According to information I gleaned from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas (EOA) Arkansas’ early railroad history was rocky at best. Plans for railroad construction began in 1835. The Mississippi, Ouachita and Red River Railroad intended to run from from Mississippi River and the ferry ar Red River was incorporated and is considered the oldest railroad in Arkansas but neither got the tracks on the ground. In 1858 the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad was the first actually constructed. After that a lot of switchbacks (train pun intended) made for an interesting but probably confusing time in Arkansas’ railroad history. As EOA puts it, “During the 1850s, railroad companies were created, sold, and resold due to lack of funding or manipulation of the market.”

More interesting history to come. For now it seems there is a food fight going on across the table of Arkansas.