The Eureka Springs & Beaver Railroad

There was a railroad in Beaver, Arkansas called The Eureka Springs and Beaver Railroad from 1982 thru 1984. The Eureka Springs & Beaver ran for about 2.5 miles from the Narrow cross White River (Table Rock Lake) though Town of Beaver passing by Poker Bluffs and across Butler Creek up Butler Hallow to highway 187 (where it end).

In 1954 to 1960 when the Arkansas & Ozarks Railroad ran the original section of the Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad between Seligman, Mo., to Harrison, Ark., Once again Beaver heard the sound of railroading when the Younger Brothers bought the section of line through Beaver, Ark. In the early 1970's a lease was secured with the Corps of Engineers (they has 2.7 miles of the old right-of-way through Beaver). Equipment and supplies were obtained - ties, rails, spikes, tools and engine #3. Rehabilitation of the White River Bridge took several working seasons, and rails were laid between Butler Creek - through Beaver - across the renovated bridge - through the Narrows - to Leatherwood Creek. For the third separate time, railroading had returned to Beaver. There was some limited operation of the line beginning in the late 1970's. The Youngers and their associates called their reconstruction effort The Eureka Springs Railroad, that being the historical name from the Powell Clayton days. A full tourist season was run in 1982 to celebrate the Centennial of the arrival of the original E.S.R.R. in Beaver in 1882. During this time the search for funds to complete the project continued, and the Missouri and Arkansas Railroad Museum was established at Beaver. In 1981 Hollywood came to Beaver to use the railroad in filming portions of "The Blue and The Gray" with Gregory Peck and Stacy Keach, with E.S.R.R. #3 pulling the "Lincoln Inaugural Train." This was excellent publicity, but did not materially improve the finances a great deal. Operations of the reconstruction effort at Beaver struggled on fitfully through the mid-eighties. Due to luck of funds, the tourist line was unable to cross Leatherwood Creek on the east, Butler Creek on the west. In 1987, controlling interest in the corporation was sold, and the E.S.R.R. was moved lock, stock, and spikes, to Krazy Horse Ranch near Branson, Mo. Once again, the Ozark hills at Beaver were quiet - no chuffing of steam engines, no whistles to echo up and down the White River valley. In 1987, The Missouri and Arkansas Railroad Museum was moved to Harrison, Ark., and turned over to the Boone County Historical Society, and in 1988 the two organizations were merged. For the third time, railroading had left Beaver, and for the second (and probably final) time, the rails and ties were removed.

At one time The E.S.R.R. once own Locomotive #4, now located at Rusty Wheels Old Engine Club in Harrison, Arkansas in operating condition. Locomotive #3 was located in Branson, Mo., on display and Locomotive #3 is now located in Springfield, Mo.

I found Locomotive #3 it is in Springfield, Mo., it is at a photography studio name About Face Photography.

I went up to Springfield, Mo., to the photography studio, Monday Oct. 13, 2008, where Locomotive #3 is, and I ask the owner if they know any more information on it. I find out that they bought the whole train that was in Branson, Mo., but they only have the Locomotive (#3) and the Caboose and a small 2 mans hand car, but not the rest of the train. The rest of the train is still in Branson, Mo., (I think).

Please click on the following for more information and pictures. Operation: Rescue.