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Arkansas & Missouri RailroadA sanctuary of Alcos in the scenic Ozark Mountains |
Springdale, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
he A&M began operations in September of 1986. A&M was founded by an investor group dedicated to creating and maintaining a first-class, profitable operation. That simple, but effective, vision continues to drive the A&M's business practices today. Spun off by the then Burlington Northern Railroad, the A&M has since invested millions of dollars to improve service to customers, enhance public and Company safety, and catalyze economic growth in the 139 mile Monett, MO to Fort Smith, AR corridor.
Most rail historians recognize the A&M's tracks as part of the old St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) Railway system built in the 1880's. Some vestiges remain of the Frisco, most notably in the Fayetteville, Van Buren, and Fort Smith passenger depots. And, at various locations, the true rail researcher can decipher the old bones of intersecting railroads or branches long since abandoned, such as the Cassville and Exeter Railroad and the Frisco's Fayetteville to St. Paul branch.
he Arkansas & Missouri Railroad was established in 1986 as a Class III railroad operating a 150 mile route from Monett, Missouri south to Fort Smith, Arkansas. The line was a spin off operation from the former Burlington Northern, leasing this former Frisco route to the shortline until the line was purchased entirely in 2001. A&M's corporate headquarters and shops are located in Springdale, Arkansas. Traffic generally consists of grain and feed supplements, paper products, sand, plastic, food products, steel, scrap, lumber, aluminum, and mineral products. Seasonal mixed train and excursion service have been a hallmark of the line. Until 2013 and the purchase of EMD products, the A&M was known in the region for operating a fleet of first and second-generation ALCo locomotives. Interchange is with BNSF, Kansas City Southern, and Union Pacific.
The Arkansas & Missouri also operates seasonal excursion trains between Springdale, Winslow, and Van Buren, Arkansas. Trains generally operate Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from March to November. The route features a tunnel and several major trestles as it passes through the Boston Mountains.
AM route map / web
1986 Official Guide ad / collection
BNSF @ Monett MO
CPKC Rwy @ Fort Smith AR
UP @ Van Buren AR
St Louis Southwestern
Burlington Northern
1910 Official Guide map / collection
1910 Official Guide timetable / collection
AM route notes / JCH
collection
image and artwork RWH
collection
Springdale, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Scrapbooks
I have such wonderful memories of our day on the Arkansas & Missouri. It was the summer after I graduated from high school, and before I started my first semester at Louisiana Tech, my father and I did one of our famous railroad camping trips. This one took us to northwest Louisiana to see the shortlines attached to the Meridian Speedway, then up into the Ozarks of western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Riding mixed train service on the rear of the (at that time) all-Alco A&M surely ranks near the top of the list for that summer excursion. The entire day was an Alco festival, between the local T6 switching, Century 420 lashups pulling freights in both directions, and the mixed train ride from Springdale south to the Arkansas River bridge and back. I'll not soon forget #20, a handsome RS-1 that sparkled even on a drab day thanks to its shiny lacquer paint. A great day on this old Frisco north-south mainline.
RWH and collection
Clippings
from The Short Line 87
/ Aug 1987 / collection
from The Short Line 77
/ Mar 1986 / collection
from The Short Line 83
/ Feb 1987 / collection
from The Short Line 80
/ Sep 1986 / collection
from The Short Line 85
/ May 1987 / collection
from Arkansas & Missour Railroad: History Through the Miles
by Barton Jennings / collection
Scrapbook
all pages from Arkansas & Missouri scrapbook / JCH
Video
HawkinsRails thanks Bishop Taylor of Louisiana Rail Productions for sharing his excellent YouTube videos
Louisiana Rail Productions
Lagniappe
The Big Red Line
Van Buren, Ar / image RWH / artwork RWH
Mr. Hannold's Road Switcher
St. Louis, Mo / June 2018 / RWH
Twentieth Century Survivors
Springdale, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
There Where Never Such Devoted Sisters
Springdale, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
St. Louis, Mo / Jun 2018 / RWH
The Wheel of Life Keeps Turning
Springdale, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Off to the Races
Van Buren, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Rank and File
Aug 1992 / RWH
The Alco Road
image and artwork RWH
Snapshots
Springdale, Ar / Aug 1992 / JCH
Saint Louis, Mo / Jun 2018 / DKT
Links / Sources
- Arkansas & Missouri company website
- Diesel Shop roster for Arkansas & Missouri
- Wikipedia entry for Arkansas & Missouri
- Charles W. McDonald, Diesel Locomotive Rosters - Third Edition (Kalmbach, 1992) 19-20
- Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide - Fifth Edition (Kalmbach, 1996) 29-30
