were to find info on the arkansas & missouri railroad

I'd go to the official site that Triplex posted.

I can tell you this much- the tracks the A&M runs on were first laid down by predecessors to the St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. in the late 1800s as a route from MOnett, MO over the Boston and Winding Stair Mountains to Texas. The line served as a Texas shortcut for Frisco (swapping cars at Paris, TX with a Santa Fe branch from Dallas) until a less-hilly route was built from Tulsa, IT and Sapulpa south to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. The original line was part of Frisco's Central Division, and served customers from MOnett to the Springdale-Fayetteville area, and on down to Ft. SMith, AR, where a yard & roundhouse were kept. In steam days Consilidations were used south over the Winding Stairs, with Mikados handling things north. The Monett-Paris line also boasted of two of the three tunnels Frisco had (one south of Winslow, AR and one just insinde Oklahoma near Jenson). Between Fayetteville & Van Buren the line goes thru the tunnel south of Winslow, and over three tall steel bridges. It was also the steepest grade Frisco had.

Passenger service ended south of Ft. Smith in 1958, and on the rest of the line in 1965. Freight service was one scheduled train daily each way between Ft. Smith and MOnett, plus locals arouns Springdale & Fayetteville. This line became part of the Burlington Northern in November 1980, and saw slow downgrading of service thru the 1980s. It was sold in 1986 to the Hannold Family, who owned the Maryland & Delaware.

The A&M wasn't always all-Alco- after startup, GP40s from the Louisville & Nashville were used until enough Alcos arrived to replace them. Today the A&M owns C420s, M420s, several T6s, some RS1s, and two C425s. Offices and shops are at Springdale, AR.

Two regular freights run out of Springdale. The MOnett Turn runs at daytime, and swaps cars with BNSF at MOnett. The Ft. Smith Turn is a night job, and swaps cars at- no, not Ft. Smith, but at a passing track at Rudy, north of Van Buren, to avoid waiting for permission to cross the UP main and ccross the Arkansas River bridge (a center-lift span) at Van Buren. Local crews work in the Springdale-Fayetteville area, and also in Ft. Smith. There's plenty of work for both locals to do, and these old Alcos earn their keep, and then some.

Pentrex had a video out on the Arkansas & MIssouri some years ago, and IIRC so did Greg Scholl Videos. Also, an N scale A&M layout was built & featured in an issue of Model Railroader- ironically enough, I was looking at that very same issue last week while re-arranging our garage after a major cross-town move. I have pictures at this site:

http://www.railimages.com/g2/v/bobthompson/diesel_shots/?g2_page=7

that show several A&M Alcos at rest and in use.

I lived in Ft. Smith from 1979 til 1982, and due to family ties (an ex-wife, and a son & daughter), I've been in that area often since then. I would also recommend a visit to northwestern Arkansas someday- it's really nice countryside, and the A&M and UP (plus the KCS to the west) will keep you busy with rail action. Just remember- when shooting pics, be safe and don't trespass unless given permission.

HTH

 

And another thing...............

http://www.arkansasmissouri-rr.com/p_fanclub.asp

This is a link off the website to the A&M Fan Club. Thw whole site is quite interesting!

Almost forgot- they also run excursion passenger trains. Info for this is also on the website. Also, in Springdale, the pass. depot servies as a giftshop- last time I was thru there, I bought a hat and two coffee mugs.

 

BTW_ the A&M roster is kept to immaculate standards by a dedicated shop crew in Springdale. Their shop is a large storehouse of Alco parts, which they also sell to other lines who have Alcos. The scenery the A&M passes thru outshines any scenery anywhere, save the Rockies. So despite certain detractors, if you want to see shining burgundy diesels hauling freight as their builder intended, head to northwest Arkansas- far friendlier people, and much more to see in either the Springdale area or around Van Buren-Ft. Smith.

 

Heavener, eh? Shoot, you're not but about 40 miles or so from Ft. Smith- I would recommend a trip or two up that way to see what A&M has on the south end (still uses the ex-Frisco yard, but all the buildings to the east of the yard, as well as south, were destroyed or heavily damaged by a tornado some time back, and removed. The one large building in the middle of the yard was once the Frisco's car repair shop, but is enclosed, and is used to store extra Alcos when not needed.

ANd while we're at it, any KCS action shots from your way? We have a KCS forum here on Trainboard (I'm the moderator), and shots & info on the KCS are more than welcome.