ASHLEY, DREW & NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY
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Snapshot History: Ashley, Drew & Northern Rwy. Co. In 1905 the Crossett Lumber Co. constructed a small railroad, the Crossett Railway, north out of Crossett, Arkansas for about ten miles to serve its own logging interests. Motive power was provided with Shays. In 1906 a plan was hatched to extend the railroad further north for about 30 miles to Monticello, Arkansas. A new company, The Crossett, Monticello & Northern Railroad was organized. Unfortunately, it ran out of funds, only having completed to about Farm Hill, Arkansas. On August 8, 1912, the Crossett Lumber Company funded the incorporation of the Ashley, Drew & Northern Railway to construct a line from Cremer (end of track) to Monticello, Arkansas where they could directly connect with other railroads. Shortly thereafter, the new company purchased the Crosset, Monticello & Northern Railway Company. By 1913 the line had been completed and service begun. At that time the Ashley, Drew & Northern leased the line to the Arkansas, Louisiana & Gulf, a 143-mile connecting line at Crossett, Arkansas. On September 15, 1915, the A.L. & G. was sold at foreclosure sale to the newly created Arkansas, Louisiana & Midland Railroad. It continued with the lease. By early 1920 the the A. L. & M. R.R. had gone bankrupt as well and it was sold at foreclosure to the Arkansas, Louisiana & Missouri. The Ashley, Drew & Northern did not continue the lease, but, instead took over the operation itself. The company, of course, was primarily involved with Crossett Lumber operations. Likewise,the Crossett family members were part of management, and also held a note and were shareholders. Further, their other interests provided a majority of the initial log and lumber traffic. The Ashley, Drew & Northern reported in 1930 that it was operating a 40.65 miles of main line from Monticello to Crosset, Arkansas. Further, the company operated over 7.56 miles of associated spurs, sidings and yard trackage. Motive power was furnished by four oil burning steam locomotives, two 2-6-0's (#105 & #115) and two 2-8-0's (#125 & #135). Rollingstock included: nine box cars, 21 flat cars, two ballast cars and one caboose. Passenger needs were provided by four coaches. By 1941, the company had added 17 flat cars, some steel, to the roster. Also, a tank car and caboose. Six of the existing box cars had been converted to service cars. Main line milage had increased to 41.56 miles and spurs etc.to 8.52 miles. In 1948, the company began the transition to diesels replacing their steam locomotives with four GE 70 tonners. Some EMD units were later added, the GE units all on the property until 1965. After 58 years of Crossett involvement in local logging and lumber operations, and in the Ashley, Drew & Northern Railway, they sold both to the Georgia Pacific Corp. on July 31,1963. From then until 1995 The A. D. & N. grew much larger serving more and more local companies. In addition to Georgia Pacific, there were many other paper companies, cement plants, and chemical operations to come on line. The company remained updated, modern and profitable. Because of other railroad properties owned by Georgia Pacific, one being the Arkansas, Louisiana & Mississippi which provided a much better main line north, and becuase the wood operations were about over along the former Crossett line, the ICC was petitioned for abandonment, On June 29, 1996 the Ashley, Drew & Northern Railway ran its last train in revenue service.
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AD&N 2-8-0 #135
Image, Ashley, Drew & N. 2-8-0 Loco #135 Order No. ADN135I Crossett, Arkansas, September, 1948: One of two company 2-8-0 locomotives #135 sits on the sidelines, soon to be rplaced by a new 70-ton GE diesel switcher. Shopping Cart 8.5" by 11" Image, Price - $ 5.00 [Add To Cart] --------------------
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