Went to Eureka Springs, AR for a little vacation and took a ride on the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway tourist train. http://www.esnarailway.com/about.htm Had a good time up there. The ES&NA has 2.25 miles of track with a wye at the north end and a turntable at the south end. They run 3-5 trips a day, Tuesday through Saturday, April through October. The Conductor provided a lesson on railroad operations during the ride. Their locomotive is an EMD SW1 600hp switcher that was built in 1942. They have a couple of coach cars and a couple of dinning cars. They run lunch and dinner trips if they have enough people. Before October 2001, they also used an ALCO 2-6-0 Mogul steam locomotive. It is in need of an overhaul that ES&NA just cannot afford. I also understand from the Engineer that the ES&NA is for sale to someone that wants to keep it running as a tourist train. Any takers?
Had not heard this operation mentioned recently. Sounds like current economics are hitting them. Boxcab E50
Saving The ES&NA Railroad Hello, to anyone who is inerested. My name is Brian Waller. I am starting this Thread to see if I can get help. The ES&NA RR is For Sale and I am trying to buy it and save it from being lost and forgotten. I have created a website for Saving The ES&NA RR at http://www.savingesnarailroad.com. Please visit this website and Help Me. Thank You, Brian Waller
Saving The ES&NA RR Hello, to anyone who is interested, I posted earlier that The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railroad (ES&NA RR), in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is For Sale, but I forgot to tell you how much, The ES&NA RR is For Sale for $1.7 Millions. I am looking for investor's, backer's, and for anyone's that want to help me. If you visit my website, there I can explain in more details. The reason's why I want to buy The ES&NA Railroad is because this is my dream to own and operate The ES&NA RR. You can visit my website, if you have not already, at http://www.savingesnarailroad.com. Note: website may not be updates yet, but will be soon. Thank, Brian Waller Future Owner of The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railroad (ES&NA RR)
Brian, Welcome to TrainBoard. Can you tell us something about the railroad? I know pretty much nothing about it. Best, Adam
Saving The ES&NA RR Hello, to anyone's who is interested, Here is some information about The ES&NA RR in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The ES&NA RR is an 2 miles long standard guages (4' 8 1/2") railroad, build on old Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad bed, original built by The Eureka Springs Railroad in 1883. The ES&NA RR (The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railroad) used the old stone built RR Depot, built in 1913 replacing the original depot built in 1883 after it was burn down. The ES&NA RR started in 1981 by Robert L. Dortch, Jr., and his family. They restored the old stone RR Depot along with returning Steam Locomotives and Trains back to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. In 1984, The ES&NA RR has complete the "Wye" at Junction, Arkansas, and the turntable at ES&NA RR Yard, they were also now serving lunch and dinner on their newly restored Dinner Train. The ES&NA RR ran every hours on the hours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., along with a lunch train at 12:00 a.m., and an dinner train at 5:00 p.m., they ran from April - Oct., every years. In 1999, The ES&NA RR went up For Sale, the starting price for The ES&NA RR was $1.75 Million and now it has been lower to $1.7 Million. The reasons why The ES&NA RR went up For Sale was because Robert L. Dortch, Jr., was going to retire, in 2002 Robert L. Dortch, Jr., die, leaving his three sons, now two sons, and his wife, Mary Jane Dortch, the Railroad. This is only some History of The ES&NA RR, for more please visit my website at http://www.savingesnarailroad.com. The ES&NA RR is still in operating, now all trains are pulled by the Diesel Locomotive, All Steam Locomotives are all retired dues to boiler's rebuild mandated from the state, and now on display in the RR Yard. Brian Waller Railroads Historian, Future Owner of The ES&NA RR.
We're not really an site for pairing investors with investment opportunities, but you may be able to find someone here with something to invest just by chance if you describe the line more fully and post some photos, a route map, a list of shippers and potential shippers, and that sort of thing. Best of luck, Adam
Saving The ES&NA RR Adam, Let me ask you a question, Have you visit my website?? There it explain the full History of The ES&NA RR, along with other stuff, pictures of what The ES&NA RR look like today and what it use to look like, and the reasons why I am trying to Save The ES&NA RR and along with other RR related informations. Check it out. What else do you want me to do?? Do you want to help me Save The ES&NA RR?? If you want to help, please let me know. Brian Waller Future Owner of The ES&NA RR, Railroads Historian
Brian, Adam asked a legitimate question about the railroad. There is much more folks need to know than just how neat the line is- outstanding debts, equipment on hand, ridership figures, and many more facts that potential investors would have to know before plunking down any money. It may also your cause if you do some homework on those very things, then write up a business plan and whatever else you may need so you have something to present to prospective investors- preferrably on your own website or via US Mail. We appreciate your enthusiasm, but take it easy on the comments and attitude. Good luck to you. And for the record, yes, I have ridden this railroad, and have pictures of the SW1 on the point of the dinner train they ran, plus a nite shot of the Shay on the turntable. Nice operation, but this economy is not helpint them much (or a lot of other tourist ventures, either)
Brian, I wasn't trying to make you upset, as friscobob pointed out. I understand the passion. In the last few years I have watched as the Port of Tillamook Bay has been allowed to wither and all but die in the wake of a wash-out, and it pains me to see nothing happening to save it. I missed the website link at first. I apologize for that. You may consider putting a small link in your signature file like I have for my model RR club so that people can quickly access it. You've got a lot of great information on your site about what is there. You may want to put together a packet for potential investors that goes through the items friscobob mentioned. Best of luck, Adam
Saving The ES&NA RR Adam, I do have an link to my website in my signature. But I will add this link here too, http://www.savingesnarailroad.com. Brian Waller Future Owner Owner Of The ES&NA RR
Saving The ES&NA RR Hello, to anyone's who is inerested, I have an albums (pictures) of The ES&NA RR. I will be adding more pictures every now & then. Check it out. Brian Waller
Saving The ES&NA RR Thanks, Adam, for adding an link to my Album of The ES&NA RR. I have added more Pictures to this Album, check them out. Brian Waller
You may like this picture: Shot this in June of 1987 during a weekend with the Frisco Modelers Information Group. Can't remember where the Shay came from, but the turntable came from the Ft. Smith Frisco yard.
Saving The ES&NA RR Friscobob, Nice Picture of the Shay on the turntable at night. I have uploaded more pictures in my Album of The ES&NA RR. Take a look. Brian Waller
Saving The ES&NA RR Hello, Have everyone's seen the latest picture's of The ES&NA RR, I uploaded to my Album?? I was just wondering why I am not any more comment's on any of them. Take a look at them, these picture's will just show you all on what The ES&NA RR look like today. That is the reason's why I am trying to Save The ES&NA RR, I am planning on restoring The ES&NA RR back to it's original condition, along with connecting The ES&NA RR to The A&M RR Mainline in Seligman, Mo., about 20 miles to the North/Northwest of Eureka Springs, Ark. So if there is anyone's out there who want or like to see The ES&NA RR be restore to it's original condition, Please let me know if you want to Help Save The ES&NA RR. Brian Waller Future Owner of The ES&NA RR