Prescott & Northwestern Railroad
The primary traffic carried by the Prescott and Northwestern was forest products, but for a number of years the line also carried an extensive crop of Elberta peaches from Highland (Pike County) to Prescott during the fruit harvesting season. At Prescott, the refrigerator cars of fruit shipments were transferred to the Missouri Pacific Railroad to northern markets.
The primary traffic carried by the Prescott and Northwestern was forest products,
but for a number of years the line also carried an extensive crop of Elberta peaches from Highland (Pike County)
to Prescott during the fruit harvesting season. At Prescott, the refrigerator cars of fruit shipments were
transferred to the Missouri Pacific Railroad to northern markets.
Chartered in 1890, the Prescott & Northwestern Railroad lived up to its name by eventually building 31 miles of timber trackage northwest from Prescott as far as Highland, Arkansas.
Primary commodities on the line were forest products and cement, but for a time the PNW shipped loads of Elberta peaches.
Passenger service ended in 1945, and freight service on the mainline ended in 1980.
Today the PNW is owned by the Potlatch Corporation and operates 5 miles of switching trackage around the Prescott sawmills, interchanging with the Union Pacific.
Motive Power
Prescott & Northwestern #24
Prescott, Ar / Apr 1985 / collection
Prescott & Northwestern #24
Prescott, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Prescott, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Prescott, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Prescott & Northwestern #25
Prescott, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Prescott & Northwestern #25
Prescott, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Prescott, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Ozark Mountain Railcar / web
Built in 1956 by GE for the Prescott and Northwestern as a 70 diesel electric switcher. This unit is in excellent operating condition and comes with two spare wheel sets to replace the two worn wheel sets currently on the unit. Some of the mechanical details include: Friction bearings (for shipping quotes contact Ozark Rail Logistics), air operated reverser, original Cooper Bessemer FWL-6T engine, Woodward governor, Westinghouse model 2CB compressor, 720 HP, 14-EL brake, main generator GE 5GT-571C3, aux generator GE 5GMG 146 B11, traction motors GE 5GE748B2, antifreeze, great body with no rust (has been stored inside most of it's life). This unit has been out of service but stored serviceable and is in operating condition.
Location
Prescott, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Click to see this location plotted on a Google Maps page
Lagniappe
In June of this year I received a delightful bit of correspondence about our Prescott & Northwestern page here. I was delighted to send her some photos for her grandson. Never too early to encourage new railfans. She was kind enough to send along a snapshot of her family, the descendents of a PNW trainman.
My name is Rhonda. I am the granddaughter of Warren (Blondie) Singleton. He was the train engineer for the Prescott & Northwestern railroad for many years. He passed away in 1974, I think. I was wondering if you have any photos of his engine, maybe with him in it? He used 24 & 25 I believe for many years. I am hoping to get a copy for my grandson's 3rd birthday coming up in the fall. He loves trains just as I do!
Thank you so much for your time and the photos. Yes, they are the same engines. Thank you for sharing them. I have such great memories of my visits in this little town. I still enjoy going back.
Links / Sources
- Wikipedia article for Prescott & Northwestern
- Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide - Fifth Edition (Kalmbach, 1996) 256