1987 NRHS Excursion

I've always loved roller coasters, especially the old wooden kind. The more hills, the better. But few amusement park rides have compared to the railfan thrill of 35 mile per hour running on the pristine Ashley, Drew & Northern roadbed, two rare EMD models on the point.

When our NRHS chapter announced plans for the '87 FP-ADN all-day trip, I promptly begged my Jr. High band director "Chief" Sanders to let me out of a Saturday musical commitment to go with my dad to southeastern Arkansas. My childhood railfan buddy Jay K. joined us for the road-trip. After dad left work on Friday, we drove late into the evening all the way from New Orleans to Fordyce. Rising early, we made our way to the F&P depot down by the Cotton Belt crossing. It was not long before the crew brought the train from the small yard out to the station area, ready for boarding. What a terrific looking train! The crisp, all-business look of the Geeps; three all-silver coaches, including a classic round-end dome observation. I've always liked the great look of the Georgia-Pacific green scheme (see Tedder's notes on the ADN page), and the rare GP28 model has a ready-to-get-to-work look about it compared to more modest lines of, say, the GP18. What's more, we never made a stop in Crossett to the ADN and FP without noticing the roads' equipment always clean, tidy, and ready for the day's work. This day's work was hailing happy railfans.

Jay and I spent the better part of the excursion tucked into the front vestibule of the AD&N's own company coach, an ex-Rock Island car kept on the property for just such a special outing. The Rock car was first in line behind the road units, and Jay and I ticked off most of the day's miles watching the Geeps ride up and down the rolling AD&N and make good time on the smooth F&P -- slack running in and out, white flags flapping all the way. The vestibule was great, but where I wanted to be, of course, was a dozen feet forward in the cab of #1805! I remember the turns on the Crossett wye; watching from the observation's dome as we moved around the shops. I also remember leaning out the rear vestibule of one of the coaches, watching as the AD&N men made careful study of the underside of the coaches as we eased over the hogback Union Pacific crossing in Monticello.

It is quite possible that the '87 NRHS holds the record for the most shortline photo run-bys! It seemed as though we stopped every 30 miles to stage a new scene. I'm not complaining. It was great fun, every time. Train stops, everyone detrains, train backs up out of view. Everyone scrambles into the weeds and woods to find their preferred spot for capturing the action. And with a good blast of the Nathans from down at the bottom of the hill, the 28s would roll forward past us at the impressive company maximum of 35 mph. (Many a deep south shortline could never boast 35! Indeed, the Columbus & Greenville was glad to get to 15 mph.)

I can still smell the gray 567 smoke from every thrilling uphill run-by on the green and white AD&N. It was the best of days, the best of rides. Up and down, and then again.

Six Flags coasters, eat your heart out.