Remnants of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific in Central Arkansas
Author's Note:
The Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad was once one of the dominant railroads in Arkansas. Their trackage stretched across the center of the state, from East to West, and from the Central to the Southern third of Arkansas, on into Louisiana. This east to west portion was known as the Choctaw Route, going from Memphis to Little Rock, on into Oklahoma. As we all well know, Rock Island experienced hard times, and entered its final bankruptcy in 1977, before shutting down operations on March 31, 1980.
The trackage from Memphis to Brinkley, Arkansas is still in place. The portion from Brinkley to Little Rock didn't fare so well. According to the Rock Island Technical Society, the trackage from Carlisle to Brinkley was removed in 1986, and I'm assuming the portion from Carlisle to Galloway was removed before 1990.
Some trackage in North Little Rock still remains, and is used by Arkansas Midland Railroad. And, the portion from Little Rock to Danville now belongs to the Little Rock and Western Railway. The portion from Danville to the Oklahoma state line was removed in 1986.
The following photos are images of what is still existing today, and reminders of what has been gone for some time. Beginning in Howe, Oklahoma and continuing from Belleville, Arkansas to Brinkley, I have photographed the old right of way, portions of trackage, and old structures still in existance. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did tracing this route.
Brian
Belleville, Arkansas. The first shot looks westward toward the Oklahoma state line, with the second shot eastward toward Danville. The third shot is, surprisingly, the signals that once guarded the crossing at Belleville. Even after 18 years without trackage, the signals have never been removed.
Perry, Arkansas. This is the former Rock Island Depot at Perry, Arkansas. It is now an office for the Little Rock and Western Railway. The Little Rock and Western Railway operates the remaining portion of the Choctaw Route from Little Rock to Danville.
After passing through central Little Rock, and through Biddle Yard just south of downtown Little Rock, the Choctaw Route crossed the Arkansas River here. The track is long gone, but the bridge is still there. Plans are currently underway to convert this to a foot bridge connecting the Clinton Library to North Little Rock.
This is the site of the former Kansas City Southern - Rock Island diamond in Howe, Oklahoma. This is now a connection between KCS and the Arkansas and Oklahoma Railway. The track ends straight ahead near the signal...abandoned east of this point in the mid 1980's.
After crossing the Arkansas River, the Rock Island made a sharp east turn, and headed through an industrial area of North Little Rock. This trackage is still in place, used now by Arkansas Midland. The view to the left is looking west, taken in February 2004.
These next images show the Choctaw Route as it crosses Harris Road, between North Little Rock and Galloway. The image on the left is looking east, toward the end of the track. The images on the right is looking west. This trackage is currently owned by Union Pacific, but leased by Arkansas Midland. The track ends less than a mile east of here.
These next shots are at Lonoke, Arkansas looking to the west (left image), you can see that the rails are still in place in this road crossing. The second image looks east, where you can see that much of the track ballast and right of way is still in place.
The depot at Lonoke is in use by the city of Lonoke (left).
These next images were taken at Carlisle, Arkansas. The image on the left is looking east.
These next pictures are from Hazen, Arkansas. I am not exactly sure if this track has been in place since the shutdown, or if it was re-laid. However, the track goes for maybe a little more than an eighth of a mile.
On the top left, the track ends at this former road crossing. This view looks west. The view on the right looks east toward the Hazen depot. Outside the Hazen depot, a Union Pacific caboose is on display, with some sort of cart on this remnant of trackage.
The bottom right shot is the depot, and the bottom left is the remnant of one of the crossing signals in downtown Hazen.
The Rock Island crossed the White River at DeValls Bluff, Arkansas. Most of the bridge is still in place, with the center span locked in the open position. At the time of this photo (May 2003), crews were constructing a new bridge for US Highway 70. The bridge has since been finished.
Biscoe, Arkansas - The shot on the left looks west, and the shot on the right looks east. A garbage container is an interesting use of a former railroad right-of-way.
In the bottom left shot, we see that even after not seeing a train in over 20 years, these crossing signals are still standing.
The bottom right shot is taken just east of Biscoe. In the weeds are the remnants of signals that haven't seen a train in well over two decades.
Our final stop is Brinkley, Arkansas. This was once where the Choctaw Route crossed the Cotton Belt Saint Lous to Pine Bluff main line. Cotton Belt also had trackage rights from Brinkley to Memphis, about 60 miles east of here.
Notice in the foreground, you can still see some old crossties in the dirt and what's left of the ballast.
