Admission is free but donations are gladly accepted. They are open weekdays and Saturdays 9 – 3. Their phone number is 870-535-8819.
The building was built between 1882 and 1894. It is leased to the city of Pine Bluff by the Union Pacific Railroad and only hints at the wonderful things inside.
The Arkansas Railroad Museum houses Steam locomotive 819, the last 4-8-4 Northern-type locamotive built in Pine Bluff, is addition to the 1909 Baldwin-built 336, both of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There are lots of small rooms loaded with railroad memorabilia.
The big room is the exciting part of the museum. Loaded with various trains that you can climb all over and check out from one end to the other.
Each “stall” has a different type of train with information posted about each train. They also have some wonderful volunteers who can tell you all about the importance these trains have played on the history of Pine Bluff. Makes a wonderful day trip especially if you have younger kids and are looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon.
Arkansas Railroad Museum Equipment Roster
- SSW 819 – a 4-8-4. The last locamotive built in Pine Bluff, and in Arkansas. In service February 8, 1943, donated to city and retired to the park in 1955. Re-built in 1984-86. Ran to Fordyce, Ar., Tyler, Tx., and St. Louis, Mo.
- SSW 336 – a 2-6-0. Built by Baldwin 1909. Retired in 1947. Worked in a gravel pit until 1963 when it was put in the park in Lewisville, AR. Donated to Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society, in August 1994. SP 7012 – 1800hp RSD-12 built by ALCO Products in 1961. Was aquired from the West Tennessee Railroad in 2003. On loan to the CBRHS.
- ATSF843 – 2400hp RSD-15 built by ACLO Products in 1960. Penultimate ALCO “Alligator”. On loan to the CBRHS.
- UP 2907 – 3000hp C-30 built by ALCO Products in 1966. Only remaining one of ten purchased by Union Pacific. Later owned by DM & IR and then Carter Mining in Quebec. On loan to CBRHS. SSW 5006 – 2250hp GP-30 built by EMD in 1963, Retired in 1985 and later donated to the city by the Cotton Belt.
- LS&I 2300 – 2250hp U23C, the first example of this model, built in 1968 by General Electric. On loan to the CBRHS.
- Wabash Allowy 25 ton General Electric Switcher built in 1953. Early in its career it was used at Eagle Mills, Ar. On loan to the CBRHS.
- Relief Crane SSW 96005. 200 ton capacity steam crane built by Industrial Brownhoist in 1940. Boiler pressure 170 psi. Donated to the CBRHS in 1996 along with the balance of the relief train consisting of a Boom Car SSWMW 5682, Kitchen CAR SSWMW 94129, Generator Flat SSWMW 98501, Tool Car SSWMW 96216, and Crew Sleeper SSWMW 96209.
- SSW2214 Wooden CAboose, circa 1920. Restored and owned by CBRHS.
- SSW 83 – Bay window steel caboose built in 1974. Converted to Operation Lifesaver Cat. Donated to the CBRHS by the Cotton Belt Railway.
- AM1410 – 60″ mechanical refrigerator car originally built for Erie Lackawanna. Donated to the CBRHS by its last owner, Arkansas & Missouri Railroad.
- G-56 Guard Car Built by ACF during World War II as a hospital kitchen car for troop train service. Acquired by the CBRHS for the U.S. Government in 1990′s.
- SN-87 Snow Plow built in 1953 by O.F. Jordan Co. for the United States States Army. Acquired by the CBRHS for the U.S. Government in 1990′s.
- 1942 Tool Car. For SP Baggage car built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1960. Retired from work train service in 1985 when it was donatd to the city by SSW.
- 1944 Power Car. Former SP6616 baggage car built by St. Louis Car Company in 1960. Work train service 1968 – 1988. It has a 225 KWH generator which was donated by Southwester Bell. Owned by CBRHS.
- 1947 “Apple Blossom” built as GN1121 by Pullman Standard in 1947. Converted to a 108 seat commuter coach by New Jersey Transit in 1973. Acquired by the CBRHS in the early 1980′s and now seats 100.
- 3480 – Built by Budd for the Santa Fe in 1938 as a baggage dormitory car. Used as a concession car during SSW819 trips. Owned by the CBRHS.
- CBHS 819336 – Tank car donated to the CBRHS by Transit Tank Company.
- 306 “Lark”. – Built by Pullman Standard in 1941 as a thirteen bedroom sleeper for the SP Lark. Converted at the museum into a private office car in 1990. Privately owned.
- Limestone Ore Car – Donated by Arkansas Lime Company, June 12, 2008 Narrow Gauge.
- ALCO C-420 – Former Little Rock & Western ALCO C-430. Built in 1966 as L&N 1306, the rebuilt by Green Bay and Western before coming to Arkansas. Privately owned, on loan to the museum. One of 4 different ALCO locomotives on display May 2009.
