I Rode River Rail

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Thursday marked the opening day of service for the Little Rock/North Little Rock’s new River Rail project. The cars run on rail and are powered by overhead power lines. Currently the rides are free but the normal fare of 50 cents a ride or all day for $2 begins November 8th.

Currently the rides are free because the Central Arkansas Transit System (CATS – notice that Mookie [:)] ) wants input from the public. “This is their (the public’s) chance to tell us how to run a railroad,” said Keith Jones, the diector of CATS (sometime they changed the official name from CATS to CATA and replaced System with Authority [:(] )

The River Rail project cost approximately 19.5 million and each railcar cost $808,000. The three railcars are yellow with a red roof and the interior is oak and brass.

During recent testing of the streetcars several delays were encountered as motorist blocked the road. Delivery trucks also delayed the streetcars. Police are warning the public that any vehicle blocking the streetcars will be ticketed and towed. Other “break-in” problems occured when streetcar operators accidentially “bumped” other vehicle traffic when trying to stop. The streetcars, made by GomocoTrolley Company of Ida Grove, Indiana, are 48 1/2 feet long and weight 48,000 pounds.

Little Rock ran streetcars from 1891 to Christmas Day 1947, while North Little Rock had streetcar service from 1908 to 1938. River Rail now connectcs both cities. Each city and the county will share operating costs.

So if you are ever in Little Rock/North Little Rock drop in and have a ride. I will try to ride sometime in the near future and take phots of the railcars. I will try and make them available to all to see.

2

Sounds like a lot of fun, it’s always good to see rail in general on the move.

Share those pictures when you get them!

3

seconding macguy…look forward to the photo gallery!

4

This Hoosier is lost. Where is Ida Grove, Indiana?

5

Iowa maybe?
Anyway, I hope their opening goes a little smoother than Houston’s, but I doubt it.

6

I don’t know where I came up with Indiana, the correct location of Ida Grove is Iowa. [;)] I am very sorry for the slip up, and don’t know where it came from. <Halftimers has reared its ugly head again. [:(] >

7

Wednesday night I had to go downtown so I decided to ride River Rail. [:)]

The streetcars are new and very nice, however, the ride is a little rough. The cars are clean and well lighted. Overall it was fun.

I don’t have any photos yet but will try to get some soon.

Here is a link if you want to check it out.

http://www.cat.org/rrail/

8

Way to go Jim,sounds very interesting,wish we had something like that here.[^]
The “Powers That Be” have talked about it for over 10 years;and even if they
decided anything at all now,it would be at least another 10 years before we
actually saw anything.[:(!]

At least they finally got the Hybrid buses going just recently,a step in the right
direction. (electric/diesel)[^]

9

Sounds awesome!

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Here is a link to some outside shots. One of these days I will try and get an inside shot. They are very nice looking inside.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v222/JimHwood/River%20Rail%20Streetcar/

11

Nice pictures Jim;at least they DO run on rails,and not rubber tires.[sigh]
Please send us some more pictures when you can.

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Along the same line. Memphis,Tn over the last ten years has recreated some of its old trolley networks. North and South, up and down mainstreet. Now there is a loop out along the river front utilizing the right of way of the old Illinois Central passenger main[ Southbound only] thru downtown and an extention a couple of miles out to the medical center… All run with single and double truck trolley cars, brought over from Spain about ten year ago and rehabilitated locally…

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Mookie would also appreciate the Las Vegas public transit operator: Citizens Area Transit (CAT), although they have a silhouette of a leaping cougar on the sides of the buses.