02-19-2000
RAILFAN REPORT
My plan for the day was to take U.S.Hwy 63 following the BNSF Thayer Sub from Memphis to Hoxie Arkansas, the diamond with UPs ex-MoPac mainline. From Hoxie go south on U.S.Hwy 67 following the UP line to Diaz AR. From Diaz follow the Missouri & Northern Arkansas to Batesville AR. and hopefully view some of the M&NA's operations. Here is what I saw on my day of railfaning in northeastern Arkansas.
I got a late start out of Memphis, leaving the city at about 10:30AM. From I-55 I saw an eastbound Double Stack at Turrell AR. on the BNSF but continued on instead of trying to turn around and catch it before Marion. The BNSF line was quiet until I arrived in Jonesboro and caught the local crossing UPs line to Lexa AR. at Nettleton around 11:30AM. The local had two ex-Santa Fe units #'s 3037 & 8728. The local also had BN Caboose # 12385 for the several back up moves that it makes.
I arrived at Hoxie around Noon and had lunch at the BNSF/UP diamond. NOTE: Only 1 fastfood restuarant in Hoxie and Walnut Ridge (Subway). Things were quiet and I was eager to get to the M&NA so I left without seeing anything at 12:30. I headed south on U.S.Hwy 67 towards Diaz AR. following the UP mainline. At 1:15PM near Tuckerman AR. I caught this northbound UP freight behind #'s 5007, 9062, & 5057.
Heading towards Batesville Arkansas on AR-69 I passed Entergys Independence Plant near Newark AR. that the M&NA serves.
I was just a few miles outside of Batesville at around 2:30PM when I found what I was looking for, an eastbound M&NA freight. Just my luck the lead unit was not painted in the Railtex red paint scheme, oh well. The freight was lead by M&NA #4009, 4163, and 4013.
A closeup of M&NA # 4163 from the AR-69 overpass between Moorehead and Sulphur Rock AR.
I decided to follow the train east to Diaz. Here is a few shots taken near Sulphur Rock Arkansas.
The freight continues to head southeast at Magness Arkansas.
The M&NA freight arrives at the connection with the UP at Diaz Arkansas about 3:45PM. The crew then performs several switch moves.
At 4:00 PM a southbound freight behind an SP GP60 and a UP GP50 rolls through Diaz. Ten minutes later at 4:10PM this northbound UP blows through Diaz.
At about 4:30PM the crew of the M&NA freight is finally given the green to enter the UP mainline for the last few miles into the yard at Newport Arkansas. As the last car passed over the road crossing a northbound grain train behind UP SD60M 9055 blasts across the crossing. The car behind me was about to go around the gates just as the northbound came around from behind the last car of the M&NA freight.
The depot in Newport Arkansas was in good shape though not used by either railroad.
I was hoping to catch the M&NA freight head back to Batesville with #4013 in the lead but the Sun began to work against me. After talking to the crew they said it would be awhile before they headed back. I took one more shot and headed back to Memphis.
I was glad that I caught a Missouri & Northern Arkansas freight but I wish that I could have made it to Batesville where the crew told me several other locomotives were located. Just a reason to head back in the near future now that I have a little bit of an idea of the railroads operations. The turns from Batesville to Newport and Guion operate daily with the occasional coal train to the Entergy plant near Newark Arkansas. I wish I could have seen a few more trains on BNSFs Thayer sub but still a good day of railfaning. Total miles 330.