A Cotton Belt Steam Engine and The Roundhouse in The Original Cotton Belt Switching Yard

The railroad was an important part of the economy throughout the history of of Pine Bluff.

Engine 819 was built in 1942 at a cost of $143,607 and was used until replaced by diesel locomotives. It was donated to the city of Pine Bluff in 1955. It's first trips since it was restored in 1983, at a cost of $140,000 by the Cotton Belt Historical Society, were made in 1986 to Fordyce and Little Rock. It made many trips since then, but these trips have now been suspended by the Union Pacific. The engine is capable of pulling 100 freight cars with ease and burns about 15 gallons of oil per mile. Now in the Cotton Belt Historical Museum at the Old Cotton Belt Shops, the engine is back in the place of its origin. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Click here for more information.

Arkansas Railroad Museum
1700 Port Road (Cotton Belt Shop)
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Phone: (870)535-8819