PINE BLUFF, Ark. — All Aboard!!!! Discover Arkansas made their way to Pine Bluff, Ark. to check out the Arkansas Railroad Museum.
In 1983 a few volunteers formed the Cotton Belt Rail Historic Society. This stemmed from a group of business people who wanted to restore the last steam engine built in Arkansas, the 819 Steam Locomotive.
The Cotton Belt Railroad donated the steam engine to the city of Pine Bluff in 1955 to be displayed in a local park. For restoration purposes, organizers wanted to move the engine back to the machine shop where it was manufactured.
By 1986 the 819 made a trip to Fordyce.
During the restoration period, interest grew at the machine shop, and donations started to pour in to the what is now the museum. These donations are as small as lapel pins and as large as locomotives.
Discover Arkansas’ Adam Bledsoe met with volunteers, JP and Mr. Pete as they discovered the vast history at the museum.
Visitors are able to hop on board the locomotives, passenger cars, and cabooses. The museum is a paradise for railroad enthusiast, young and old.
Tours are free and open to the public.