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Texarkana to Little Rock – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 29
‘Texarkana to Little Rock’ continues our journey through the evening and into the night as we leave Texas and travel into Arkansas.
Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast:
Texarkana:
We reach Texarkana after 28 hours travelling through Texas.
Texarkana Union Station dates from 1928. It is on the state border between Texas and Arkansas – quite literally! The border bisects the station structure with the eastern part, including the waiting room and ticket office, in Arkansas and the western part in Texas. Stopped trains span both states!
It is the second busiest Amtrak station in Arkansas.
Although it is on the National Register of Historic Places the view from the platform is somewhat depressing. Sadly there is not time for me to see the more impressive facade on the street.
Hope:
The red brick Hope depot dates from 1912. The original operator, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, a subsidiary of Missouri Pacific Railway, is commonly known as the “MoPac.”
The station is in the MoPac’s signature Mediterranean Revival style. It was in passenger use until November 1968, before falling into disrepair.
To celebrate the election of Hope native Bill Clinton to the U.S. presidency plans were made to convert the station into a museum focused on Clinton’s life. In 1994 the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, part of Union Pacific Railroad, donates the station to the city in 1994. In 1995, with renovations complete, the facility opens to the public.
Arkadelphia:
They do love fancy names in this part of the world. This station dates from 1917 and in 2023 1,050 passengers use the station.
Next up:
If you enjoy these podcasts please join me in a couple of weeks as we continue our journey on the Texas Eagle through the night and into the morning.
Links:
To visit the Amtrak website please follow this link.
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