Here is The History of The E.S. & N.A. R.R.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas, among its many wonders, both natural and contrived, is one of the places where the bellow of the steam locomotive is a regular part of daily life. From April to October each year The Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railroad (E.S. & N.A. R.R.) steam trains make trips each day from a depot that was built in 1912-1913 along a roadbed that was formed in 1882-1883. They travel down 1.5 - 2.1 miles of beautiful Arkansas countryside to a location that, depending on the date, was known as Livingston Hollow or The Junction.

The story of commercial railroading to and from Eureka Springs began in the early 1880's and ended in 1961-1962 (tracks were taking up in 1964 in Eureka Springs). Let us pause for just a moment to examine a railroad that exists for our pleasure today. It offers an interesting and authentic look into railroading as it was in bygone days. In 1981, on a roadbed that had originally been formed in 1882-83 a central Arkansas farm family (cotton, rice, and soy beans) began the creation of The Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railroad (E.S. & N.A. R.R.). Under the leadership of its owner/manager, Robert L. Dortch, Jr., it would provide a variety of time-honored railroad services from both steam and diesel locomotives. The earlier road, 1883-1961, had been totally scrapped in 1963-64, leaving only the depot building and a roadbed without ties or rails or bridges. The task of rebuilding was in many ways almost as difficult as that which confronted the original builders.

A right-of-way had to be re-acquired from owners who had for many years been using the land for other purposes. New bridges had to be built where the earlier ones had either been demolished or washed away. Track had to be re-layed on a roadbed that had seen no care or maintenance for 20 years. All equipment (locomotives, coaches, water tank, rails, etc.) had to be trucked into Eureka Springs over twisting, narrow Ozark highways, down the town's Main Street to the old depot at the north edge of town. The most daunting challenge of all, however, had to have been the repair and rebuilding of the major equipment, i.e. locomotives. For most of these there are no spare parts available, few detailed specifications for their making, and a desperate lack of skilled mechanics who have ever worked on steam locomotives. The last Mogul steam engine, for example, was produced in 1910.

The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway is a for-profit passenger tourist railway established by the late Robert Dortch, Jr. and his wife Mary Jane in 1981 in Eureka Springs, Ark. The Railway offer excursion train rides, a catered luncheon train and a catered dinner train - each lasting a little less than one hour, from April through October. It operating along 1.5 miles to 2.5 miles of restored track right-of-way formerly belonging to the defunct Arkansas & Ozarks Railway Co. - The last incarnation of the North Arkansas Line.

The original railway at the site in 1882 was The Eureka Springs Railway, extending from Seligman, Missouri, to Eureka Springs, Ark. It became The St. Louis & North Arkansas Railroad Co. in 1899. Then it became The Missouri & North Arkansas Railway Co. in 1906. Then it became The Missouri & Arkansas Railway Co. in 1935. Then it became The Arkansas & Ozarks Railway Co. in 1949. The A&O RR ended in 1961 and the tracks was taking up in 1964. At the height of the North Arkansas Line's career, it extended 369 miles from Joplin, Mo. to Helena, Ark. Then this railroad became The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway, inc. in 1981.

Robert Dortch, Sr. had established The Scott & Bearskin Lake Railroad as part of The Plantation Agriculture Museum near Scott, Ark. in the 1960's and after his death in 1978, his son (Robert Dortch, Jr.) closed the railroad and began moving steam locomotives, rolling stock and trackage to the Victorian tourist destination Eureka Springs, Ark. Robert (Bob) Dortch, Jr. and his wife Mary Jane, and sons David, John, and Robert set about restoring the historic stone depot (Built in 1913), and re-building several trestles over Leatherwood Creek on the pike. A steel water tank was added, as well as a few outbuildings and a commissary adjacent to the old ice house/electric plant building (built in 1900) to prepare meals for the lunch and dinner trains. A 20-hp turntable from the Frisco Railroad was installed near the original location of one used by The North Arkansas Line, a wye at "Junction, Ark." enables the turning of a locomotive at the far end of the route.

For more information and photos of The Scott & Bearskin Lake Railroad. Please visit Scott & Bearskin Lake Railroad.

Last update Jan. 12, 2012