Remembering steam on the ES&NA

I had the opportunity to video steam on the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway along the tracks, in the cab and from the engineer's seat (yes, I was running!). 201 and 1, both moguls are featured. I certainly would love to see either or both of the locomotives run again. The railroad is still worth a ride and a visit. Their website is:
http://www.esnarailway.com/

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• ESNA
• ES&NA
• Steam
• Ozarks
• Arkansas
• Eureka_Springs

[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.

[crosscompound]

Nice SP 6-chime!

[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 !!!!!

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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]

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]

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.