Northbound Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 was  turned to become the southbound No. 21 at Little Rock the night of  (March 21). Passengers were bused between Little Rock and St Louis and St Louis to Little Rock due to the tracks between St Louis and Poplar Bluff having flood damage. Five buses were sent north to St Louis and 6 buses were sent south out of St Louis to Little Rock. A large crowd of over 200, including a group from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, were at the station. A similar count will be brought to Little Rock from St Louis heading south. All this activity occurred in the middle of the night from about 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.

To help out, both Little Rock agents Richard Finch and Larry Highfill, were on duty, along with Amtrak's Joy Smith and Dallas Agent Jim Cameron, whom Joy picked up on her way to Little Rock to help out. Bill Pollard also was there to help with the logistics. I took many photos, some of which are included below. I didn't use flash except for taking the photo of the Amtrak agents and helpers, since it would have been rude for all the passengers to be blinded by flashes in the middle of the night. As a result, some photos are a little dark, but they do show the excitement and activity of this night.  It was really an exciting atmosphere, noisy and crowded.

The consist of No. 22 that arrived and turned was: Locomotives 182 and 206, followed by Superliners 39022, 32009, 38062 (diner), 33033 (Sightseer Lounge, which will stay on the Eagle through at least the summer), 31024, 34041 and 34061. Number 22 arrived about 1:40 a.m.  I've also included a couple of shots of freights.



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LEFT-Amtrak personnel who were on duty on this night: L_R Richard Finch, Joy Smith, Jim Cameron and Larry Highfill. RIGHT-Inside the Amtrak station in Little Rock about 11:30 p.m.


A lot in this group were from the Univeristy of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.


LEFT-NS 9662 and 9511 pose on the main tracks.


Baggage carts were loaded.


The first bus to St Louis was loaded at 11:39 p.m.




A BNSF train came through about 12:15 a.m.  Surreal.


This train was mostly pipes.


LEFT-I used flash on this one. My flash does not work on the bottom of photos.


LEFT-Bill Pollard is to the left.


LEFT-The first bus left before midnight. These four were waiting for Eagle No. 22 to arrive with itsr numerous passengers, which would transfer to the buses and head to St Louis. RIGHT-
The Texas Eagle from San Antonio arrived at 1:45 a.m. March 22.








RIGHT-You can see the 'George M Pullman' outline of lettering above the Amtrak trademark.