_(14760380614).jpg) Civil War era locomotive | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Arkansas |
| Dates of operation | 1853–1873 |
| Successor | Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) Indian gauge |
| Length | 133 mi (214 km) |
The Memphis and Little Rock Railroad was chartered in the U.S. state of Arkansas in 1853. The line ran from Hopefield, Arkansas (now West Memphis) on the east, to Huntersville (now North Little Rock, Arkansas) on the west. The eastern third was completed in 1858 and the western third was built by 1862. During the American Civil War, the Union Army seized control of the line and used the western section to supply its occupation force in Little Rock. The center section was finally completed in 1871. The railroad was subjected to frequent damage from floods and suffered from financial problems. It was sold in 1873, 1877, 1887, 1898, and 1900 before eventually becoming part of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (Rock Island).[1]