FORDYCE’S PAST IS ON TRACK NOW

By Rick Joslin/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

FORDYCE — A part of Fordyce’s past is being restored as a future attraction.

The old Fordyce & Princeton Railroad’s Steam Engine 101 was delivered by a flatbed truck to the Cotton Belt rail depot on Main Street here Thursday night, needing major renovation to match its appearance when it served the Fordyce Lumber Company and local switch yard as a “youngster” in the 1930s and ’40s.

Constructed in 1922 by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Pennsylvania, No. 101 was purchased by Fordyce & Princeton in 1931. It brought in logs to Fordyce Lumber and was utilized for switching purposes until its retirement in 1948.

The 72-ton locomotive was eventually given to the City of Little Rock and displayed in the Little Rock Zoo for more than 20 years before being removed.

Doug Loftin of Alexander purchased the property on which the engine was located and offered it to Dallas County, provided elected officials and the chamber of commerce could provide for its transport back to Fordyce.

In May 2005, the chamber initiated a campaign to bring No. 101 “home.” A committee — including Barbara Finley, Dallas County Judge Jimmy Jones, Scott Morgan and Dusty Rhodes — was organized and charged with accomplishing the task.

The City of Fordyce granted permission for the locomotive and tender to be placed on the northwest section of the depot grounds.

The committee is planning to give the engine and tender a facelift and has a long-range goal of transforming the depot into a showplace featuring railroad memorabilia. The goals are a perfect fit for the city’s annual Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival.

The city is named in honor of Col. Samuel Fordyce, an early Cotton Belt Railroad president.