Large Scale Central

Short Line Maintenance

Prototypes
#1

As is obvious, the Ft. Smith (Arkansas) Railroad is not exaclty a big money operation. This shortline is one step off on nonexistent, but still working. These pictures were taken by my brother, a now-large scale fan (and new member here), and I told him he would get the credit for these incredible shots. It seems this stretch of track crosses the Poteau River just out of town, and is thier connection with the KCS over into Oklahoma a few miles. The most intriguing to me was the state of the rails. I personally am not quite ready to flirt with the possible disaster of riding over such rough track that is on trestle bents in this state or repair. Markings in the once wet concrete put the latest date on this bridge in 1942, but I would bet the trestles are older. My favorite picture is of the great use of the trestle to mount a cattle gate. I bet the larger railroads would have a real problem with a local rancher poking holes in thier property!

#2

And no guard rails either. Don what size train do they run?

#3

I’ll pass that to my brother but beleive it was a 44 ton switcher. General freight sort of short line. WheI lived there I can’t remember ever seeing them move more than 5 or 6 cars at a time.
I sent this link to him, and know he will jump in. I am living in AZ now, and he drives within a few blocks of their yard on his way to work. Hopefully I can talk him into some pictures of their maintenance facilities as well as their (I beleive) single locomotive, and it is a far cry from new.
Fr. Fred would be disappointed in their lack of hand rails on the bridges as well, but I have to say, this bridge doesn’t even have a place to walk.
I am compelled to add he (My brother) is an addict now. I gave him a MOPAC GP38-2 for Christmas (a story for another time), and he is thoroughly hooked.

#4

Don,
Thanks for posting the pictures.
I’ve seen a few bridges in use by the RRs I wouldn’t want to walk across :wink:
Ralph

#5

Now thats my kind of RR. Great pictures.

#6
Shawn said:
Now thats my kind of RR. Great pictures.
I dunno Shawn, your railroad looks like it's in way better condition than this one. :)

That decrepit trestle without guard rails is a conversation piece, especially since it’s still in use. The roadbed support looks pretty wobbly at the near end of the bridge. The zoom on the photo appears to amplify the gauge issues with the rails.

#7

I had to take the photos down to less than 1/3rd the size to make them fit this page. In the original photos it looked like a seat belt might have been a good idea for the crew so they don’t get thrown out the window. This is used so sporadically that if you don’t live right there chances are not high of beng able to catch it in use. I would like to see it though. Definitely not anyting over probably 5 miles an hour going through this stretch.
There are places where it looks like the rails are in 6 and 8 feet sticks to make the curve, rather than any bending.
I Wonder if the train crews would use this without worry if they actually got off and checked it themselves.
Were it me, I would tell the rest of them to pick me up on the way back (which might be a 15 minute turnaround).

#8

Here is a better view of the area that pretty much scares me. The stonework resembles much of the ‘Work Camp Program’ depression era construction.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/Loose_Bent1.JPG)

#9

Interesting photos. Thanks for posting. Doesn’t look all that bad to me . . . but I’ve walked some pretty ratty old rail lines :slight_smile:

#10

Wonderful pics Don, a pleasure to look at. The stonework looks fine and if it is ‘depression era’ then that, by railroad standards in general is not old. Many stone structures in the UK are from 100 to 150 + years old. It would be necessary to see the timber trestles to cast an opinion but as it is a shortline maybe it is up to the standard required. I like the idea of no guard rails. I have a bridge here like that. lol

#11

You missed noting that some of the cross timbers looked to be replaced with Concrete too? That shows in at least two photos. It may look pretty bad but it’s been maintained, at least some.

Chas

#12
Narrow Gauge Lover said:
Interesting photos. Thanks for posting. Doesn't look all that bad to me . . . but I've walked some pretty ratty old rail lines :)
Me neither - I've ridden over some active rail that makes this look like class 1 :)
#13

Great pics! I too have seen track in worse condition, but I’m always happy to see any shots of track or trestles in rough condition. It makes me feel a whole lot better about any minor imperfections in my layout!

#14

BTW, if possible I would love to see some more pics of that truss bridge!

#15

W. Chas,
Even the one that is really low just at the end on the bridge is reworked with concrete. Might have been blessed off by the engineers who are responsible. If they trust it, cool, I personally don’t share their confidence.

Ray,
I’ll ask him and see what else he has. He did say he took more pics than my inbox will hold.
He is a machinist/welder by trade, and is starting to build a replica for his not-yet-started line this coming weekend if my memory serves me correctly.
He is one of those craftsmen, like you, who is way past my talent level. I watched him do some steel work for mounting a roll down shop door that was 9 feet wide, and the mounting bracket was 1/32 off center 12 feet off the ground, and he was not happy. way to anal retentive for me.
I hope he will take pictures of that build. Owns his own machine shop right across the street from his house.

No, this was not a plug for him building that stuff, but if he does keep a picture log, I’ll push him to share.

#16

Here is the warning sign posted. The best he could tell was that it read “Caution, Narrow Side Clearance”. I can’t disagree with that. Some of the detail of the steel work is pretty handy. It looks like some of it was angle iron assembled with strips for lateral strength, but again, I am not an engineer.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/Bridge_Sign.JPG)

#17

It looks as tho the short line or maybe the previous owners had installed some concrete caps replacing some of the deteriorating wood ones. All RR are required to do bridge inspection on the RR per FRA. Records are made and any exception noted. Just because you think it looks bad it may still pass for the operation of trains with restrictions. Later RJD

#18

here are the now 2 locomotives they have in use.
Thanks for these Dan

img/http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/Sante Fe Loco[1].JPG/img

img/http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/Ft Smith RR Loco[1].JPG/img

#19

Don,
Change the file name. Remove [ ] and spaces between Ft Smith,etc.
Ralph

#20

I am working it now Sir