Arkansas & Missouri

[artpeterson]

I'd like to make a trip down to the A&M. Is the road at all receptive to fans? When is the a good time (for sun angle, etc.) to go down there - specifically, would September be any good? Any thoughts on locations/times of day that would afford the best chance for shooting trains?

Appreciate any and all help![:)]

[Anonymous]

I think Branson would be the best place to go in Missouri. Just watch out for traffic! As for Arkansas, Hot Springs is a great place to relax. Try visiting Magic Springs on a weekend. Also, Lake Ouachita is a great place to go. I don't know that much about train times exept that the Amtrak in Malvern runs really late! (Between 10 and 2AM!) Arkansas is great!!![:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[artpeterson]

Hi davR -

Thanks for the reply! I know traffic in Branson can be a [:(]! Thanks for the suggestions.

[AztecEagle]

My Wife and I Visited Memphis Last Spring.On The way Back,We Visited Hot Springs.We Saw The Old MoPac Depot,but We Didn't See Any Trains.Does Hot Springs Still Have Rail Service?we Also Visited Hope,Arkansas.saw Clinton's Boyhood Home Plus We Drove By The Former MoPac Depot.FYI:If They Ever Do A Movie Version of Stephen Hunter's Novel "Hot Springs",They Could Film Parts of It In Hot Springs and Hope,Arkansas;Branson,Missouri and The Texas State Railroad in Rusk and Palestine For The Obligatory Train Scenes.

[DRBusse]

The poster asked about the A&M which is about a 90-minute drive from Branson.

I haven't been to A&M country since the Hannold family sold the railroad to Reilly McCarran a few years back. In those days, fans were welcomed.

Today, it's much easier for Californians like me to get there...American Eagle even has non-stop jet service from LA to the new NW Arkansas airport at Rogers.

From what I've heard, the railroad is still receptive to visiting fans, although I would expect they don't give you free run of the locomotive shop, like they used to (after signing a release).

That said, there are many photographic opportunities all along the railroad, safely away from the company property (or from grade crossings).

With or without a camera, there are several places that are "must do's" on the A&M. Find the grade crossing just north of Springdale yard and observe the Monett turn departing, with a half-dozen Alco 251 engines in run-eight. Ditto the approach to Winslow tunnel on the south end with the Ft. Smith train. Well worth the cost of the plane ticket just to get there and experience it.

Shameless plug: Get the Pentex tape about the A&M to see what the railroad was like in the Hannold days. I shot, wrote and edited that tape in the late 1980s.