North Louisana & Arkansas

[ben]

trying to find out about this shortline that started operation in september 2011 from Mcghee, ar, to lake village, ar, to serve a large customer in lake village, ar. i assume this is a year round operation.
ben

 

[mowingman]

I believe that Arkansas Shortlines is running this operation. They are the parent company of the Dardenelle and Russellville and other shortlines.

 

[ShortlinesUSA]

Major customer? That would be news to me. I was through Lake Village this March, before the N&LA came to be. Basically, Delta Southern left the line for dead, and they were attempting to abandon it. The deadline kept being extended because of negotiations to purchase the line (or an Offer of Financial Assistance - OFA) were in progress. The N&LA finally came to life this fall.

I haven't seen what they're hauling, but they are indeed affiliated with the D&R. Power is a single SW1200 if memory serves correct. The only customers I noted in Lake Village were a scrap yard and possibly a feed mill/grain elevator.

At the time of my visit, there were two dead DSRR CF7s sitting on the south side of McGehee, and nothing but rusted rails. Some dead MOW equipment was on the main at Macon Lake, and no evidence of operation in months was found.

I hope the N&LA will be successful. This is a very marginal line, with a lot of mileage through a lot of nothing to maintain. The reported run days for the line are Tue - Thu - Sat.

Mike Derrick
http://www.shortlinesusa.com

 

[mowingman]

About 6 or 8 years ago, I followed this entire line from Tallula to McGhee. There was no apparant business, or rail activity north of Talla Bena. I believe the only steady traffic on the whole line was cars moving to and from the river port at Talla Bena, down to Tallula for interchange with the KCS.
The track north of Talla Bena was so bad, I don't think a train could have moved over it.
I think the line was abandoned and the rails pulled up from near Talla Bena, up to Lake Village.
Jeff

 

[Ron S.]

Any updates on this line? Are they in operation yet? Power?

Ron S.

 

[ArkansasRailfan]

Here is the power sitting in Warren, AR.

 

[Ron S.]

Thanks John. An SW1...very likely the ex-Warren & Saline River #539 that the D&R purchased from Arkansas Midland.

 

[ben]

great picture, thanks for sharing. have heard the south end from lake village to talla bena may operate again. any word on this/

 

[TimRobbins]

Nla

NLA-SEAEDD-LPPC are the owners of the track from McGehee to Lake Providence. NLA owns from McGehee to Lake Village, SEAEDD owns from Lake Village to State Line and LPPC owns from State Line to Lake Providence. NLA holds the operating rights to all 63 miles of track. Currently, NLA is handling cotton seed from Lake Village to UP at McGehee, AR.

There is a new chemical plant under construction at Lake Providence, LA. The states of Ark and LA plus the Commerce Dept. are about to start a 4.5 mil rebuild/reopening of the out of service section from Lake Village to Lake Providence. NLA has filed a RRIF app for the McGehee to Lake Village section.

Currently, the railroad runs as needed but by the first of the year, the railroad will be running six days per week with track conditions in Class I and II condition. ASL is planning to send SW-1's DR 15 and DR 16 down to join NLA 21.

So, if everything go according to plan, pairs of MU'd SW-1's should be working by spring.

Tim

 

[Ron S.]

Nla

That is really good news Tim...best of luck to you and the rest of your family in the new endeavor.

 

[Midsouth fan]

I also wish you God's blessings for you & your endeavor. I have always hated driving up US 65 & seeing what should be a top-notch shortline from Tallulah to McGhee. Now I'll have something to look forward to now.