Short Line Railroads of North East Arkansas

Page by Huggy & Max

"Bonnerville Southern Railroad Line"

At the turn of the century, a tram road line, that connected to the Frisco railroad lines,

was built by Mr. L.M. Sedgwick, at Bonnerville (now Bono), Arkansas.

The line was used to haul logs and cross ties.

The train was known as the Bonnerville Southern Railroad Line.

It would start in Jonesboro and travel the main line to Bonnerville, where it would

switch over to the Bonnerville Southern tracks.

The train, nicknamed "Old Fred's Train", was named after the conductor,

Fred Mickleweight. The Steam Locomotive was called, "Old Blaze".

The railroad was built in stages and eventually extended all the way to Grubbs.

The tram road prospered as long as the timber lasted.

When the sawmills closed down, farming operations didn't furnish enough traffic for

the railroad to remain profitable.

In 1919, Mr. L.M. Sedgwick decided to give the tram line to Frisco, who continued to

operate the line as a freight line until 1929.

"Old Blaze" crossing the Cache River into Grubbs, Arkansas, during the 1915 flood.

"Old Blaze" at the Grubbs station.

Information on this page came from Tim Veteto's page,

HISTORY OF BONO, City of BONO, Arkansas

huggy@suddenlink.net

05/19/2008 10:15 PM -0500