North Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Russellville, Arkansas |
| Locale | Arkansas and Louisiana |
| Dates of operation | 2011– |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Length | 62 mi (100 km) |
The North Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad (NL&AR) operates more than 62 miles of track, extending from McGehee, Arkansas to Lake Providence, Louisiana.[1] The NL&AR owns about 24 miles of the track, while about 41 miles are leased from the Lake Providence Port Authority Commission and the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District.[1]
History[edit]
The rail line was originally built by the Memphis, Helena and Louisiana Railroad in 1878, and has had a number of owners over the years.[1] In 1988, the line was sold to the Delta Southern Railroad.[1] In 2011, when the Delta Southern sought to abandon the line, the current owners acquired it and began NL&RA operations in August 2011.[1] Arkansas Short Line Railroads of Russellville, Arkansas owns the NL&RA.[2]
Operations[edit]
The line interchanges with the Arkansas Midland Railroad at McGehee, which in turn interchanges with the Union Pacific.[1][3]
As reported in 2019, the trackage was in poor shape, with NL&AR trains averaging just 2.5 miles per hour.[2] However, the line received a federal grant that year which, along with funding from other public and private entitles, is intended to rehabilitate the line and at least allow 25 mile-per-hour speeds.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f "North Louisiana & Arkansas Railroad NLA #620". Union Pacific. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c "$10.5M grant to aid in Arkansas rail line's restoration". Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, July 29, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- ^ "Arkansas Midland Railroad (AKMD)". Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Retrieved June 10, 2022.