FL9

After we left Malvern behind, I negotiated two final railfan stops in Arkansas for the day before we set our sights on getting home to Benbrook at a resonable time.  We got off I30 at the Gurdon exit and made our way into town.  The ex-MP depot was still in use by the UP for maintenance forces.

A quarter-mile to the east two eastbound trains were tied down in the small yard next to the mainline.

The headlight shining through the trees to the left turned out to be an old GP7 lettered for the Alabama & Florida, now working for local shortline Caddo Valley Railroad.  I doubt anyone is going to steal that horn any time soon!

We took the old highway east out of town and twenty minutes later rolled into Prescott so I could try to photograph one of the Prescott & Northwestern’s GE 70-tonners.  Two were inside the shop building, but #24 was visible from the street.

Once again this is an interesting operation that would merit a return trip. Vintage power for sure, and check out that rare Nathan M3 horn up top!  For the final official picture of our West Virginia odessey I framed up the ex-MP depot in Prescott, still standing as a local museum.  The piece of track to the right indicates they must be hoping for a caboose some day.

We did make it home by 6:00pm with no further railfanning interference to end our roughly 2500-mile round trip.  Now I need to come up with something interesting for tomorrow’s blog!