Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Saturday, September 6, 2003
On Saturday, September 6, 2003, the Arkansas Railroad
Club had its annual picnic outing at member Peter Smykla, Jr's Paperton
Junction Southern Railway in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Following are
some scenes of this outing and information on the railroad's rolling stock.
It was a beautiful, dry and clear day. There were no train rides, just a
get-together and picnic. To see other current and past railroad photos, go
to http://www.trainweather.com/sunday.html.
PJS 303 - ALCO RS-3, c/n 81900, August 1956, the last RS-3 built and last ALCO locomotive built with a model 244 prime mover. HISTORY: Litchfield & Madison 303; C&NW second 1554; Michigan Northern 1554. Nose was chopped for MN, but conversion was never completed by changing controls so long hood is front. Acquired in 1984 from Michigan Northern. The other rolling stock will be identified later on this webpage.
Peter Smykla, Jr on ALCO 303.
SSW 2325 - Built in Pine Bluff shops in July 1920 at a cost of $3,488.75, this caboose spent most of its years on the Paragould & Southeastern, where it was used on the daily except Sunday mixed train between Paragould and Blytheville. 2325 was assigned to the grandfather of T. D. Davis (engineer of the 819 steam trips in the 1980's) and then, after is death, to Bill Church's dad. In addition, former SSW Superintendent Bill Reed used to ride this car with his dad in the Depression, when his father worked the mixed train. Acquired in 1980 and restored in 1981-1982.
SLSF COACH 514 - This coach was built by Barney & Smith in March 1883 as SLSF 661. In March 1936, the Frisco rebuilt the car, changing the roof to the current turtle-back configuration, and adding the steel siding, while keeping the wooden frame. From the early 1960's until October 1996, it was on the Kansas City Public Service Freight Operation, where it last ran in 1964. Purchased in 1996, it was brought to Pine Bluff on a flat car. Virtually the entire roof, including the wooden ribs, needs replacing, as do the windows. You will note that during the 1936 rebuilding, thousands of wood screws were used with heads leaded in to simulate rivets, to fasten on the steel siding.
Member Fred Fillers and friends on a handcar.
Another view of the site from the south.
LEFT - PJS 5, ALCO RSC-2, c/n 75129, January 1947, rebuilt by ALCO in 1965 with cab and nose from RS-32 series. At that time, it was down-rated to 1400 hp and the controls were reversed, making the short hood the front. Re-engined with a model "250" engine, which is a 244 with slight modification. HISTORY: Milwaukee 985, then 591 and finally 578; Kettle Moraine 5; Brillion & Forest Junction 5. Bought from the man who had purchased the B&FJR at bandruptcy sale. Acquired in 1986. RIGHT - The PJS is close to the Pine Bluff-Little Rock line of the Union Pacific and you can see a UP train heading north.
Scenes showing the line, looking south of the PJS complex toward Pine Bluff, plus some scenes from inside the storeage building and members having lunch on September 6.
View from the west.
From a Paperton Junction Southern Railway Equipment Data fact sheet, the PJS also had the following rolling stock:
WSR 501 BOXCAR - This boxcar was built in 1915 for the Missouri Pacific as MP 121007. The oldest information available is that it was re-built with the dreadnaught ends in 1928. It was sold to the Warren & Saline River, where it was used to transfer wood fuel between Potlatch mills in Warren, Arkansas. Acquired from the W&SR in 1992 and restored in 1992-1993. One half of the wooden side truss on the east side of the car had to be replaced since it had rotted after a tornado ripped off half of the tin roofing. Luckily, the top chord of the truss, a 4" x 8" - 37' did not rot out completely, and is still intact.
A&LM 1147, 3404, 3405 - These three 41.5-foot flat cars were last used by the Arkansas & Louisiana Missouri in MW service. When the A&LM was purchased and became the Arkansas, Louisiana & Mississippi, they were found stored in Monroe, Louisiana. The three cars were purchased from the A&LM in 1997 and trucked here from Tinsman on the F&P. 3404 and 3405 were originally Southern cars, and from the trucks, it would appear that 1147 was built for the Illinois Central. Restoration is now underway.
PJS 501 - Former SP 203940, now a shop car used for parts storage, was acquired in 1985.
PJS 622 TANK CAR - Former SSW 56226 is used for parts storage. It was acquired in 1987. This tank car was built in 1927, and is the property of the Arkansas Railroad Museum. Un-restored at this time.
PJS 303 - ALCO RS-3, c/n 81900, August 1956, the last RS-3 built and last ALCO locomotive built with a model 244 prime mover. HISTORY: Litchfield & Madison 303; C&NW second 1554; Michigan Northern 1554. Nose was chopped for MN, but conversion was never completed by changing controls so long hood is front. Acquired in 1984 from Michigan Northern. The other rolling stock will be identified later on this webpage.
Peter Smykla, Jr on ALCO 303.
SSW 2325 - Built in Pine Bluff shops in July 1920 at a cost of $3,488.75, this caboose spent most of its years on the Paragould & Southeastern, where it was used on the daily except Sunday mixed train between Paragould and Blytheville. 2325 was assigned to the grandfather of T. D. Davis (engineer of the 819 steam trips in the 1980's) and then, after is death, to Bill Church's dad. In addition, former SSW Superintendent Bill Reed used to ride this car with his dad in the Depression, when his father worked the mixed train. Acquired in 1980 and restored in 1981-1982.
SLSF COACH 514 - This coach was built by Barney & Smith in March 1883 as SLSF 661. In March 1936, the Frisco rebuilt the car, changing the roof to the current turtle-back configuration, and adding the steel siding, while keeping the wooden frame. From the early 1960's until October 1996, it was on the Kansas City Public Service Freight Operation, where it last ran in 1964. Purchased in 1996, it was brought to Pine Bluff on a flat car. Virtually the entire roof, including the wooden ribs, needs replacing, as do the windows. You will note that during the 1936 rebuilding, thousands of wood screws were used with heads leaded in to simulate rivets, to fasten on the steel siding.
Member Fred Fillers and friends on a handcar.
Another view of the site from the south.
LEFT - PJS 5, ALCO RSC-2, c/n 75129, January 1947, rebuilt by ALCO in 1965 with cab and nose from RS-32 series. At that time, it was down-rated to 1400 hp and the controls were reversed, making the short hood the front. Re-engined with a model "250" engine, which is a 244 with slight modification. HISTORY: Milwaukee 985, then 591 and finally 578; Kettle Moraine 5; Brillion & Forest Junction 5. Bought from the man who had purchased the B&FJR at bandruptcy sale. Acquired in 1986. RIGHT - The PJS is close to the Pine Bluff-Little Rock line of the Union Pacific and you can see a UP train heading north.
Scenes showing the line, looking south of the PJS complex toward Pine Bluff, plus some scenes from inside the storeage building and members having lunch on September 6.
View from the west.
From a Paperton Junction Southern Railway Equipment Data fact sheet, the PJS also had the following rolling stock:
WSR 501 BOXCAR - This boxcar was built in 1915 for the Missouri Pacific as MP 121007. The oldest information available is that it was re-built with the dreadnaught ends in 1928. It was sold to the Warren & Saline River, where it was used to transfer wood fuel between Potlatch mills in Warren, Arkansas. Acquired from the W&SR in 1992 and restored in 1992-1993. One half of the wooden side truss on the east side of the car had to be replaced since it had rotted after a tornado ripped off half of the tin roofing. Luckily, the top chord of the truss, a 4" x 8" - 37' did not rot out completely, and is still intact.
A&LM 1147, 3404, 3405 - These three 41.5-foot flat cars were last used by the Arkansas & Louisiana Missouri in MW service. When the A&LM was purchased and became the Arkansas, Louisiana & Mississippi, they were found stored in Monroe, Louisiana. The three cars were purchased from the A&LM in 1997 and trucked here from Tinsman on the F&P. 3404 and 3405 were originally Southern cars, and from the trucks, it would appear that 1147 was built for the Illinois Central. Restoration is now underway.
PJS 501 - Former SP 203940, now a shop car used for parts storage, was acquired in 1985.
PJS 622 TANK CAR - Former SSW 56226 is used for parts storage. It was acquired in 1987. This tank car was built in 1927, and is the property of the Arkansas Railroad Museum. Un-restored at this time.