Arkansas Railroad Museum

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Arkansas Railroad Museum is located on Port Road in Pine Bluff, Arkansas at the former Cotton Belt (SSW) yard.

The former SSW shops are occupied by the historic collection of railroad equipment. This museum is about 1-2 hours drive from Little Rock, AR, and is one of the largest displays of historic railroad equipment in Arkansas. It has a SSW-oriented flavor. Between the disappearance of SSW in 1992 into parent Southern Pacific and the size of the collection, Arkansas Railroad Museum can be considered an upper-level railroad preservation facility. The Museum is operated by the Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society and local volunteers. The Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM and on Sunday afternoon by appointment.

[edit] Specific equipment

Arkansas Railroad Museum is most famous for stabling SSW #819, the last steam locomotive built by SSW in February 1943. The 819 operates from time to time, but needs work currently. A collection of historical passenger cars, mostly lightweight Pullman-Standard equipment, is also kept for use behind 819.

Besides the 819 the following list was compiled by Mr. Lyle Smith a volunteer at the Museum. It is accurate as of mid-April 2007.

Cotton Belt 336, a D3 Mogul built by Baldwin in 1909, is in poor condition and will be cosmetically restored.

UP Alco C-630 2907

LS&I GE U23C 2300

Cotton Belt GP30 5006

Rescar GE 25-tonner

West Tennesee Alco RSD12 #2054-exSP7012

AT&SF 843 RSD-15

MRAX EMD E8/9 #513- exC&NW

Wabash Alloys GE 25-tonner-

The tender of SSW 814 sister engine to SSW 819

SSW 96005 a 200 Ton Industrial Brownhoist Steam Relief Crane.

SSWMW 5682 Boom Car

SSWMW 98501 Generator Flat Car

SSWMW 94129 Kitchen Car

SSWMW 96216 Tool Car

SSWMW 96209 Crew Sleeper

1942 Tool Car ex-SP Baggage car St. Louis Car Co.

1944 Power Car ex SP Baggage 6616

G56 Guard Car ACF hospital car from WW2

SN87 Jordan Snow Plow U S Army

306 Lark 13 Bedroom Pullman Standard ex-SP9356

1947 Apple Blossom ex-GN 1121

SSW 2214 Wood Cupola Caboose

SSW 83 Bay Window Caboose

SP 125 Bay Window Caboose built 11-66

AM 1410 60' Mechanical Reefer ex-EL

3480 Pegasus Baggage Dorm ex-AT&SF Budd 1938 Transition Car

CBHS 819336 Tank Car used to store fuel for the 819

[edit] Facility

The equipment is mostly housed in the former SSW shops, which was the main heavy repair and erection shop for SSW during the steam era. The shop has such heavy repair equipment as pits, massive overhead cranes, and tools for servicing large railroad equipment. On the east side of the former shops is a transfer table that is still operable. The transfer table is used to move exhibits from time to time. The best time to see the exhibits outside is the first weekend in April (unless that weekend is Easter) when the Museum has its annual show. Many of the exhibits are taken outside so that tables can be set up inside the museum for vendors.