The train that brought me to Van Buren was now the Winslow Turn, ready to depart at 11:00 AM.
Arkansas and Missouri C420 46.
I went into the station and purchased a first-class ticket for the Winslow Turn then boarded Parlour Car 107. The flag in this picture shows how hard that cold wind was really blowing.
The interior of Arkansas and Missouri parlor car "Explorer", nee Long Island P72 coach 2927, built by Pullman Standard in 1955. This car went to the Northern Central Railway in Pennsylvania before being moved to the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad in December 2004.
Our conductor for this trip was Lynn Reed.
Long Island emblems on the ceiling's wallpaper.
Frog Bayou.
Me enjoying First Class on the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad.
Passing through Chester again.
That 3.4 mile straight track really seemed longer.
The red bud trees along Frog Bayou.
Rolling down the rails.
More of the red bud trees.
Under Interstate 540.
The Fischer Cut.
Another curve as we climbed towards the Winslow Tunnel.
More red bud along with the white dogwood.
Trestle 3.
Trestle 2.
Trestle 1 with some dogwood in bloom.
The Winslow Tunnel.
The Winslow siding with red bud bloom in this view.
Our C420 46 ran around the train to pull us back to Van Buren.
This fantastic emblem was outside the door all the way back to Van Buren, and I relaxed on the way.
Back in Van Buren, the C420 cut off and ran around the train to push us into the station, and it would become my train to Springdale.
The Van Buren station built in 1902 as we reversed and I detrained.
The other side of the station.
Arkansas and Missouri parlour car 107 "Explorer".
Arkansas and Missouri coach 106 "Mountain View" built by Harlan and Hollingsworth in 1927 for the Central Railroad of New Jersey which was also used in commuter service for years.
Arkansas and Missouri coach 105 "Golden Age" built by Harlan and Hollingsworth in 1927 for the Central Railroad of New Jersey and this car was used in commuter service for years.
Arkansas and Missouri C420 46.
Views of the train here in Van Buren.
The station. The conductor offered me a chance to again ride in Arkansas and Missouri 107 in case I needed more pictures for the story, which I did.
Dinosaurs in Mountainburg.
The West Fork of the White River.
Memorial of the Mass Grave from the African-American Tunnel Railroad Workers who came down with small pox when building the railroad in 1882.
Later on, approaching Fayetteville.
Fayetteville Airport.
Ozark Air Museum.
More red bud blooms.
Pullman Santa Fe business car "Elise Perrault" built by the company in 1928, originally Santa Fe coach 3361 and later rebuilt into a business car.
Crossing another trestle.
Fayetteville station.
As we passed through Barbara, I spotted the Hair Depot caboose which is really Arkansas and Missouri Railroad 170, ex. Louisiana and North West Railroad 213, exx. WEllsivlle, Addison and Galeton Railroad C103, nee Erie Railroad C-103 built by the railroad in 1941. We made our way back to Springdale and I thanked my crew for the great trip and detrained for a few more pictures.
Our train in front of the station, after which I returned to my car and checked both sides of the shops.
Arkansas and Missouri T-6 14, ex. Maryland and Delaware 14, nee Norfolk and Western 43 built by American Locomotive Company in 1959.
Arkansas and Missouri C420 64, ex. Delaware and Hudson 407, exx. Lehigh Valley 407 built by American Locomotive Company in 1964.
Arkansas and Missouri RS-32 30, ex. Arkansas and Missouri 42, exx. Maryland and Delaware 42, exxx. Conrail 2013, exxxx. Penn Central 2031, nee New York Central 8031, built by American Locomotive Company in 1961.
The Drive Back to the Depot Inn & SuitesIt took me twenty-five minutes to get out of Springdale to Interstate 540, which I took north to US Highway 62 then another twenty-five minutes to go through Bentonville and Rogers, but because of these delays I was rewarded.
A quick turnaround enabled this going-away picture of an Arkansas and Missouri freight heading south at Avoca, Arkansas. I continued north to Highway 37, that took me into Missouri to Monett, where I found Road H, which took me north to Interstate 44. That move resulted in me being in Springfield where I decided to just retrace my route south back to La Plata. I took Interstate 44 to Lebanon and stopped for an Arby's roast beef sandwich to go then drove Missouri Highway 5 back to Camdenton, where I called Brock at the Depot Inn & Suites to give him my estimated time of arrival of 11:00 PM. I drove US 54 back through Jefferson City then took US 63 north to La Plata, arriving there at 10:48 PM. I obtained the key from Brock to the Pullman Suite, used the suana tub and called it a night, after a wonderful two days of riding new train routes.
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