Depots - Steam Engines - Telegraphers
Welcome to the "Memories page" which is dedicated to the people who worked as depot Agents & Telegraphers , and others on the old Missouri Pacific RR "Little Rock Telegrapher's Seniority District" (now a part of the Union Pacific System) which included all the railroad depots between Sweethome Ark and Mer Rouge, La, between McGehee Ark and Newellton La; and Monticello, Wilmar, Warren, Hamburg, Crossett, and Sherdian Ark. For names of agents, telegraphers and employment dates see "part one" and "part two" of a 1948 seniority roster. Also see "1966 roster".
This web page is to preserve a little slice of history, to remember the men and women who worked on the district, so their time (1940-1950's), their stories and the depots will not be forgotten.
Brief History of the Missouri Pacific
According to the enclylopedia "Brittanica", the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, formerly (1849-1872) Pacific Railroad , American railroad founded to build the first rail line west of the Mississippi River. Ground was broken in 1851 and the first section of track completed in 1852. It was the first railroad to serve Kansas City, reached in 1865, after construction was interrupted by the American Civil War.
In 1872 the line was reorganized as the Missouri Pacific Railway, and in 1879 it came under the control of New York financier Jay Gould, who developed a system extending through Colorado, Nebraska, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana. In 1917 the line was merged with the St Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway Company and reorganized as the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Later it acquired other lines in the Gulf area and in Texas, extending its operating area to several midwestern and southwestern states.
The line's passenger operations were turned over to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) in 1971. In 1982 the Missouri Pacific merged with the Union Pacific and Western Pacific Railroad companies to form the "Union Pacific System", under the holding company Union Pacific Corporation. Missouri Pacific, however, maintained its own corporate and commerical idenity.
Pictures of old depots such as the one of Dermott Ark (submitted by Tilman B Blann, retired agent) are appreciated. Remember the little country depots, smell of the coal stoves, handing up train orders, copying Western Union telegrams, selling train tickets, bus tickets, loading and unloading mail, baggage and Railway Express (remember those baby chicks) from the four passenger trains (#s 131, 132, 103 and 102) that ran over the division. If you have pictures or comments you would like to submit, please copy and forward to the undersigned.
History Information and Links
Thanks to Cleo Garner, retired agent Portland, who furnished a 1948 seniority roster, also to T B Blann, retired agent of Dermott for furnishing a 1950 roster and Hazel MURPHREE Chance for the 1966 roster.
Interesting Division Memorabilia
