Arkansas & Ozarks Railroad - 1954 - Ozarka Spring Water Company, Eureka Springs, AR

Discussion in 'General' started by frisco4301, Oct 31, 2007.

  1. renapper (Richard Napper RIP 3/8/2013)

    renapper (Richard Napper RIP 3/8/2013) Passed away March 8, 2013

    I am not aware of a A&O book, but there is a M&NA book.

    Actually two books, at the Eureka Springs and North Arkansas depot on the little tourist railroad.

    A Phone call or E-mail should let you know if they still have them.

    Richard
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
  2. arkrail

    arkrail Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I have greatly enjoyed the Arkansas and Ozarks images posted by Jeff over the past several years.

    In the late 1960s, I purchased a few 35 mm slides and a few of the larger 2.25" x 2.25" 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, MP 126.22, December 1956.

    Bill Pollard

    12-56w.jpg

    Harrison-12-56w.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
    Ozarktraveler likes this.
  3. arkrail

    arkrail Member Frisco.org Supporter

    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

    5-30-59bw.jpg

    5-30-59cw.jpg

    5-30-59w.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
    Ozarktraveler likes this.
  4. arkrail

    arkrail Member Frisco.org Supporter

    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

    White-River_5-19-62w.jpg

    Beaver_5-19-62w.jpg

    Beaver-2-5-19-62w.jpg

    Leatherwood-Cr_5-19-62w.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
  5. frisco4301

    frisco4301 Member

    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
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
  6. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Superb and rare photographs of such an obscure connection to the Frisco!

    Thank you so much for sharing with us!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
    Ozarktraveler likes this.
  7. Ozarktraveler

    Ozarktraveler Member

    Ditto.

    Very much appreciated.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
  8. DanHyde

    DanHyde Member

    That one view of the trestle looks like my HO work from many decades ago.

    There is a prototype for every thing! :rolleyes:

    Dan
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
    Ozarktraveler likes this.
  9. Rancho Bob

    Rancho Bob Member

    Small story time.

    As a kid, my grandfather in Joplin would take me on fishing excursions down through old Tipton Ford and, eventually to his favorite "spot" on Shoal Creek. Every time we would pass Tipton Ford on old U.S. 71 Highway he would 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.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
    Ozarktraveler likes this.
  10. wmrx

    wmrx MP Trainmaster

    Those bridge pictures are spooky.

    I wonder if they were that bad when the railroad was still in operation?

    I have been over some bad bridges in my time, but nothing like that.

    I would hate to go in the drink on a train.

    They make a great submarine until it is time to surface.

    From there on, their value rapidly diminishes. ;)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
  11. I just got a 1953 Frisco travel brochure for travel to Eureka Springs.

    According to the brochure the Frisco used buses from Monett, MO down to Eureka Springs, AR.

    Did the Frisco ever send a passenger train on this route though over A&O?

    Or was this strictly a bus connection?

    I think it would be cool to see the A&O diesels pulling red and silver coaches into the Eureka Springs, AR depot.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
    Ozarktraveler likes this.
  12. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Passenger service ceased on the line to Eureka and beyond when the Missouri & Arkansas folded their tent in 1946.

    When the A&O fired up a couple years or so later, it was freight only.

    Andre
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
    Ozarktraveler likes this.
  13. Joseph Toth

    Joseph Toth Member

    Beautiful pictures folks!

    I am a Missouri and North Arkansas fan. Love the doodlebug "streamliner" they operated! When I was knee high to a Texas grasshopper in the late late 1940s and early 1950s there was a big Ozarka Spring Water billboard next to the Cotton Belt's mainline wood trestle that crossed U.S. 77 Highway just south of downtown Dallas, TX.

    It was lit at night and had flowing water! I remember the big bottles in stores. My grandparents had spring water on their farm north of Dallas at Farmers Branch so they never bought any of the water.

    A pity. Bet it tasted great! The Frisco's Ft. Worth-Sherman mainline ran behind the farm through the woods. The SSW mainline became the Dallas North Tollway. Ah, progress?

    Love 70 ton powered short lines. A&O is tops, Tallulah Falls in North Georgia is another one. Walt Disney filmed the epic War Between the States movie "Great Locomotive Chase" on the TF and even considered purchasing it and running it as a tourist road. Sadly, it is gone. At least part of the M&NA is still running.

    How about an Arkansas short line book in color?

    A publisher like TLC would probably be a good bet to consider undertaking such a project. Checking www.abebooks.com I found several copies of Mr. FairĀ“s book. Prices range from $17.50 to $85.00.

    Joe Toth
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
  14. Thanks for the information Andre.

    Too bad A&O did not run any passenger trains, but then again with the condition of the A&O trackage in some spots it maybe better that they did not.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 9, 2024
  15. mvtelegrapher

    mvtelegrapher Member

    Joe,

    What part of the Missouri and North Arkansas Railway is still running?

    As far as I know all rail is gone except for maybe a small piece of track in Searcy used by the UP owned DK&S.

    If you are thinking of the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad short line owned by Rail America, that is former Mop and Katy track with a little Frisco in Joplin.

    My grandfather Bruce Holloway worked for the MNA as a telegrapher from the end of WWI to 1922 during the big strike.

    He then went to work for the Midland Valley (MV) in Hartford, AR and ended his career with the MV in Wichita, KS as the last station agent when they were sold to the Texas and pacific (T&P).

    John Chambers
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 10, 2024
  16. Joseph Toth

    Joseph Toth Member

    I assumed the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas tourist operation operates on former M&NA right-of-way?

    Please correct my error if I am wrong.

    I was not referring to a common carrier operating on the original ROW.

    My apologies!

    Joe Toth
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 10, 2024
  17. Ishmael

    Ishmael Member

    Many thanks to all of you who provided information on one of my favorite abandoned railroads.

    I particularly enjoyed seeing the Arkansas and Ozarks in color. I have Jim Fair's book, which I obtained in 1975 and is still on my bookshelf. All of the photographs are black and white so I did not know. I have no plans to model the A&O, but I think the colors would be difficult to match although the cream would not be too bad.

    I had an interesting odyssey obtaining the book when I did. It was out of print and there were no plans for a second edition. No eBay or Amazon back then. A friend from a railfan group I belonged to suggested I call the author, and I did.

    Mr. Fair was an interesting man and a great conversationalist. He gave me the name of a lady who bought and sold books as a hobby, and after a long wait, she obtained a copy. She sold it to me for $17.50. Fairly pricey for 1975. I have had it ever since.

    Something about abandoned railroads attracts me. Anyone can cover an operating railroads, but to track through the hills and dales looking for remains, and talking to local folks is quite a challenge.

    Unfortunately, my hiking days are done but this website is a great substitute.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 10, 2024
  18. rc2477

    rc2477 Member

    Hi Joe,

    You are right, the Eureka Springs and North Arkansas tourist operation does run on the old right of way of the M&NA.

    I have painted a few Spectrum GE 70 tonners for the A&O. Denver and Rio Grand Western (D&RGW) orange seems to be a pretty good match. As to the cream, well that has been a long running discussion if the units were cream or white.

    GE records say that they were painted a light yellow cream but later color pictures seem to show white. Both locomotives were repainted at least once during there 10 years on the railroad. I am thinking that the A&O just used white when they repainted them. Or maybe the cream just faded over time.

    It would be great if a color builders photograph could be found.

    Thanks all,

    Craig
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 10, 2024
  19. Joseph Toth

    Joseph Toth Member

    Craig,

    Bet the 70 tonners look neat!

    My guess on the cream color is it faded to a white. The Seaboard Air Line's E unit fleet in later years faded to an almost white, although the color was a very light green when applied fresh.

    Is the turntable on the ES&NA really one from the Frisco?

    The SW1 would really look great in Frisco black and yellow considering the close relationship between the SLSF and the M&NA.

    Good chance I will get threatened to get tar and feathered again for dreaming Frisco again.

    Sorry!

    Joe Toth
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 10, 2024
  20. renapper (Richard Napper RIP 3/8/2013)

    renapper (Richard Napper RIP 3/8/2013) Passed away March 8, 2013

    If I remember correctly, the turntable is Frisco and it came from Ft. Smith, AR.

    Keep in mind that is based on a visit way back in 1988.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 10, 2024

Share This Page