Remembering steam on the ES&NA

[RailfanWatch819]

Thanks for this share. I remember these very locos from the S&BL days. I helped fire the One one time. Robert Dortch Sr. & Jr. were personal friends of my Father thru John Deere. Dad thought enough to introduce me to these fine gentlemen & their trains. He even drove one of their steam traction engines once by their invitation. I miss them all.

[adean1987]

I'd have to say that the 201 is my favorite locomotive in the entire U.S. Beautifully proportioned, great stack talk, and a real show stopper with that 6 chime whistle. If I ever hit the Powerball jackpot, the first trip I make will be to the real estate office to buy the ES&NA and return it to its former glory.

[Strasburg1991]

will they ever have steam again

[SR722]

A superb video of quintessential shortline steam railroading; it's a shame that #1 and 201 aren't running anymore. 

[CGiordano464]

lucky!

[traindude70]

The truth is that the fate of this railroad is very bleak the whole shibang is for sale for 1.5 mill and its been up for sale since 05 "same time steam went down" still no Offers on her yet luckily tho the steamers are leased from the reader railroad so there safe from scrap but if some one with the cash buys her and wants to run it we may see steam once more here in northern Arkansas.

[railsrust]

Actually, the railroad has been for sale since 1996 when steam was still going strong on the railroad. The railroad has been for sale for the same price since then, as whopping $1.7 Million. The steam locomotives went down far earlier than 2005. #1 went down in 1999, and the #201 went down in 2001. The locomotives are not leased per-say. The whole deal is that the railroad can use them for free, but they don't own them. Its all in the contract.

[traindude70]

As far as I remember the last time the 201 ran was in 2005. also the 201 and #1 are from the reader railroad as they also own the #2 which is also a ex WTCarter Lumber Co Locomotive I am not sure what the lease agreement is tho on the engines but the only one the family owns is the sw1

[railsrust]

From what I was told, the last time any of those steamers turned a wheel was at most 2001. The owners of the railroad do in fact own one steam locomotive on the property, one they never restored to operation, the #226. I was told recently by one source the Reader was in foreclosure, and by another that was false and that they are clearing the right of way all the time. The Reader couldn't take the steam locomotives if they wanted to. The agreement they made years back is legally binding.

[railsrust]

Right on that the Reader owns it, but they couldn't move the engines if they wanted to. The two moguls and Eureka have always been under control of the Dortches. There was a whole argument on who owned all the Reader engines because one party payed for the locomotives, and the other payed to have them all moved to Arkansas. The Dortches practically own those locomotive in Eureka Springs. I rode the train in 2005, and there wasn't a working steam locomotive in sight.

[adean1987]

Its really too bad they don't run steam anymore. I got to ride once when I was a kid behind the 201 back in 1990. It is a classy looking little engine. Does anyone know what kind of whistle the the 5 chime is on the 201in this video? I believe the other whistle oh her is a 3 chime Powell from the sound of it. Thanks so much for posting this!

[railsrust]

Actually its the same SP 6 chime that is on #1 in this video. It doesn't sound quite the same for reason. It may because of the different times the video was taken, or it could be because the whistle might have had issues when it was blown on 201.

[railsrust]

I have found out since my last post the the whistle on these two steam locomotives at the time of recording of this video was a Nathan 6 Chime. This is the same kind of whistle currently used on Texas State Railroad #300 and the steam locomotive and Six Flags St. Louis.

[JJreelProduct]

Now please don't question me too much but wouldn't it be easy as if just two use both moguls parts to get at least one of them running and then try to build a maintence shop like they planned with the money (if enough) to have mabey all running in near future

[railsrust]

It wouldn't be possible. Very few of the part on each of the locomotives are interchangeable, despite both being built the same year. The smaller, wood burning locomotive, #1 was built in November 1906 by Baldwin Locomotive works as a logging locomtive. The larger locomotive, #201 was built in January or March 1906 by Alco. of Patterson, New Jersey for use on the Panama Canal for quick, heavy runs. Neither locomotives were built of anywhere near the same blue prints. I hope this helps.

[railsrust]

Also note, #1 doesn't need much work to run. The problem with restoring it to operation is that there simply aren't fund anymore to operate steam or build any extra facilities on any of the 237 or so acres of land this 2 1/4 mile railway sits on.

[atsf3415dbr]

I was just there yesterday. I would buy some trackage from the BNSF from Newton, KS, to Wichita, KS and have a steam railway there. But the economy is to bad and why aren't we thinking about the 226?

[railsrust]

They have thought about the 226. They ran out of money for its restoration in the '90s so they just left it as it is. Too bad that they never got it running. #1 just need minor work and it can run, but they don't have the money to run a steam engine anymore.

[sfpd2234]

did they actually have those 2 steam locomotive running????

[q5632]

Had, not have. ES&NA has been without steam for several years now. All trains are operated with their diesel. I did see both engines fired up at the same time once. That was when ESPN Outdoors was doing some spots there.

[olemanpax]

What a great Video!!! I am a real steam train fan, but have only been to the ES&NA twice. I have been to some others but the ES&NA is hard to beat in my book !!!!!

[railsrust]

Great video man. I would love to see more. Brian Waller told me to send you a message. He says to reply to his email.

[crosscompound]

Nice SP 6-chime!

[trainmasterfm2]

Very Cool!