1. I ran a large manufacturing plant in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
3 My uncle was the head mechanic at Nickel Plate Railroad repair yard in Toledo, Ohio.
3. So, as a "Train Buff", I joined the local Arkansas Railroad Museum (Cotton Belt Route).
4. I took many plant and personal friends through the museum. (Good excuse to leave the plant!)
5. Just off I-40 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the museum:
. . . originally was a steam engine and rail car construction factory
. . . has 17 tracks and a large switch yard
. . . has steam and diesel locos on inside display
. . . has several cars or engines always being refurbished or rehabbed by volunteers
. . . allows you to actually walk on and/or inside different cars and locos
6. If going through Arkansas stop by (open Thu-Sun, 11:00am-2:00pm)
7. One of the finest groupings of FUNCTIONING steam equipment including a 4-8-4 and a 2-6-0.
8. Many other restored cars and cabooses.
9. CHECK OUT THEIR HUGE WEBSITE.
NOTE1:
I am a member of several railroad historical societies and encourage others to promote such.
If interested in steam or diesel, helping societies preserve rail history is a must.
Among others, my rail memberships include:
. . . Carolwood Society, dedicated to Walt's love of trains (carolwood.com)
. . . Arkansas Railroad Museum, Cotton Belt Route (arkansasrailroadmuseum.org)
. . . Nickel Plate Railroad Historical & Technical Society (nkphts.org)
NOTE2:
The Carolwood Society has regular meetings and activities in California and Walt's hometown.
Several DIS-MEET campers have joined (look for their names if you join).
They also have an annual "convention" at Disney World (they call each an "Un-Meeting")
. . . the next "Un-Meeting" is Sept 26-29, 2024..
. . . during a past convention, we were allowed to tour the train maintenance building
. . . unlike the normal "Train Tour", we were allowed to take photos of trains and monorails.
. . . I proudly wear my personalized Carolwood Name Badge whenever I go to WDW.