| MP SD40 3056 leading 3095 (ailing) and 3042 over the White River at Cotter, Arkansas on an unknown day in November 1981, Ektachrome by Chuck Zeiler. The bridge was built in 1905 and was intended to swing to allow river traffic to pass. This quickly became a moot point after the railroad arrived, and was never used for that purpose. The river did rise in the spring flood season to the bottom of the bridge, flooding everything below, including the MP roundouse which was located along the river to the left of the frame. During the 1940's a dam was built upstream to control the flooding. The MP built 10 mile spur and shipped aggregate for the project. In the days of steam, the typical power north out of Cotter was double-headed Consolidations. These pictured locomotives are seen climbing about a 1% grade out of Cotter, and once across the bridge, they will enter a 1,000 foot tunnel, but in the meantime, the rear of this train is probably still in Cotter Yard, so the train is resticted to yard speed. |