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Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad

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Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad
Overview
HeadquartersHarrison, AR
Reporting markM&NA
LocaleMidwestern United States
Dates of operationAugust 6, 1906 (1906-08-06)–1946 (1946)
PredecessorSt. Louis and North Arkansas Railway
SuccessorArkansas and Ozarks Railway
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length335.21 miles (539.47 km) in 1919
Not to be confused with the still running Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad.

The Missouri and North Arkansas (reporting mark M&NA) was a railroad in Missouri and Arkansas from 1906 to 1935, with its successor lasting until 1946.[1][2]

History

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The railroad began as the Eureka Springs Railway in 1883 as a line from the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway ("Frisco") in Seligman, MO, reaching the resort town of Eureka Springs, AR in 1883.[1] In May of 1899, the line was conveyed to a newly-formed company, the St. Louis and North Arkansas Railroad, which intended to build all the way to Little Rock.[1] The railroad was extended east, reaching Harrison, AR in 1901, and included a branch into Berryville, AR.[3] Leslie, AR was reached in 1903.[1]

The railway was reorganized as the M&NA in 1906.[1] It continued to expand, and while never reaching Little Rock, it arrived in Kensett, AR in 1908, and Helena, AR in 1909.[1] In addition, the railroad was extended northwest from Wayne, MO to Neosho, MO in 1908.[1] This section was accessed utilizing trackage rights over Frisco rails between Seligman and Wayne. Joplin, MO was reached using trackage rights via the Kansas City Southern Railway ("KCS") from Neosho, Missouri.[3]

Several communities were established by the railroad to generate revenue from passenger service. These included Monark Springs, Aroma, Stark City, Fairview, Wheaton, and Ridgley.[4]

In August 1914, a steam locomotive owned by the KCS collided with a M&NA doodlebug, killing thirty-eight passengers and five crew members.[5][1][6] In March 1918, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the KCS and MN&A should share liability and pay their own costs.[7]

The Missouri and Arkansas Railway was created in April of 1935 to take over the M&NA property.[1] However, operations were discontinued by that company in September of 1946.[1] Most of the line was abandoned that year, with much of it salvaged by April of 1949.[1] But several segments were reactivated. The Seligman-to-Harrison portion was operated by the Arkansas and Ozarks Railway between February 1950 and May, 1960.[1] The Helena-to-Cotton Plant portion was operated by the Helena and Northwestern Railway between October 1949 and November 1951.[1] Finally, the Cotton Plant-Fargo Railway operated between those two locations from April 1952 into the 1970's.[1]

About 2.5 miles of the line around Eureka Springs continues to be operated by the Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "H. Glenn Mosenthin, "Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad"". encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  2. ^ "J. W. Williams, "Kell, Frank"". The Handbook of Texas. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Valuation Docket No. 511 Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad Company". Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States (Valuation Reports) March-July 1927. 125. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office: 639–673. 1927. hdl:2027/mdp.39015024015581 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.
  4. ^ James, Larry. The Monark Towns and Surrounding Villages (Newton County Historical Society, 1999), pages 3-5.
  5. ^ Fair, pp. 113.
  6. ^ Woodin, Debby. "Train crash a century ago among area's worst disasters". Joplin Globe. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. ^ Fair, pp. 123.
  • Fair, James (1969). The North Arkansas Line (1st ed.). Howell-North. p. 304. ISBN 978-0831070779.


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