Short Line Railroads of North East Arkansas

Page by Huggy & Max

"Augusta Railroad Line"

The Augusta Railroad, was famous as "The Dummy Line, The World's Shortest Railroad".

The Augusta was organized by Augusta businessmen when Jay Gould's Iron Mountain Railroad

bypassed the town and refused to run a branch to it.

The crossing of the White River, was made approximately one mile south of town,

and the rails extended westward, while Augusta was left sitting on the riverbank.

The citizens of Augusta, in 1887, banned together and built a mile long spur to

connect with the Iron Mountain line. Their line was called the "Augusta Tramway & Transfer Company".

The railroad proved to be a profitable enterprise, especially during the World Wars,

but as business declined, the Augusta Railroad applied to the Interstate

Commerce Commission (ICC) for permission to abandon service in 1958. The Augusta

Railway had steamed it's way into history, leaving little more than rust streaks

across the country side.

"#300" used on the Augusta Railroad, and on display at Harmon Park in Paragould, Arkansas,

from 1959 until 1988.

"Forney 1" used on the Augusta Railroad

"Forney 2" used on the Augusta Railroad

"Vulcan" an early Diesel Locomotive that was used on the Augusta Railroad. Here it is being loaded 

on to a trailer after being found on private property, southwest of Augusta in the mid nineties.

 

Thanks to the website of T. Dowler,"The Saga of The Augusta Railroad and Alco #300"

huggy@suddenlink.net

07/18/2008 07:17 PM -0500