Pocahontas, AR, Hoxie Subdivision, MP 245.0, Memphis Subdivision, Pocahontas Branch, MP 413.2

Discussion in 'Depots G-P' started by timothy, May 20, 2003.

  1. timothy

    timothy Guest

    Pocahontas, AR depot.

    This depot at Pocahontas, AR was on the line between Poplar Bluff, MO and Hoxie, AR.

    It is just north of where the Frisco crossed the Black River over a center swing-draw span bridge.
     

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  2. timothy

    timothy Guest

    Pocahontas, AR

    The depot was adjacent to the Black River.
     

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  3. timothy

    timothy Guest

    Pocahontas, AR
     

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  4. douglas

    douglas Guest

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  5. Pocahontas, AR depot.

    Recent photograph of the Frisco depot Pocahontas, AR.

    FM
     

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  6. railroadguy65

    railroadguy65 Member

    Pocahontas, AR depot. :)

    1933 Sanborn map.
     

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    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 25, 2024 at 4:04 PM
  7. DanHyde

    DanHyde Member

    Pocahontas, AR depot.

    On the way back from a Scottish festival in Batesville, 4/19/2009.

    The depot is still in great condition.

    The fourth view is still in the camera!

    I will post it when it is developed.

    And finally, the fourth.
     

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    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 25, 2024 at 4:50 PM
  8. mark

    mark Staff Member Staff Member

    Please see the following link for trackside and streetside views of the Pocahontas, AR depot.

    http://www.trainweb.org/arkansastrains/railroad/slsfdepot/SLSFPocahontas/IMG_6656.htm

    The first view is the street side view. The second photo is a trackside view.

    The depot's agent / operators bay faces east southeast. Note the blade type train order board still attached to the operators bay.

    In the trackside view the railroad turned to the east and crossed the River on a large lift span. The bridge was removed after the railroad was abandoned. Several of the former bridge piers are still in place.

    The approximate address is 300 US Highway 62 (a/k/a US Highway 67). This is near the intersection of the 300 block of East Everett Street, US Highway 62 and East McDonald Street.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks!

    Mark
     
  9. razorback

    razorback Member

    The old Frisco depot in Pocahontas, Arkansas, was recently deeded to the City of Pocahontas by the original owners of the land it sits on (the land, and depot, went back to the original owners when Frisco abandoned the depot in the 1970s).

    The City plans to turn the depot into a museum of transportation and commerce. A portion of the 24' x 90' building will also be used as a tourist information and welcome center.

    We're looking for any information anybody can offer about the original construction and layout of the building, what the different spaces were used for, etc.

    I found on this forum a 1917 drawing of the old depot at Hardy, Ark., that says the Pocahontas depot used the same basic plan, but that 1917-era depot burned about 1918 and the current, larger, depot was built near the location of the former one.

    I've posted a web page HERE that shows some old photos we've found of the present depot, plus a floor plan layout I made of the building interior. If anybody can help us learn more about this old building it will help us with the planned restoration.

    In particular, we'd like to know something about the function of the crank-able sign-thing that's still there. It works with a chain that lets turning a crank inside the depot turn a sign or signal outside the building, but we're not sure what it was used for or how it was used. There's a photo of what I'm talking about on the web page mentioned above.THANKS!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 29, 2010
  10. mark

    mark Staff Member Staff Member

    Pat,

    The devise you are referring to is the Train Order signal.

    This signal would alert the train crew that they had Train Orders or messages from the dispatcher. Train Orders are exceptions to published Timetable schedules or prior Train Orders.

    Train Orders were issued by the dispatcher as needed. The local agent / operator at the affected depot(s) would copy the order(s) on a standardized form. After they were repeated, if they were correct, the dispatcher would authorize that they were Complete.

    The operator would then issue a Clearance form (similar to a receipt), listing the total number of orders and include each specific Train Order by number for the train. Once the Clearance form was OKed by the dispatcher, the operator would hoop up the orders for the train.

    If the signal was turned at a right angle to the track, the train would stop and pick up the orders.

    If the signal was parallel to the track, there were no orders for the train crew and they could proceed per the Timetable, rules and existing orders.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks!

    Mark
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2022
  11. razorback

    razorback Member

    Thanks Mark!

    We really appreciate the help!
     
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  12. Robert Hayes

    Robert Hayes Member

    When was this picture taken?

    Thanks!
     
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  13. Robert Hayes

    Robert Hayes Member

    What towns near Pocahontas did the Frisco go through?
     
  14. Robert Hayes

    Robert Hayes Member

    Does anyone have some pictures of the railroad bridge in Pocahontas, AR?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 25, 2024 at 4:08 PM
  15. SAFN SAAP

    SAFN SAAP Member

    Nice to see that the depot is being saved.

    Here in Texas, great effort was made to save a lot of old depots.

    No more tracks by the depot?

    What happened to the swing bridge's tracks?

    Is the bridge still there?

    I too would like to see it.

    Thanks,

    Manny
     
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  16. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

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  17. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    My GPS plotted my route home from St Louis along U.S. 67 toward Polar Bluff, MO and then toward Pocahontas, AR and Hoxie, AR.

    I was very pleased to see that the restoration work on the Frisco’s Pocahontas depot was nearing completion.

    One of the contractors was on site, and he gave me the full tour. The city received a $300,000 grant, hired an architect, and it is restoring the depot to serve as a museum and welcome center.

    The original depot was built during 1896, and it was replaced by a variation of Frisco Standard Plan Number 3 with a segregated "Colored" waiting room. The original structure was in place during 1918, and it may have been replaced 1/8/1926.

    The present structure was definitely in place by 1933.

    The Frisco replaced the original siding with the asbestos shingles siding seen in the photographs. The contractor sealed and painted the siding in lieu of removing it.

    pocahontas_east_elevation.jpg

    The original freight room doors have been replaced, but have been saved. Original pieces were saved wherever possible, but new doors and windows were used when the originals were found to be beyond repair.

    The original floors, beautiful quarter-sawn pine, were removed, and a concrete sub floor and foundation was poured. The material from the floors was saved and stacked in the freight room.

    The first view is looking toward the north end of the freight room. The original floor boards and the original freight doors can be seen.

    pocahontas_freight_rm.jpg

    The second view shows how the original studs were cut to allow the building to be lifted to pour the floor. When the concrete was dry, new sills were placed, and scabs were added to the studs.

    pocahontas_freight_rm_studs.jpg

    The contractor told me that the architect specified top quality, tight-grained pine for the floor. It was finished with 4 coats of Tung oil, and it looks great.

    These shots are of the waiting room. The first is looking toward the Northeast corner and toward the agent operator office.

    pocahontas_waiting_rm_office.jpg

    The second is looking to the Southeast corner and the restrooms and "colored" waiting room.

    pocahontas_waiting_rm_south_end.jpg

    The interior walls were replaced with similar wood “siding”. The original walls were painted with lead-based paint, and they were removed in total.

    This view is looking toward the east wall in the agent operator office.

    pocahontas_office.jpg

    Modern restroom facilities have been placed in what was the “colored” waiting room.

    The entrance to the “colored” waiting room was located on the south elevation. That door is original to the structure.

    pocahontas_south_elevation.jpg

    A view of the north elevation.

    pocahontas_north_elev.jpg

    The west elevation.

    pocahontas_north_elev2.jpg

    The contractor made inquiries about the train order board, and I explained to him its function. I am not certain that he understand fully its use.

    None of the folks involved with the project knew what it was or how it was used.

    Interior view looking outside from the agent operator bay.

    pocahontas_train_order_board_inside.jpg

    I told him that the “blade” should be red and the rods and braces should be black. So at least the train order board will be painted the correct color.

    Exterior view looking toward the agent operator bay.

    pochontas_train_order_board_outside.jpg

    I asked if they had any idea about the original color, and he said that while prepping the surface for painting, they discovered red oxide below the gray paint. Given the construction date, this depot lends credence to my theory that circa late nineteen-teens and later, the Frisco painted its depots red. At least, that is the case for Pocahontas, AR and Morse, KS.

    A MP caboose sits on a short piece of track to the south of the depot. There are plans to lay track through the station grounds and to acquire addition rolling stock.

    My dad’s first roadmaster job was on the Hoxie Subdivision, and it is nice to see this piece of the River Division survive.

    The city and architect have done a very nice job bringing this structure back to life.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 25, 2024 at 4:45 PM
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  18. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Karl,

    There is no such location as Mores, KS to my knowledge.

    Where did you mean?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 25, 2024 at 4:46 PM
  19. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    A fat-finger, my apologies.

    It should be Morse, Mile Post P-25.4.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 25, 2024 at 4:47 PM
  20. arkrail

    arkrail Member Frisco.org Supporter

    The train order signal blade or paddle was never properly painted red during the renovation of the depot.

    It remains black, or at least was the last time I saw it.

    It would be an easy fix, but needs someone willing to get up there with a ladder and a little red paint.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 25, 2024 at 4:48 PM
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