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Arkansas Lime Co. 3' gauge railroad

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  • #1

    Arkansas Lime Co. 3' gauge railroad

    Hi all,

    Sadly the Arkansas Lime Co. standard gauged in 2000. This wasn't because the narrow gauge wasn't working or well loved by the company but it was pure economic. It just couldn't keep up with the demand. My wife's family lived about an hour and half from Limedale, Ar. near Batesville Ar. where the company was located. Now with all the visit to the Ar. I never got to see the narrow gauge in operation.

    Actually I didn't get to visit there until 2004. After getting permission to be on the property (something you should always do) I was given the run of the place except for going into the quarry itself. They were a very visitor friendly company

    I took pictures of the standard gauge but I really wanted to see what might be left of the narrow gauge. I found a cannabalized GE engine on the edge of the hill near the abandon tipple. After taking picture of it I looked over the edge and to my delight was the remains of the narrow gauge equipment.

    BILL
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  • #2
    Here are some pictures I took on my visit in 2004












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    • #3
      Bill,

      Great pictures. If you want to build tha engine let me know. I have one under way and the parts for a second one.

      Comment

      • #4
        i like the first photo, a "green" locomotive!


        nice photos. interesting cars

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        • #5
          Hi all,

          Ok since the cars were brought up here is some more infomation on them. These cars were rather unique in design. Like PBC car Ark Lime car only dumped one direction. At the time of my visit I didn't understand how they dumped and what the big wheel on the side was for.






          I later learned that the big wheel was used to dump the car automatically. I found a picture in the Sept/Oct 2000 Gazette that showed the underloader. I can post if you don't have the issue.

          Speaking of articles.

          There are 4 great articles on Ark Lime

          1) Slim Gauge News had one way back in the 70's I can post it as it is l-o-n-g out of print and has great material on the railroad

          2) Trains April 1995

          3) Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette Sept/Oct 2000

          4) Railroad & Railfan September 2001

          There were other very unique cars on this railroad. Which I will post later.

          Enjoy

          BILL

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          • #6
            This could be the starting point for the engine? Teh hood looks like a match as does all but the back 1/3 of the cab.


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            • #7
              Bill-

              Thanks for posting the great photos. I especially like the closeup of the 25 tonner with the standard gauge switcher working in the background.

              Mark

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              • #8
                Hi guys,

                There is much more to come.

                Here is a really cool video. Check out those cars

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtCr4c23GTQ

                BILL

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                • #9
                  Hi Big Lars

                  Isn't that the one International Hobbies sells. Did you say you have parts for another one like that? It would work out great for the Ark Lime engine. Just need to dump the steps. One of the really cool things about that Ark Lime engine is all the pulls etc on the end beams. I put those on a Yorke Porter I built and later sold to Mark. I added then to my Car Work 18 ton Plymouth that I'm in the process of painting. Haven't worked out a color scheme or logo yet except the frame will be black. I really like that Green & Yellow on that PBC engine. What I have in minds is a freelance quarry railroad based on several favorite prototypes called "Cornerstone Rock Inc." It is On3.

                  BILL

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                  • #10
                    Bill,

                    Yes it is and I have an unstarted kit if you are interested.

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                    • #11
                      Excellent pictures and video of the Arkansas Lime Company. I went to a train show in April at the Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff Arkansas. They had one of the lime cars on display outside of the museum. I have some pictures of the car I can post. Can you tell me if the Arkansas Lime Company is still in operation or if it is possible to go there and take some more pictures?

                      Mike

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                      • #12
                        Hi Mike,

                        Yes it is but in standard gauge I haven't been there since I moved back to California in 2010. They are a very visitor friendly operation. At least they were when I visited them.

                        If you go go to the Lyon College in Batesville has a collection of pictures etc on the operation in their library

                        http://web.lyon.edu/groups/mslibrary/rcol/arklime.htm

                        Also there is a Porter restored in Riverside Park in Batesville. It is well worth the trip.





                        Finally I would love to see pictures of the car at the museum. Please post. Did you get any detail shots? are you near Pine Bluff?

                        BILL

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                        • #13
                          Hi Guys,

                          Ok I resized this article so it should post this time. It's all a relearning curve. This article was in the old Slim Gauge News in the early 70's. It is how I first learned about the railroad. Sadly as I mentioned earlier I didn't get to see it in person until 2004 and missed the narrow gauge in action.

                          BILL




















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                          • #14
                            Hi Big Lars,

                            How much do you want for the kit?

                            You are in North Carolina? I used to live in Cary.

                            BILL

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                            • #15
                              Bill,

                              I sent you an email.

                              Larry

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