APRIL 27, 2002. The Arkansas Railroad Club had an excursion on the Ouachita Railroad (OUCH) from El Dorado, Arkansas to Lillie, Louisiana (about 25 miles) and return on Saturday, April 27, 2002 (on the former Rock Island). The President of OUCH, Michael Robbins and OUCH employee Bobby Jones ran the train for both our club and as a working freight that Saturday. We had a caboose and a flatcar with chairs firmly seated to ride on. There were over 30 club members who rode this rare-mileage excursion. Going to the Weyerhauser plant in Lilllie, we pulled 9 boxcars and coming back we hauled 10 mostly loaded cars behind us. Speed was about 10 mph on the average, less on upgrades with one engine.
   The scenery in the Arkansas and Louisiana springtime was gorgeous with lush greenery and swampy land both in south Arkansas and northern Louisiana. We stopped at Junction City, on the state line between Arkansas and Louisiana for lunch at a barbecue place. We left El Dorado at 10 a.m. and returned by about  4 p.m. All had a great time.
   At the bottom of the page are a few scenes I took the day before of the beautifully restored Rock Island depot at Bernice, Louisiana, about 7 miles south of Lillie, where the old Rock Island tracks had been taken up years ago. However, it is rumored (good rumor) that this former abandoned Rock Island right of way will once again have tracks laid down later this year between Lillie and Bernice because of demand of businesses there. Let's hope this occurs and that one day we may be able to ride all the way to Bernice.


Arriving to board the special train before 10 a.m. Part of the group posed for a photo. Note the Arkansas Railroad Club red sign on the caboose.


View from the flatcar, where I rode. We left promptly at 10 a.m.


View from the flatcar showing some of the lush greenery.


One of the many swampy areas we crossed. It was prestine with no highways or houses, except for an occasional deerstand along the tracks. These scenes were all in Arkansas south of El Dorado (Lillie is about 25 miles from El Dorado with about 13 of those miles in Arkansas).


Passing a chemical plant south of El Dorado. Another view of the riders.


More views of swamps and people riding.


This scene was just north of the Louisiana border, north of Junction City.


Arrival at Junction City was about 1130. The road marks the boundary between Arkansas and Louisiana. The train was parked in Arkansas and we all walked into Louisiana to a barbecue place just across the road and close to the tracks to have a good barbecue lunch.


Another view of the train. We were ready to depart about 45 minutes after the stopped for lunch. John Jones of our club chased the train and took photos from the outside.


A view in Junction City of some of the freight cars. Some of us were very relaxed, especially after the lunch and after we were moving again.


The crew dropped us outside the Weyerhauser (Williamette) particle paper plant in Lillie so they could do some revenue switching.


More swithing scenes and some of our group in Lillie.

 
Back in El Dorado about 4 p.m.


Left is OUCH President Michael Robbins and right is OUCH employee Bobby Jones. We thanked both for a great time and a safe trip. The trip was free to the club and we really appreciate them running it for us.








Scenes of the restored Bernice Rock Island depot with it's still standing semaphore with working handles. The caboose is sitting on the original right of way. Chances are that track will once again be laid through Bernice from Lillie within the next year to serve industry in Bernice. These photos were taken April 26, 2002.




Scenes of the abandoned Rock Island right of way at a rural crossing about 3 miles north of Bernice. Tracks may once again be laid here.