was to the SLSF at Seligman, MO) to go ahead and give it a shot. While the Arkansas & Ozarks life was fairly short lived from April, 1949 until May, 1960, the overall history of the line and it's former operators has almost reached fabled status. I won't attempt to cover the history of the road as I am sure most are aware, but enjoy these shots of a trip made November 13, 1954. These photos were taken by Harold Henre (deceased) of Kansas City. Shots as follows: 1-Coming down the hill from Seligman through Butler Hollow. 2-Rolling out on to the White River bridge at Beaver, AR, 3-Looking back on the train through "The Narrows" and on to the Leatherwood Creek Bridge, 4-Up the hill from "Junction" and on to the large curved trestle, bridge no. 78.7, and 5-Up hill towards the tunnel. Jeff Cooney, Lindsay, Texas

[frisco4301]

Shot 6-Up the hill to the tunnel, 7-Tunnel, AR (as identifed in the TT), 8-Downhill towards Grandview, AR with engineer Jack Hammons in frame, 9-The Kings River bridge, 10-Looking back on train crossing the Kings River bridge.

[frisco4301]

Shot 11-Train crossing Kings River bridge, 12-Crew at Green Forest, AR, left to right, Ray Mathias, General Manager Jack Halter, Jack Hammons, and Jess Moody, 13-GE 70 tonners on north leg of wye either headed towards or coming back from Eureka Springs, AR 1.8 miles south, 14-caboose 301 (the other was 300), and 15-the depot at Beaver, AR. I apologize if I have upset anyone with posting these on a dedicated Frisco site but again. I felt there was enough of a tie with the Frisco through freight interchange that they were warranted. Hope you enjoyed them. Jeff Cooney, Lindsay, Texas

[w3hodoug]

Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos Jeff. Doug

[frisco1522]

I think they are justifiable. That looks like an ex-Frisco caboose.

[Bradley A. Scott]

I'm certainly not complaining! Great shots, and thanks for sharing them.

Bradley A. Scott

[Ozarktraveler]

Many, many Thanks Jeff!

I am collecting rolling stock and equipment to model Seligman in HO. I'm waiting until I start my next job before actually starting the layout. I may have to move and I don't want to damage it right after building.

I have seen very few color shots of the A&O. I've seen what was posted on the North Arkansas website (RIP), the Yahoo groups site for M&NA and some pics of other Salzburg [sp?] lines on the fallenflags site which may have included these diesels after the A&O was shut down.

Craig

[tomd6]

Thanks for posting the rare pictures. They certainly make an obscure line a lot more vivid.
Jess Moody, shown in one of the images, was present at the Harrison Railroad Days at the Boone County Railroad and History Museum in Harrison about three years ago.
Tomd6

[1283761]

WOW, GREAT shots please let us know if you have any more. I'm a huge A&O (M&NA) fan. THANKS

[qa&pfan]

The pics are terrific. Thanks for sharing.

John

[oldaudio]

I agree, excellent and rare shots. I am currently modeling this line in a Rail Sim called Trainz.
Thank you, Mike ( in Eureka Springs )
PS: If any of you can direct me to any more A&O or predecessor lines photos or information please let me know. I am a member of the Boone county Historical society and receive the Oak Leaves publication. I have most or all of the back issues. If I can help anyone let me know.
Mike@oldaudio.net

[splithoof]

Thanks for sharing the photos Jeff. They sure brought back a lot of memories as I got a cab ride from Berryville, Arkansas to Seligman, Mo. in 1956. The train was so long we never saw the caboose and they had to split it on Seligman hill and make two drags. It took about seven hours as we had to wait on a flat car of cedar posts to be loaded by hand in Eureka Springs. We stopped at Beaver to get a coke at the store and made to Seligman after dark.

[44Don22]

Hi all,
I would like to thank frisco4301 for posting the pics. They brought tears to my eyes. I was raised in Seligman and I remember spending the hot summers in Butler Hollow picking up telegraph insulators and selling them to the gift shops in town. All the years that I lived there, I never saw one picture of the railroad that the "oldtimers" talked about. My family and I moved away in my highschool years and then I joined the military, so never went back. I am writing a little history of myself for my family and friends and I was digging for history of Seligman, M&NA and the A&O when I ran across your site and pics. Very nice site you have here. I will definitely come more often. Thanks all!

Don
Germany

[zhilton]

I agree, excellent and rare shots. I am currently modeling this line in a Rail Sim called Trainz.
Thank you, Mike ( in Eureka Springs )
There is a company called V-Scale Creations that has a MSTS based add-on of the St. Louis & North Arkansas based in 1903 (I belive). There is also a "what if" of the same line set in the late 1980s with A&M Alco's doing the work. The guy that did all the work/created the add-on is a big Frisco fan. And infact works for the A&M out of Ft. Smith. Here is a link to site if you looking for some information.

http://www.vscalecreations.com/

[frisco4301]

I thought I would add a few more shots to this thread. While these may not have the bang of the first grouping, they are still rare non-the-less. Photo one is of southbound train with GE 70 tonner No. 900 and 7 car train just east of Alpena, AR, September 6, 1951. Photo taken from US62 highway. Photo 2 is of the Alpena, AR depot, a standard No. 2 design almost identical to several Frisco depots. Photo 3 is of the south switch for the house track at Beaver, AR, October, 1958. Photo 4 is a very rare shot of a Eureka Spring (Spring not Springs) Water Co. car in Eureka Springs, AR, June 23, 1953. Photo 5 is a ex M&NA/M&A pile driver, Harrison, AR, August 31, 1953. Photos 1 and 2 taken by Jack Pfeifer. Photos 3-4-5, Harold Henre.

[frisco4301]

The next group of photos begin with No. 1, Motor Car John E. Martineau, car no. 726, September 6, 1951, Harrison, AR. Photo 2, same car, Harrison, June 23, 1953. Photo 3, shops and turntable, Harrison, September 6, 1951. Photo 4, M&A No. 15, Harrison, AR, September 6, 1951 and photo 5, locomotives 15 and 14, box car 01039 and tender from 15, Harrison, 9-6-51. Jeff Cooney, Lindsay, Texas

[Ozarktraveler]

Thanks again Jeff,

I appreciate these very much.

44Don22 (and anyone else interested) in case you didn't already know, there is a Yahoo Group for North Arkansas Line fans. Free. Just register.

There are some more pics there.

Last but not least, thank you for your service to our country.

Craig

[scottm]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the A&O photos. I've been obsessed with this railroad for about the last 15 years, since I bought Fair's book. I prefer the A&O to the lines from which it came, and the Seligman connection is of special interest. My job takes me to Joplin, Neosho, and Cassville every three weeks, and I have spent much time tracing the A&O from Seligman down through Butler Hollow. I thought I was the only one.

Thanks again for the photos and the recollections; Frisco will always be #1 with me, but A&O is a close second.

Scott

[seligmanfan]

I enjoy all the photos of anything Frisco or A&O or MNA. I was born and raised in Seligman and grew during the era of the A&O. The massive depot(I thought it was as a kid) that served both railroads was still here and though the A&O didn't have passenger service, the large waiting room still had the old MNA call boards with train info still written on them. The waiting room was always locked because passenger serve had pretty much died on the Frisco by the mid '50s in Seligman. The old water tower was still in place just south of the station platform. The old MNA turntable was still in place but never used. All the side tracks were still used. My family had a feed store on the west side of the tracks that unloaded cars of feed.
During the A&O time they would bring a train up from Harrison and overnight in Seligman. They had electrical hookups so they could park on the north part of their track and plug in the caboose for the nights stay. Then head back to Harrison the next morning.
These things are all gone now. There was even a livestock pin to load livestock on the railroad.
I enjoy reading the stories that everyone has posted though I haven't even gotten close to read them all.
Keep the pictures coming.
Thanks,
Knial

[Ozarktraveler]

ScottM and anyone else interested,

Since your job takes you to Joplin, Neosho and Cassville... and in case you haven't done this already, and noting that you prefer the A&O to its predecessors, you may still find this interesting. You can trace the Missouri & Arkansas (M&A) road bed from Wayne (south of Exeter) through Ridgely, Wheaton (depot bldg there) Fair View, Stark City and on over to Neosho joining the KCS rail yard from valley to the east. Some bldgs have been built on the road bed, which adds to the challenge, but it's there. There is a flag stop platform and caboose at Monark Springs. I haven't been to the Joplin KCS Union Terminal lately. It is still there I hope. Can anyone confirm this?

Leaving the former Frisco rails (now Arkansas and Missouri) in Wayne, I believe one of the local roads is built on the M&A railroad bed for a time.

[dan maxwell]

Thanks for all the great photos.

[scottm]

Ozarktraveler

I have traced the M&NA/M&A route from Neosho to near Wayne many times, but I've always lost track of where the R.O.W. is as it approaches the A&M.

There are still a few rails in Neosho, some in pavement, one next to a convenience store parking lot.

[Ozarktraveler]

Scott,

It's cool that you've already found so much. I'll have to look for the rails in the convenience store parking lot. I think I know which store you mean.

It sounds like you've found most of the ROW. If I'm not mistaken, Farm Road 1057 uses the former M&A ROW as it leaves Wayne headed NNW. Google Earth helps trace it. A little further on, you can see clues from the tree line as the ROW peels off to the west from Farm Rd 1057 as the ROW heads for the former M&A overpass of Hwy 76, west of Exeter. I used to love that dip, bridge and curve combo, though not the safest highway design.

LOL, maybe this will flush out more pics. I love all the pics coming out of the woodwork these days. Many I've never seen, some I've only seen in b&w. Never dreamed they were available in color.

Thanks for sharing.

[scottm]

The convenience store is on the SE side of Neosho, built on the ROW which crossed Hwy 86 at an angle. There is a rail section still embedded in the ground just off the road, by the conv. store parking lot. You can tell that a cutting torch was used (when the Wayne - Neosho track was pulled up sometime in 1949)

Across the the road, the ROW is very apparent since it is graveled and used as a long driveway.

There are also other M&A rails from several tracks that crossed the same road on which the KCS office is located, south of where the M&A joined the KCS.

[JamesT]

Someone mentioned a book on the O&A RR? Is there such an animal? iIwould like to learn more about the railroad but have come up empty-handed using the internet. Any help is appreciated.

James Taylor
email at jltrains@cox.net

[RogerRT]

The book is called "The North Arkansas Line" by James R. Fair, Jr. ISBN #8310-7077-3 published in 1969 & reprinted in 1982. It is a very well written book with lots of pictures & maps. I first read it in 1982 and was hooked, I have to read it at least once a year. Check the on-line book stores for a copy, you won't be dissappointed.

Roger

[Karl]

James Fair makes extensive use of a monograph, The Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad Strike by Orville Thrasher Gooden. Published in 1926 as part of the Columbia Studies in Social Science #275, it was later reprinted in 1968 by AMS Press, New York, NY 10003. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number, 68-57567.

It's an excellent work; it provides much of the history of the road prior to the strike, and it provides a detailed account of the events of the Great Strike, which saw many depredations against the railroad, and a lynching of one of the strikers.

Several years ago, I managed to find a copy on Amazon.

[meteor910]

An opportunity - FYI

I have a surplus copy of Jim Fair's book "The North Arkansas Line" if any of you would be interested in it. I worked with Dr. Fair for many years at Monsanto before he moved on to the Chemical Engineering department at the University of Texas. Nice fellow, and a recognized chemical industry expert in the field of distillation and separations.

And ..... the book is autographed by Dr. Fair!

I agree with the comments posted earlier - this is a fine book and tells the story of this railroad nicely. Many photos and illustrations. Nice profile diagram of the railroad.

Specifics are:

"The North Arkansas Line"
by James R. Fair, Jr.
Howell-North, San Diego
308 pages
Second printing, 1982 (original issue was 1969)
ISBN 8310-7077-3
Library of Congress 78-96727

Book is in mint condition, hardcover with dust jacket - dj is slightly wrinkled along the top, and is secured to the book by invisible tape loops front and back (I do this to all my books to keep the dj on), and the book has an owners plate inside with my name on it (on a blank inside page, does not cover up anything).

Price: $33

Shipping: Buyer pays actual USPS Priority Mail or media/book rate (your choice - I'll advise cost of each). I always recommend Priority Mail because of the excellent service and the strong packaging, but media/book rate costs less, though it is much slower and rougher.

Insurance: USPS if you desire it, cost for $50 coverage is $1.65

Payment: PayPal or USPS money order preferred. Personal check or other m/o also acceptable though my bank might ask for a hold on them until they clear

Thanks. I'm not anxious to sell this, but thought someone with a strong interest in this railroad and the area might want it. FYI, last time I checked, two copies of this book, in fair/good condition (not mint, not autographed by the author), are listed for $33-$45 on Amazon.com.

If interested in the book, send me a private message via the forum. I'll advise if/when it is taken.

Ken

[JamesT]

I just now reread my question regarding the A&O RR. Not the O&A!!!! Thanks to all for not bashing me (at least not on this site:o) for the silly typo. A clear case of not paying attention!
To frisco 4301, my friend over in the UK went crazy over your photo's! He is busy planning a shelf layout based on Beaver simply because of your photo's! Many thanks for posting them from both of us.

James

[Grampa4]

I agree, excellent and rare shots. I am currently modeling this line in a Rail Sim called Trainz.
Thank you, Mike ( in Eureka Springs )
PS: If any of you can direct me to any more A&O or predecessor lines photos or information please let me know. I am a member of the Boone county Historical society and receive the Oak Leaves publication. I have most or all of the back issues. If I can help anyone let me know.
Mike@oldaudio.net

Mike, I'm looking for information regarding the history of the section of line between Omaha and Yellville. Below is a photo of my son on the trestle across Barren Branch about 2 miles southeast of Omaha. It sits in the middle of a 400 acre farm my grandparents bought (inherited?) in about 1910 and on which my father was born and raised. I have some other photos of the trestle if you're interested.

*edit* Sorry, the trestle is on the Missouri and Northern Arkansas. As you can see, my knowledge in this area is very limited.
Gary

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c384/SSimple/GregTrestle.jpg

[GranbyDepot]

Back in the Fifties, when my family was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, my folks would take me to Birmingham and put me on 106 to Springfield where an uncle would pick me up and take me down to Granby where I would play "Tom Sawyer" for the summer. One of my uncles in Granby was a heavy equipment operator and he had worked on the M & NA off and on in the Thirties and Forties. One of the grand times we had was going out and walking the ROW in a variety of places. The whistle stop shed at Monark Springs was still there at the time. The joke in the area was that it was the "May Never Arrive."
The monument in the cemetery in Neosho is interesting for its coverage of the motorcar wreck at Tipton Ford. Every once in a while the Neosho paper will run a feature on it.
When we returned from being stationed in Europe in 1953, Dad took a color slide of a gorgeous fall foliage tree where the M& NA crossed the highway leaving Neosho. The crossbuck was still standing at the time.
As I am entering retirement I am finally able to begin my model railroad that I have been planning for the past forty years. Obviously, it is my beloved FRISCO!
Keep up all the good work on Frisco and the May Never Arrive.
Jim Dykes

[meteor910]

FYI, my book "The North Arkansas Line" by Jim Fair, mentioned in my earlier posting, has been sold. Thanks to those who expressed an interest in it. Neat book!

Ken |-|

[splithoof]

Jesse "Jess" Moody, one of the last employees of the M & NA and A & O passed away on September 13, 2008.

http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2008/09/15/obituaries/doc48ce8bb6722c1553843785.txt

[FriscoFriend]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned this yet, but you can actually stay at the Beavertown Inn, which was the old general store mentioned in a previous post.

http://www.beavertowninn.com/

If you look at the pictures in the photo section, you can spot the original depot which was moved beind the store years ago. Also, click on the Rogue's Manor Castle link and look at the photos and one shows the remnants of the old trestle that crossed into Beaver through the narrows. You can also walk down the roadbed about a quarter of a mile to the west of Poker Bluff which is described in Fair's book.

Also, you can ride the line on the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas RR from Eureka Springs to the junction and back.

http://www.esnarailway.com/

Bob Hoover
FriscoFriend

[Ozarktraveler]

Yes, and when you get to the end of that road bed trail to the west, you are at the remaining trestle supports where A&O engine No. 900 took a dip in Butler Creek. A Frisco tie-in, a Frisco wreck train was used to help recovery, powered by A&O engine #800.


Craig

[Ozarktraveler]

For A&O fans, the web site is back up.

http://www.northarkansasline.org (http://www.northarkansasline.org/)

[Coonskin]

I cannot thank the original poster enough for sharing these wonderful pictures with us. It is so appreciated.

As for it being a bit off topic: In reality, the original Eureka Springs Railway was so closely tied with the Frisco (including Frisco dollars), that (for all practical purposes) it actually was an extention of the Frisco.

The May Never Arrive holds a very special place in my historical rail interests. I think it has to do with stumbling upon Dr. James Fair's book back in the mid-70's. Such a colorful history, interesting motive power, as well as challenging topography.

Using Microsoft's Train Simulator, I recreated a portion of the M&NA from Seligman to Freeman, but admittedly, did use a bit of "modelers license" in regards to adding some industry and "things to do" for the customers. I modeled it as the under-construction St. Louis & North Arkansas circa 1903. A very good 3D steam modeler by the name of Jon Davis followed up this route with a very detailed and accurate North Arkansas roster appropriate for 1903-1904. So... it IS possible to operate on a reasonably accurate "V scale" version of the St. Louis & North Arkansas, including its roster, ca 1903!

FWIW: I intended to take a copy of my earlier StLNA route work, and extend the line on to Harrison. In the process, I was going to undo the modeler's license areas and replicate the prototype. (I have unearthed complete track charts for the North Arkansas.) As well, I was going to relocate certain portions of mainline to more accurately follow the new data I found after building the original StLNA route.

Alas though, once I began, reality set in: I was going to put forth a TON of work on a line that had little to do. After all, replicating the prototype means your V scale route inherits the same issues its prototype faced, be it steep grades, slow speed curves, or... in the case of the North Arkansas... not enough business to justify its existance. Just like a model railroad, a V scale route needs sufficiently varied and interesting "reason for being" to retain longer term interest once completed.

Well... all for now.

Andre Ming

[Sirfoldalot]

WOW - WOW - & WOW

Coming from Southwestern Arkansas, growing up with the Reader RR running past my house, this is one of the best threads on the forum.
My thanks to all who have contributed.
Sherrel Weems

[frisco4301]

I found this Steroscopic View on Ebay some time ago. The shot is of "The Narrows" at Beaver, Arkansas with what I believe to be Eureka Springs locomotive No. 1 (roof line contour) about to stop to pick up some folks on the platform. Though undated, I would guess this to be summer either 1883 or 84. Clearly the blast work is very recent and no foliage has re-grown form the construction work that finished in February, 1883. Note the two handcars on the south side of the track. This is the only shot I have ever seen showing the stairs leading up to the north side of the bluff top. The back of the card reads "Calohan Bros. Stereoscopic Views Eureka Springs, Ark. Jeff Cooney, Lindsay, TX

[kdpnorthwest]

thanks so much for the great pictures, walked alot of the right a way 2 months ago from the junction to eureka springs to the west end of the tunnel. if anyone has a chance to take a hike on on the old railroad right a way, it is worth it. thanks,
keven

[renapper]

Iam not aware of a A&O bood, but there is a M&NA book, actually two books, at the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Depot on the little tourist RR. A Phone call or E-mail should let you know if they still have them.
Richard

[arkrail]

I have greatly enjoyed the Arkansas & Ozarks images posted by Jeff over the past several years. In the late 1960s, I purchased a few 35mm slides and a few of the larger 2.25x2.25 slides of the A&O, all from Stanley McCarthy, whom I assume to be the original photographer. These were later misplaced for a number of years, but have recently been rediscovered, and can provide a little more coverage for this line. The first two images are at Harrison, December 1956.
Bill Pollard
14849

14850

[arkrail]

The next three images of the A&O were taken at or near Harrison, on May 30, 1959. Can anyone identify the train crewmen pictured? Apologies for the photos seeming to run together -- If someone can explain how to space them apart, I will re-edit post.
Bill Pollard
148541485514856

[arkrail]

The final four images show bridges and trestles on the A&O, taken on May 19, 1962, after the railroad had ceased operation. The need for maintenance on some of the bridges is obvious. See the file names for identity of bridges, as indicated on the slide mounts.
Bill Pollard

14857148581485914860

[frisco4301]

These are some wonderful shots!! This thread is approaching 11,000 views!! Must be just a little bit of interest in the Arkansas & Ozarks. Thanks for posting Bill. Jeff Cooney

[Coonskin]

Superb and RARE photos of such an obscure connection to the Frisco!! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing with us!

[Ozarktraveler]

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing with us!

Ditto... very much appreciated.

[DanHyde]

That one view of the trestle looks like my HO work from many decades ago. There is a prototype for every thing!:rolleyes:
Dan

[Rancho Bob]

Small story time. As a kid, my grandfather (of Joplin) would take me on fishing excursions down through old Tipton Ford and , eventually to his favorite "spot" on Shoal Creek. Everytime we'd pass Tipton Ford (on old old 71) he'd tell me he remembered the time "that the streetcar hit the Kansas City Southern train here" and which of his friends were killed in the wreck. Of course it took me growing up to realize that what he called a "streetcar" was the M&NA motor car accident of 1914.

[wmrx]

Those bridge pictures are spooky. I wonder if they were that bad when the railroad was still in operation? I've been over some bad bridges in my time, but nothing like that. I'd hate to go in the drink on a train. They make a great submarine until it's time to surface. From there on, their value rapidly diminishes. ;)