If Arkansas isn't in "dixie", it's close enough!

Besides, I would like to (as time permits) "work around the county" and try to note all of the "fallen flag" steam tourist railroads from the 60s/70s in the various regions. Seems to bring back good memories for a lot of folks.

AR

READER RAILROAD
Not really dead, a short segment at the Reader end still survives, but slumbers for now. However the 100% steam powered common-carrier freight and tourist hauling Reader RR from the 1960's and early 1970's has gone into history and should be on the list. Once the Berry Asphalt refinery at Waterloo, AR closed (I believe in 1973) the end came for what some would argue was the last 100% steam powered common-carrier in the US. The original Reader had 3 Baldwin steam locomotives that they used during the 60s/70s. Ex-Caddo & Choctaw 2-6-2 11, ex-Angelina & Neches River 108, and ex-Warren & Saline River USATC S-160 2-8-0 1702. Passenger stock included an ex-Milwaukee Road fluted-side steel combine, two ex-Rock Island steel commuter coaches, and a heavyweight steel palor car that--I think--may have been from the New Haven(??).

When the original Reader RR closed, 11 was sold in 1974 to Frank Pollack. 11 traveled to FL and was used by Bob Most on the Orange Belt RR [BLAST IT!!.. another fallen dixie tourist RR to cover!!]. Later 11 moved to GA and saw use on the Hartwell RR [ANOTHER one!!] before winding up on the Kentucky Central at Paris, KY.

The 108 was sold in 1976 to a group of people involved with the Conway Scenic Ry in NH. Decked out in a handsome green paint job, 108 hauled CSR trains for many years. 108 had been OOS at Conway in recent years and more recently has went to Blacklands RR at Sulfur Springs, TX. I believe restoration to operation is planned.

1702 hung around Reader until 1985 when it was sold to a private owner who leased it to the Fremont & Elkhorn Valley RR in NE. 1702 was acquired by the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad in NC and operates there today.

The ex-MILW combine went to the Indiana Railway Museum at French Lick, IN and I believe is still available for use there today.

Not sure what happened to the ex-RI coaches or the heavyweight palor car.

As stated earlier the Reader RR isn't completely gone. For a number of years following the demise of "60s/early 70s era Reader", a new company utilized the remaining segment of track and continued tourist-only service using ex-Victoria Fisher & Western 2-6-2 7 and ex-W.T. Carter Lumber 2-6-0 2. More recently these operations have ended (for now).

SCOTT & BEARSKIN LAKE RR
The ol' memory is a tad fuzzy on this one, but IIRC it was part of a preserved (or recreated?) southern plantation museum at Scott, AR. Most likely it was a private ROW (fairly short ride)(??). I DO remember the motive power. Ex-W.T. Carter Lumber 2-6-0 1 (wood burner w/ cabbage stack) and ex-Moscow Camden & St Augustine "Panama Mogul" 2-6-0 201. The two locomotives and most likely the rolling stock (IIRC, there were several wooden passenger cars, caboose, etc) wound up at the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas RR at Eureka Springs, AR. The equipment has been used there, but more recently all of the steam locomotives have been placed in storage or on display. The ES&NA continues to operate with diesel power.

As always, please add additions, corrections, and--best of all--rememberences!

Regards,
Jim Robinson

Don't forget "Hillbilly World" on the old ET&WNC grade in the Doe River Gorge near Hampton, TN. Operated in the 1960s using a reboilered Porter.

JAC

When I was a kid we visited the one near Miami, or Ft. Lauderdale but the name escapes me.
Both times they had the Florida East Coast 4-6-2 #153. The first time it went to a Blimp Hanger, and the second time we went it was in a more commercial area.
I am working on some of my dads old films, and in scanning for shots today, I ran across one of the 153 in it, so it is now fresh in the mind!!
Greg Scholl

Videos
sales@gregschollvideo.com

Yes Rudd, they also owned a Glover Machine Works 2-6-0 which later held down the parking lot in a Florida restaurant to prevent it from blowing away during hurricanes, which is now in private ownership in Ohio. Young Jim Glover remembers going to 6 Gun with his parents as a kid and seeing "his" nameplate on the engine.

Funny I kind of remember them with a Crown engine but might be confusing with the Pioneer City park.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Gold Coast RR which moved from the south Dade blimp (GE says dirigible) base to Fort Lauderdale's Airport Perimeter Road for a while, then returned to its former home when the Zoo was moved from its correct Crandon Park location.

You should see 153 now - one of the finest cosmetic restorations I have seen in a very long time.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Wilbur was one of the most generous railfans that ever lived. He worked as engineer at Louisiana Eastern in the fifties, Opryland, Petticoat Junction as well as a host of other railroads, and he always offered cab rides. He sent young train buffs tons of free photos from his darkroom, and he let me run an engine for several shifts at Petticoat Junction, which was quite an adventure since the train ran through the parking lot and we were constantly on the lookout for station wagons crossing our path. The Carbon Limestone engine had two whistles, a four inch chime and a big steptop Wilbur would open up when somebody spent too much time on the tracks. During the sixties and seventies, seems like every time I went to see a steam locomotive somewhere in America, Wilbur was there in the cab, or behind a tripod taking photos.

> Another good memory, and my first
> opportunity as a steam engineer!

> Here's the story: As a high school student
> in rural Western N.C. I was making a side
> career out of locating photos of the Graham
> Co. RR through contacts listed in Railroad
> Magazine. One of the persons was Wilbur T.
> Golson, who was a retired radio operator for
> the Louisiana State Police. Golson was a big
> steam fan and had worked himself into summer
> job running at Petticoat Junction. We
> corresponded often and he urged me to visit,
> which I did with my parents in Spring 1979.
> Upon arrival, we made one loop with the
> Argent Mogul and with the test run, Golson
> showed me how the engine had been converted
> to burn oil and how all the controls moved
> to the engineer's side. I recall the burner
> was something like a blow torch. Any way,
> after the first loop, Golson called me over
> from the fireman's side and said, here, take
> it. I'd never run an engine before, much
> less a steam engine, but he stood over me
> and helped me with the engine. Just before
> departing the station, the burner was turned
> up and the brakes--steam brakes I
> recall--were released. It was a real job
> trying to figure out when to apply them for
> a smooth stop in the stations. His only
> other advice that day was to blow the
> whistle as much as possible when along the
> highway. "It brings in more
> tourists," he said.

> Today, Golson is long gone. His negatives
> survive in good hands. The park is gone. The
> good memories remain of another man who
> helped nurture a young man's love of steam
> engines.


runner@i-55.com

> Not sure what happened to the ex-RI coaches
> or the heavyweight palor car.

The Reader RR parlor was purchased by Mr. Tom from the KCS, and was named "Rambler". In 1975,it was purchased by the Valley Railroad in Connecticut. During restoration, it was found that the original Pullman name was "Wallingford", the name it now carries.

hpincus@mindspring.com

>I have to jump in here. I never met Mr. Golson personally, but we wrote back and forth over several years. Through his letters, which I still have, he gave me an understanding of steam operation. He sent me many photos of the Porters at Petticoat Junction in FL. I still have all the photos he sent. He included photos of the locos he ran that are now on the Eureka Springs RR. He even encouraged me to come down to Florida and interview for a job as engineer at Petticoat Junction. I appreciated knowing him through his letters. I did make it down to Petticoat Junction several times. Always got to ride the cab of the Argent loco, even made a poor recording of several trips around the loop and I did get to take her out of the back station once. It was a great time. I would like to know if anyone out there has any video of the Petticoat Junction trains. Another good memory, and my first
> opportunity as a steam engineer!

> Here's the story: As a high school student
> in rural Western N.C. I was making a side
> career out of locating photos of the Graham
> Co. RR through contacts listed in Railroad
> Magazine. One of the persons was Wilbur T.
> Golson, who was a retired radio operator for
> the Louisiana State Police. Golson was a big
> steam fan and had worked himself into summer
> job running at Petticoat Junction. We
> corresponded often and he urged me to visit,
> which I did with my parents in Spring 1979.
> Upon arrival, we made one loop with the
> Argent Mogul and with the test run, Golson
> showed me how the engine had been converted
> to burn oil and how all the controls moved
> to the engineer's side. I recall the burner
> was something like a blow torch. Any way,
> after the first loop, Golson called me over
> from the fireman's side and said, here, take
> it. I'd never run an engine before, much
> less a steam engine, but he stood over me
> and helped me with the engine. Just before
> departing the station, the burner was turned
> up and the brakes--steam brakes I
> recall--were released. It was a real job
> trying to figure out when to apply them for
> a smooth stop in the stations. His only
> other advice that day was to blow the
> whistle as much as possible when along the
> highway. "It brings in more
> tourists," he said.

> Today, Golson is long gone. His negatives
> survive in good hands. The park is gone. The
> good memories remain of another man who
> helped nurture a young man's love of steam
> engines.


jtacmegray@aol.com

>Mr. Golson to the rescue here. When Mr. Golson and I were writing back and forth he shared pictures and info. on the Six Guns RR. The locomotives in use there were both 36" Crowns. Mr. Golson sent me several photos of these locomotives and one b/w photo shows the propane burner in the firebox door. I remember a website of defunct amusement parks listing this long gone park with several photos. One of the Crowns has been restored and is in operation on a railroad, I believe in Texas. That loco was Six Guns #7. Whatever happened to the #4 I don't know. Yes Rudd, they also owned a Glover Machine
> Works 2-6-0 which later held down the
> parking lot in a Florida restaurant to
> prevent it from blowing away during
> hurricanes, which is now in private
> ownership in Ohio. Young Jim Glover
> remembers going to 6 Gun with his parents as
> a kid and seeing "his" nameplate
> on the engine.

> Funny I kind of remember them with a Crown
> engine but might be confusing with the
> Pioneer City park.

> Dave


jtacmegray@aol.com

Engine #7 is a Crown Metal engine and is now operational at Jefferson, Texas in the northeastern part of the state.
The original Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railroad bought the locomotives and cars from Six Gun Territory of Ocala, Florida when it folded. The current operation is under new management and opened last year. The cars even have the embossed "six guns" on the ends of each seat I remember seeing when I rode the train as a kid.
The #7 still has the large propane burner in the cab. I think the other engine may be in Jefferson, possibly as a static display in front of a restaurant, can't remember.
For more information and pictures, check out the link.

Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railroad
swstmloco@aol.com

The second engine orginally came to Jefferson as well, and was on display at a motel in Jefferson.

It had mechanical problems that kept it from running. It has since gone to Coke/Underground, Atlanta, GA; where it is on display in front of Warner Bros. Wes Barris has a photograph of it on his website at http://www.steamlocomotive.com.

My family rode the J&CBRR last October. The current owner rescued a Crown open coach that was converted to a closed coach from the woods, and restored it (see pic below.) The seats, all newly covered, were given to the railroad by an individual in Jefferson, who had them stored in his attic.

It is a great ride, and I highly recommend it. It is shorter and cheaper than the TSRR, and is just as scenic. IIRC, he even has a short trestle or two.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

> Engine #7 is a Crown Metal engine and is now
> operational at Jefferson, Texas in the
> northeastern part of the state.
> The original Jefferson and Cypress Bayou
> Railroad bought the locomotives and cars
> from Six Gun Territory of Ocala, Florida
> when it folded. The current operation is
> under new management and opened last year.
> The cars even have the embossed "six
> guns" on the ends of each seat I
> remember seeing when I rode the train as a
> kid.
> The #7 still has the large propane burner in
> the cab. I think the other engine may be in
> Jefferson, possibly as a static display in
> front of a restaurant, can't remember.
> For more information and pictures, check out
> the link.


Steam Locomotives in SE Texas and SW Louisiana

james1@pernet.net