Thanks for the links to the videos. I really liked the one about the Trinity line with the old model A. It says the video was taken in 1946. I wonder if WW2 was a driving factor to the line being in such poor shape. Our Missouri and North Arkansas line was not doing real well before WW2 but the line was not deemed necessary for war use and most rolling stock was moved to other lines to serve the war effort. When the war was over and the rolling stock came back wore out, and no real industry on our line, the Missouri North Arkansas never really recovered. Our line had other troubles not relating to the war but most feel the war is what finally set the demise of the line on its final downturn. The heyday of our line was the turn of the century to the 1920s. The only major sources of income for the M&NA was tourist traffic to the spa city of Eureka Springs Arkansas. and a wood barrel cooperage at Leslie Arkansas. When 1/2 of the cooperage burnt in the 1920s, the cooperage never rebuilt to its former size, because most of the virgin white oak timber was being depleted. With the loss of the cooperage as its major source of income the railroad only went down hill from then till it finally closed.
The wife and I are avid railroad folks. We will ride any railroad we can find when we go on vacation. There is very little remaining items that belonged to the M&NA. When the line was torn out, everything was scrapped. I have read the even the engines were scrapped. So Im hoping to build a railcar that "could have been" used during the late 20s 30s 40s era by the M&NA. Since there are no remaining sections of the line still in existence I will just have a static display.
I do not plan on restoring anything. It will look like an old relic. I have more model T parts than I will ever use or sell, so the T stuff is not an issue. I will use good enough parts that a person could get it running if they wanted too. Knowing that the wheels are probably Fairmont wheels really helps. That may explain why the seem so common on old rail cars. ?? The only other really important item I would like to know is what was the gauge of the M&NA. So far my research has found nothing stating the gauge. I know it is out there somewhere but Im still looking.
kmatt, Its funny that you brought up the railroad at Jamestown California. When I was in the 2nd 3rd and 4th grade we lived just outside of Jamestown, right beside the tracks. One of my earliest memories, is every year, we would sit outside at Christmas time and watch the "cannonball" go by. Every Christmas they would decorate it with Christmas lights and make a night time run. The "cannonball" was a fictional train for the show "Petitticoat Junction" But once a year they would decorate something to look like the "cannonball" and make a Christmas run. At least that is how it was explained to me in later years. Maybe that is why when I grew up I like old trains ... ??
Thanks again for all the input......
