Nomad of Mid-America
Ribbit
Crossing Frog Bayou for the 6th time of 11 on its southbound trip, Arkansas and Missouri's Fort Smith Turn weaves through the valley at the bottom of the Boston Mountains near Mountainburg, AR, soaking up the easy miles of level terrain on the southern portion of its route to the Arkansas River towns of Van Buren and Fort Smith. Normally a nocturnal operation, the Fort Smith Turn had temporarily resorted to daytime running south of Springdale in late 2021 due to ongoing capital track renewal on the northern half of railroad towards Monett, MO, allowing for sunlit sights of the railroad's three SD70ACe motors pulling freight on the scenically superior portion of the railroad over the Boston Mountains and along Frog Bayou. Near this location less than a month later, this same set of locomotives would be involved in a derailment on a northbound trip, toppling AM 71 onto its side and taking it out of commission for the time being.
Ribbit
Crossing Frog Bayou for the 6th time of 11 on its southbound trip, Arkansas and Missouri's Fort Smith Turn weaves through the valley at the bottom of the Boston Mountains near Mountainburg, AR, soaking up the easy miles of level terrain on the southern portion of its route to the Arkansas River towns of Van Buren and Fort Smith. Normally a nocturnal operation, the Fort Smith Turn had temporarily resorted to daytime running south of Springdale in late 2021 due to ongoing capital track renewal on the northern half of railroad towards Monett, MO, allowing for sunlit sights of the railroad's three SD70ACe motors pulling freight on the scenically superior portion of the railroad over the Boston Mountains and along Frog Bayou. Near this location less than a month later, this same set of locomotives would be involved in a derailment on a northbound trip, toppling AM 71 onto its side and taking it out of commission for the time being.