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HOGRAILS.COM |
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"The Central Division" Frisco - Fort Smith District 100 |
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Industrial and commercial development
grew over the years along the SLSF main north of the Fort Smith yard.
The Missouri Pacific extended a parallel line in order to compete for
the business that developed after WWII. They were able to obtain a share
of the new customers, but the constriction of two parallel lines led to
an arrangement with the two railroads using the other’s track for
runarounds. Clearing the main for through trains, transfers and other
traffic keeps the switch crews on their toes. There is team track activity and a variety of older businesses to the north of the yard. A substantial industry and customer, the Harding Glass plant has suffered some decline by 1980 but still has some production tied to the automotive business. Well-known names with large facilities are Dixie Cup and Gerber Foods. Other plants include manufacturers of packaging for the local furniture industry. The Missouri Pacific was granted use of the Frisco bridge over the Arkansas River when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers carried out the Kerr-McClelland navigation project. This led to the additional traffic through District 100 since the Missouri Pacific has active branches to the south and east of Fort Smith which are accessed through the downtown area. |
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Frisco and Mopac junction. |
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Mopac and Frisco Industries. |
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Mopac run a round |
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Fort Smith looking from the South. |
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Industries at the end of Mopac trackage |