1. Springdale is not only home to A&M, but
also the headquarters of one of the world’s larg-
est processors and marketers of chicken, beef and
pork — Tyson Foods.
The company relies on A&M’s service to re-
ceive needed products in a timely fashion.
Conductor Waylon Whiteley and Locomotive
Engineer Kevin Hallmark serve Tyson
Foods five days a week. They pull
empty cars, and deliver and spot loads
of corn, mash and gluten.
“Safety is the top priority when
we do the job,” Whiteley said. “We ac-
complish that by communicating with each other.
I talk over the radio with my locomotive engineer
and tell him what is happening on the ground while
we shove cars so we are on the same page with our
movements.”
The crews do their best to be prompt in their
service. If they encounter an issue along the way,
they let a manager know so they can communicate
the delay.
“We keep in contact throughout the day so we
can project when we will arrive at an industry,”
Whiteley said.
March 2013
110th Edition
A&M EXPRESS
Crew updates
switches on main line
A&M employees
work together to
repair tamper
A&M mechanics show
off their skills
8
Thorn steps into
leadership role
Whistle while you work
Rouse gains knowledge
at AREMA Conference
A&M awarded
for safety record
103rd Boy Scouts
anniversary
commemorated
Tidbits:
A&M attends train
show
Shop tour
Phillips a good fit with
A&M
4
6
10
2
Waylon Whiteley, Conductor, left, and Kevin Hallmark, Locomotive
Engineer, serve Tyson Foods in Springdale, Ark.
A&M provides
top-notch customer service
Past successhelps startyear right
2012 was a successful year for all
of us at A&M and Allied Enterprises.
At last we experienced true recovery
from the 2008 financial crisis, with
traffic rising 17 percent from 2011 and
almost 35 percent above the levels of
recession-ravaged 2009. While falling
shy of the volume levels we handled
before the crash, a solid safety perfor-
mance, improved traffic mix, more ef-
ficient operations and temporary surge
in corn traffic led to a successful year.
On A&M, the most visible change
in 2012 was the construction of a
new locomotive shop in Springdale.
The shop features a 30-ton traveling
crane that towers over other railroad
structures in Springdale, giving a
substantial presence to the whole
complex. The facility provides a safe
and efficient workplace for locomotive
maintenance personnel, eliminating
Continued on page 2

2. 2
A&M mechanics show off their skills
A&M’s mechanics put their talents to
the test as they recently took apart anAlco
engine from a Navy ship to rebuild it for
use in locomotives.
The upper half of the engine can be
reworked to run the locomotives, but the
lower half becomes scrap that is either sold
or used for parts.
Kenny Bryson, Shop Foreman, uses
a crane to lift the upper half off the lower
half, then rebuilds it. He puts on new bear-
ings and pistons, then thoroughly inspects
the locomotive. He then has to mate it to
the locomotive lower block, which has to
be lined up perfectly.
“It’s a little bit of a process, but once
you’ve completed one, it becomes less
complicated,” he said.
TheAlco blocks are no longer made in
the United States. They were built primar-
ily in the 1960s beforeAlco went bankrupt.
There are still places that make parts for
Alco, but the block itself is not made new.
Even if block was available, the bare
engine block prices at around $100,000.
A fully loaded engine would be closer to
$500,000, but Bryson and his employees
can repair a block for much less.
A big advantage his crews have is the
new locomotive shop, equipped with a
30-ton overhead crane, which works off a
cable system. The crane itself is on rollers
that help move heavy equipment.
“That has been a huge benefit to
us,” he said. “We used to have to hire a
crane and wait on their schedule of when
they could come and do the work for us.
Now, we can do it on our time, which is
much quicker.”
Shop Manager Kenny Bryson, left, and Mechanic
Thomas Puente lift the upper half of the Alco
engine with the crane.
Taking it to the block. Placing it on the block to be worked.
1 2 3
long outside forklift runs and the need
to rent cranes to swap out trucks and
wheel sets.
At Allied Enterprises, the most ex-
citing news in 2012 was the addition of
a division, Superior Switching Services.
Superior provides switching services
at the West Monroe, La., paper mill of
Graphic Packaging. Graphic became a
customer of Ozark Transmodal in Fort
Smith during 2011. That relationship
eventually led to the new service in West
Monroe. We are happy to extend a warm
welcome to our Superior Switching
employees as well as several other dedi-
cated folks who have joined our team the
past year.
While our operations benefit from an
improving economy, it’s important to note
that we ourselves can’t create the need for
transportation. The demand for our ser-
vices derives solely from our customers’
economic activities. What we can do
is provide the best service possible so
that existing and prospective customers
choose us to handle their traffic. That
service is the only product we have to
sell. Second only to safety, service qual-
ity represents our most important goal.
I’m pleased that our customers have
voted to give us a greater share of their
business in 2012. Our team members
should take that as the highest possible
compliment for their efforts.
While most economists expect
overall economic growth in 2013 to be
modest, the year will be busy for A&M
and Allied. Freight traffic levels on the
railroad should be down only slightly
as corn returns to more typical levels,
but building continues to rebound in
Northwest Arkansas and Southwest
Missouri. We will add a new sand
customer in Rogers and look forward
to an increase of almost 10 percent in
construction sand traffic. Meanwhile,
facility construction will continue apace
on the railroad and Allied. We also
anticipate increased passenger traffic,
with even more excursion trains than we
operated in 2012.
Our future looks bright, and we
remain committed to investment in our
facilities and equipment. Ultimately,
our future depends on our dedicated
team members and loyal customers.
That’s been a successful combination
for A&M’s 26 years, and we anticipate
it will be a winner in 2013.
— Reilly McCarren, Chairman,
Arkansas & Missouri Railroad and Allied
Enterprises, Inc.
Past success helps start year continued from page 1

3. 3
The University ofArkansas
recently offered a four-month
law enforcement course. Only
25 people were chosen to
participate.
R o n S p a r k s , P o l i c e
Chief and Director of Safety,
Training and Legal Affairs,
was among those nominated
by the Washington County
Sheriff’s Department.
Sparks teaches classes at
the police academy, which
made him the perfect candidate
for the opportunity. He has
been taking additional college
courses to help him progress in
his career. He learned a great
deal from his most recent class.
“About 50 percent of the
class was centered around
good communication, espe-
cially in crisis situations,” he
said. “You want to be able to
communicate effectively in
many different scenarios.”
Sparks also benefited from
networking with other local law
enforcement agencies, some of
which he has worked with in
the past.
“Having personal acquain-
tances within local agencies
will make it much easier to
coordinate with them should we
ever need something,” he said.
Sparks graduated Dec.
7 from the school of law en-
forcement supervision and was
asked to give the graduation
speech, which was voted on by
fellow students. Congressman
Steve Womack spoke at the
ceremony.
Sparks appreciates A&M
President Brent McCready
for allowing him to leave one
week each month to participate
in the program.
“It was a great thing,”
Sparks said. “I learned a lot that
could enhance my abilities.”
Sparks completes law enforcement course
Follow A&M on social media
Social media is a great tool to bring awareness to causes, businesses and special
events. A&M has jumped on board the social media bandwagon by adding both a
Facebook and Twitter page.
Not only is it a great way to show support for A&M, it’s also a great way to catch
some great deals on discount train rides.
“Social media has been a great thing for us,” said Brenda Rouse, Passenger Train Operations
Manager. “We had two couples from Oklahoma calling to make reservations that liked us on
Facebook.”
Rouse will continue to use social media as a marketing tool and increase social
media advertising. February begins the annual group travel
meetings, where she will attend Bank Travel and Travel South
U.S.A. and meet with the organizers who set up the tours.
She hopes to book excursions for the groups, and social media will
be a big part of the campaign.
As of Jan. 31, A&M has 1,185 friends on its Facebook page.
Ron Sparks, Police Chief and Director of Safety, Training and Legal
Affairs

4. Allied Enterprises, which consists of
Ozark Transmodal and reload operations
with A&M Railroad, has a new operations
manager.
Bob Thorn worked as a warehouse
manager for a transportation company
before joining the Ozark Transmodal.
Superintendent of Railroad Operations
Randy Campbell contacted Thorn because
he knew he had extensive rail service experi-
ence and would be a great fit for the job.
He has been on the job since the new
year and looks forward to the opportunities
in 2013.
“My job is to help facilitate the opera-
tions to be more productive, as well as bring-
ing in new business,” Thorn said. “We are
making a big push to expand.”
This year, Ozark Transmodal plans to
add 60,000 square feet to the current build-
ing to accommodate the new business it has
received.
Right now, the biggest roadblock for
Thorn to overcome is the economy. He be-
lieves Ozark Transmodal is in a prime spot
for bringing in business because there is an
uptick in the area for warehouse needs.
“Everything we are doing in the ware-
house we want to tie to the railroad, so we
boost business there, too,” he said.
Thorn enjoys playing golf and watching
his son, Stephen, who is a freshman at the
University of Arkansas, participates in the
Razorback marching band.
Bob Thorn, Allied Enterprises Operations
Manager
Thorn steps into leadership role
2013 is turning out to be a busy
year for A&M Maintenance of Way
and Signal employees. They have a
variety of projects on their plates, most
of which will be coordinated together.
They also collaborated on several proj-
ects this past year.
Track Superintendent Larry Rouse,
Manager of Signals and Communications
Kim Carder and their teams completed a
major project on Cato Springs Road in
Fayetteville, Ark.
Rouse’s crew put in three new tracks
and concrete, and Carder’s crew ensured
the crossing was protected by signals.
They also relocated a customer’s track
inside the signal current.
“It was unguarded, which presented
a potential safety hazard,” Carder said.
“When we finished, it was quite an
upgrade.”
The project also enhanced the
flasher system to a gated crossing and a
sidewalk was added. Since the crossing
is now guarded, crews don’t have to get
on and off the locomotive to stop traf-
fic to accomplish their switch. Carder
believes minimizing the amount of times
employees get on and off a locomotive
will help avoid incidents.
The 2013 project calendar will fea-
ture jobs such as renewing six switches
through the Springdale Yard Terminal
and doing basic bridge work.
During the slower times of the year,
employees work on equipment and make
repairs to prepare for the upcoming
projects.
“We have a lot on our plates, but
I think the work we have will be a
big improvement for our operations,”
Rouse said.
Whistle while you work
Rouse gains knowledge at AREMA Conference
As technology rapidly advances,
everyone is attempting to keep pace
with the latest and greatest.
Larry Rouse, Track Superintendent,
attended the Sept. 16-19 American
Railway Engineering Maintenance-
of-Way Association conference at the
Hilton Hotel in Chicago.
The conference featured speakers
who provided their expertise and shared
knowledge on various techniques and
new products.
Rouse was most excited to attend a
three-day FRA track inspection seminar,
which he said was a great way to refresh
himself on rules and regulations.
“The seminar was extremely help-
ful for me,” he said. “Most things
have stayed the same, but there were
things that have been updated. It
brought me up to speed on a few new
developments.”
Rouse said new rules and regula-
tions were discussed in addition to
bridge management plans and other
developments that will be implemented
by the FRA in the next few years.
The AREMA conference also fea-
tured various rail manufacturers and
vendors.
“It was interesting to see new
available technology and to keep up
with new developments,” Rouse said.

5. Dave Morris, Passenger Car Maintenance Worker
Dave Morris, Passenger Car
Maintenance Worker, felt right at home
immediately after he joined A&M.
“It has been phenomenal here, and
everyone has been welcoming to me,”
he said. “I enjoy working for an honest
company with values.”
Morris worked for the Eureka
Springs and Arkansas Railroad many
years ago. Most recently, he worked
for a logging business, which was
dangerous work. He wanted a safer
environment, and the railroad atmo-
sphere is steeped in safety.
“They strive to keep everyone from
getting hurt or in a dangerous situa-
tion,” he said. “I had track and cus-
tomer service experience, so it made
perfect sense for me to join A&M.”
Morris likes meeting people and
interacting with customers. He also
loves the uniqueness of A&M’s pas-
senger service, which offers people a
scenic view of the area that a person
simply can’t get from a car ride.
“I appreciate the opportunity to
work here,” he said. “I always do my
best and will help wherever I can to
make this railroad better.”
Morris makes
career change
As we think about safety, we have to
foster a culture that makes it our highest
priority so it provides continuous self-
examination as to the effectiveness of
our performance and process. I like to
believe this is what we are doing in the
car department, as well as on the entire
A&M Railroad.
We need to promote work practices
and training for all employees that make
safety essential to the tasks we perform.
I thank employees in both car shops for
working safely and always watching out
for one another.
In 2013, I want to keep doing what we
have been and keep plugging away. The
recent boost in business gives us more cars
to repair. Our job is to ensure the customer
receives what it needs on time. That’s our
job, and we will strive to continue our
great service.
A&M continues to share the message
of Operation Lifesaver that people need to
“Look, Listen and Live” at highway grade
crossings. It’s important for drivers to
understand that it only takes a second of
not being focused on driving for a collision
to take place.
The message of trespassing is one that
we can share with all age groups about the
potential dangers of being on or around
railroad property and equipment. I believe
that it’s making a difference in Arkansas
cities and communities.
— Bud Pulley, Chief Mechanical
Officer, Freight Cars
Pulley applauds efforts
Morris has sons, Zachary and
Andrew, and grandchildren, Sidney and
Jackson. He likes to tend to his garden
and is a woodworking hobbyist who
specializes in building benches.
5
Bob Thorn, Ozark Transmodal Inc.
Manager, said 2012 was a busy year at the
warehouse. Three new employees were
hired to help support new business. The
warehouse went from a five-day operation to
seven days running two shifts, which equals
a big jump in customer service.
“Morale was great, and to bump up in
volume and keep pace was outstanding,”
Thorn said. “Everyone understood it was
going to be busy, but as a team we accom-
plished a lot.”
He said periodically large shipments of
lumber and other goods have come in at the
eleventh hour and the employees put in the
extra time to unload it.
The hot commodity lately has been
plastic resin. The industries melt the plas-
tic pellets and make a variety of products,
including school classroom chairs. Thorn
said this has led to a great deal of extra work,
but everyone has pulled their weight and
worked together to keep operations flowing
seamlessly.
“We hope to continue to grow the busi-
ness as well as bring on more employees,”
he said.
Ozark caps
off successful
2012

6. On February 9th, Union Pacific along with
Arkansas Missouri Railroad hosted an event to
commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the Boy
Scouts of America in downtown Fort Smith. The
UP2010 Boy Scouts Commemorative Locomotive
was on display for pictures. This locomotive com-
memorates the 100th anniversary of Scouting in the
United States. Model railroading displays were
provided by the Sugar Creek Model Railroad Club
and National Railway Historic Society, Boston
Mountain Chapter. The City of Fort Smith provided
the pavilion to have Operation Lifesaver and rail-
road merit badge displays available. Approximately
600 scouts, parents and enthusiasts attended the
event.
Thomas Lenard, standing, watches his son, Ian,
operate Mitch Marmel’s Lionel O scale trains
Saturday, February 9th in the Riverfront Pavilion
during the Union Pacific Boy Scouts of America’s
100th anniversary commemorative train visit. The
event featured model trains and displays provided by
the Sugar Creek Model Railroad Club and National
Railway Historic Society, Boston Mountain Chapter
and was co-sponsored by Arkansas & Missouri
Railroad, City of Fort Smith and UP.
—Courtsey of Jamie Mitchell Times Record
A local Boy Scouts troop gathers in front of the Union Pacific 2010 locomotive.
BELOW: The model railroad displays, courtesy of the Sugar Creek Model Railroad Club and National
Railway Historic Society, Boston Mountain Chapter, are a big hit with the children at the event.
6
LEFT: Johnny Wallace, OTI
Gateway Trucking Manager,
distributes safety awards to
employees in recognition of
their safety performance.
A&M awarded for safety record
103rd Boy Scouts anniversary commemorated
RIGHT: From left, Brent
McCready, A&M President,
and Bill Wheeler,
Designated Supervisor
Locomotive Engineer,
enjoy great food and good
conversation during a
cookout at the OTI trucking
offices in Gateway, Ark.

7. 7
A&M employees line rail to transport a switch away from the main road.
It always has been said to look
both ways before one crosses the
street. A&M employees heed this
advice as they work in Springdale
North Yard, which is used for switch-
ing. The switch’s close proximity to
Randall-Wobbe Road, a heavy-traffic
industrial area, was a safety concern
Larry Rouse, Track Superintendent,
thought should be remedied.
DuringthelastweekinSeptember,
crews participated in a project to en-
hance safety for employees operating
switches by relocating the mainline
switch 175 feet north, away from the
road.
“The amount of traffic that comes
through here can create a potentially
hazardous situation for crews,” Rouse
said. “This enhancement will allow
employees to do their jobs with less
stress of what is happening on the
road.”
He said the city is considering
widening the street during road up-
grades, now more feasible afterA&M
moved the switch.
Crews moved another switch the
previous week, then returned for this
task after completing other projects.
They built a panel from scratch, af-
fixedittotherailandmovedtheswitch
down the rail, placing it in a hole dug
to accommodate its new location.
Switching it up
Eddie Wade, new Maintenance of Way
Laborer, loves the thrill of racing modified cars
in Crawford County, Ark., along the Oklahoma
state line. His favorite aspect of racing is the
adrenaline rush he enjoys every time he gets
in the car.
His next biggest thrill was beginning his
railroad career a few months ago. A friend on
the railroad recommended he join.
“I always have wanted to be a railroader,
so my friend helped me get on board here,”
Wade said.
His favorite part of the new job is how
every day is different.
“There isn’t anything to compare it to when
you explain it to other people,” Wade
said. “It’s a totally unique industry.”
Safety is the top priority, and he
makes sure to watch out for the en-
gines because he spends a good deal of
time working on the track. He always
maintains awareness of what is going
on around him and watches out for his
co-workers.
“The camaraderie helps us all stay safe,”
Wade said. “Everyone gets along well, and no
one wants to see their co-worker injured.”
When he isn’t putting the pedal to the
metal on the racetrack, he enjoys time with
his wife, Kallie, and daughter, Cloey.
Eddie Wade,
Maintenance of Way Laborer
A need for speed

8. Thanks to employee repairs in-house on this tamper, the railroad purchased a new
laser liner with the savings.
Employees repairing the tamper include, from left, Eddie Wade, Track Machine
Operator; Randall James, Projects Manager; and Jimmy Foster, Grapple Truck
Operator/Conductor. Kevin Buehne, Regulator Operator/Conductor is not pictured.
Do-it-yourself projects have be-
come popular recently, and for good
reason. In this economy, when you can
save a few bucks, you undertake the
project yourself.
A&M recently did just that by re-
pairing a tamper in need of new parts
and a paint job. It usually was sent to
Parsons, Kan., for repairs, but Randall
James, Projects Manager, decided the
repairs could be performed in-house
after reviewing a mechanic’s quote.
A four-person team worked on
the tamper inside the new A&M
Maintenance of Way facility, which
previously served as the locomotive
shop.
James said the crew rebuilt all the
hydraulic cylinders, the jack beam and
work heads, added new hoses and re-
paired the transmission. The rebuilding
process took two weeks and the paint
job an additional week.
“The most difficult part was rebuild-
ing all the work heads,” he said. “Other
than that, it was a straightforward job.”
As a result of performing the nec-
essary repairs under their own roof,
James said enough money was saved to
purchase a new laser liner, which creates
a straighter and more level track when
performing maintenance.
The tamper was back in action by
the first week in October, and the A&M
employees who performed the repairs
couldn’t be prouder.
A&M employees work together to
repair tamper
Maintenance of Way employees
recently replaced two switches on the
main line south of Fort Smith. The
tracks are jointly used by the Kansas
City Southern Railroad and A&M.
LarryRouse,TrackSuperintendent,
said both switches were in need of an
upgrade. The switches originally
contained 90-pound rail, but were
upgraded to 115-pound rail. The
switches were installed using panel-
ized switches built by Atlantic Track
at its Memphis, Tenn., plant.
Once the switches were installed,
employees used a tamper to surface
both and a ballast regulator to finish
the track. It was quite an upgrade
for the end of the railway. Most of
the material that came out of the two
switches will be used elsewhere for
other projects.
Crew updates switches on main line
8

9. Inside the Silver Feather Vista Dome car being prepped for service.
A&M employees Christy McKain, Ticket Agent, and George Barbosa,
Passenger Car/Car Repairs, work to get the Silver Feather Vista Dome
railcar ready.
A&M passengers enjoy a panoramic view while riding on the Silver Feather Vista
Dome railcar.
Santa ditched his sleigh for the annual Children’s Christmas Train.
Ready for service.9
• Passenger trains reached 36,000 in ridership, which was up
from 2011.
• Silver Feather Vista Dome — Look up, look down, look
all around! This is the newest addition to the A&M
fleet. The car ran during the 2012 season. A&M is
looking for another good season with it.
Passenger train 2012 recap:
• The Children’s Christmas Train had 1,900 riders in 2012 with
an added run to accommodate the additional ridership. The
event, held in downtown Springdale, extended from the depot
to Shiloh Square with the Model Car Show, 5k run and ad-
ditional activities. The event raised $30,000 in 2012 in both
contributions and in-kind gifts. Thanks to JB Hunt employees
for all their effort and time to help make this event a success.
Proceeds went to the Children’s Safety Center and Circle of
Life Hospice.
• Ridership for theWild-WildWestWinter Excursions from Fort
Smith to Winslow continues to grow. The train departs Fort
Smith Trolley Museum each Saturday through March. This
has been a good partnership between A&M and the Trolley
Museum, and they continue to make upgrades to their property
to accommodate the passengers.

10. Phillips a good fit with A&M
Naté Phillips, Carman Apprentice, was strolling down the
street and saw a sign for the A&M Railroad, which was looking
for people with welding experience. It seemed like a natural fit.
Prior to the railroad, Phillips went to school in Riverside,
Calif., to study welding and worked various welding jobs.
“I love the railroad; it is one of the best jobs I have ever had,”
he said. “It is interesting to work for the railroad because it is one
of the most unique industries in America, and I enjoy welding.”
Phillips said safety is vital. He always makes sure to wear his
proper PPE, follow all of the basic safety procedures and ensure
everyone is safe around him.
He works safely so he can go home to his children, Nigeria,
Najja and Naté Jr., who love to ask him questions about his day
on the railroad.
“They want to ride the train someday,” Phillips said. “They
always ask me what it’s like to ride the train.”
He realizes there are many opportunities for advancement
within the railroad. His goal is to work his way through the ranks.
In his free time, Phillips likes watching movies with his
children and being active in his church.
• DuringaFebruary16thevening dinner train, a wedding proposaloccurred
over theArkansas River on the appropriately named Love train ride. The
couple, Victoria Lewis and Tyler West, is from Kansas City, Kan.
• March 30th — Glory Train kicks off the Spring Foliage excursions from
Springdale to Van Buren and Van Buren to Winslow.
• March 30th — Hop onboard the first annual A&M Eggspress at 11 a.m.
in Van Buren with a ride to Mountainburg with Casey Cotton Tail for an
Easter Egg Hunt. There will be hotdogs, games and prizes. Proceeds
will help purchase a defibulator for the Boy Scouts camp.
A&M Chief Mechanical Officer Casey Shepherd gives shop tour.
Casey Shepherd, A&M Chief Mechanical
Officer, gives locomotive shop tour to a group after
the Model Train show on February 23rd.
The new locomotive shop also was part of an
industry tour including Tyson’s and the Jones Center
with a motor coach group riding the passenger train
this past summer.
Tidbits:
Shop tour
A&M employees attend the 10th annual Great
NWAModel Train Show sponsored by Sugar Creek
Model Railroad Club and the National Railroad
Historical Society, Boston Mountain Chapter on
Saturday, February 23rd. The event took place at
the Springdale Convention Center. There were at
least 2,000 attendees to visit the 35 vendors and
seven train layout demonstrations. Proceeds from
the event benefit local charities.
A&M attends
train show
Naté Phillips, Carman Apprentice
10

11. Springdale and Fort Smith carmen
have contributed greatly to the success
of the A&M this year. Bud Pulley, Chief
Mechanical Officer Freight Cars, appre-
ciates their efforts not only in operating
efficiently, but also safely.
“We have accomplished a lot this
year and hope to continue in our culture
of safety,” he said.
Pulley said safety is something he
teaches to everyone as they begin their
career. He believes holding thorough job
briefings help employees focus on how
they can be safe while accomplishing
their tasks throughout the day.
“I let them know that I want them
to go home the same way they came to
work,” he said. “Our top priority is the
safety of our employees.”
Pulley also helps educate people
on railroad safety through Operation
Lifesaver. He attends schools, universi-
ties and trucking facilities to teach par-
ticipants how to behave around railroad
crossings and tracks.
“It’s important to me to be a part of
educating the public about safety at rail-
road crossings,” he said. “Being around
railroad equipment can be dangerous, and
we want them to know how to stay safe.
I believe it has made a positive impact,
not only in the community, but among
our employees.”
Taking care of business
Mike Estep, Fort Smith Trainmaster
Estep moves in the right career direction
With change comes opportunity
When Mike Ford retired as Fort
Smith Trainmaster, someone had
to rise to the challenge to fill his
shoes.
Mike Estep has proven to be up
for the task and strives to maintain
the same excellent work ethic as his
predecessor.
Estep began his railroad career
Aug. 27, 2001, as a conductor follow-
ing high school. He saw the railroad
as an exciting career opportunity with
advancement potential.
In his new role, Estep ensures Fort
Smith operations run smoothly by
skillfully juggling his responsibilities.
“I work switching and helping
the employees,” he said. “I want to
be where the work is and set a good
example.”
An advantage as Estep transi-
tions into his new role are the years
of experience among the Fort Smith
workforce, who have maintained a
culture of safety. It also benefits
new hires who immediately learn the
proper way to do the job.
“You don’t have to tell these
people to work safely,” he said. “They
do that every day.”
In his free time, Estep enjoys time
with his wife, Meghan, and daughters,
Abby and Mollee, and also likes hunt-
ing and fishing.
11
Robert Read worked with reefer
cars prior to joining theA&M. He want-
ed a career change and thought those
very cars he worked on could provide
the new opportunity he was looking for.
He applied and began his new career in
September 2012 as a diesel mechanic.
Read complimented his trainers and
peers for their willingness to show him
the ropes and teach him the tricks of
the trade.
“Everyone was very helpful with
any questions I had,” he said.
His co-workers also taught him
about safety and how important it is
on a daily basis. Read has taken these
lessons to heart and always ensures he
has his safety glasses, wears his vest
and puts up his blue flags when working
outside.
“I now realize how big and heavy
everything is out here,” he said. “It can
hurt you really bad and quickly if you
aren’t aware of what’s going on around
you. It’s unforgiving.”
Read’s wife, Amber and daughter,
Ashlynn, rely on him to stay safe on
the job so they can do fun things as a
family. Read enjoys off-roading and
being outdoors.
Robert Read, Diesel Mechanic

12. 12
BN in 1986.
Arkansas & Missouri Railroad 479-751-8600
(fax) 479-751-2225
Passenger Train Reservations 479-725-4017
(or reserve online at www.amrailroad.com)
Passenger Train Operations 479-725-4016
Marketing 479-725-4005
Customer service 479-725-4019
Freight Car Needs 479-725-4006
Gateway, AR Sand Station and Sand Hauling
Joe Moore, Facility Manager (office) 479-656-9744
or (cell) 479-200-5926
Johnny Wallace, Manager Sand Hauling Services
870-654-3396
Fort Smith Ozark Transmodal Inc.
Bob Thorn, Allied Enterprise Manager 479-785-1857
1301 N 4th Street (cell) 479-200-5491
Fort Smith, AR 72901 (fax) 479-783-1971
National Sales
Bill Schauer 630-513-6700
Looking for a
transportation partner in
NW Arkansas?
Contact:
Jim Seratt, General Manager of
Marketing and Transload
479-751-8600 ext. 4005
jims@amrailroad.com
The A&M Railroad’s main line from Monett to Fort Smith
covers about 140 miles. Built by St. Louis-San Francisco
Railway in 1880-1882, Burlington Northern Railroad
acquired it from the Frisco and A&M acquired it from the
Contact Information
A&M Express invites input, comments and questions from Arkansas & Missouri Railroad employees, customers, vendors
and contractors. To contact Trevor Stewart with story ideas or leads you can reach him at 402-475-6397 or email him
at trevor.stewart@newslink.com. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue of the newsletter, including but
not limited to Kenny Bryson, Reilly McCarren, Bud Pulley, Brenda Rouse and Ron Sparks.
Arkansas & Missouri Railroad
306 East Emma St.
Springdale, AR 72764
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MAIL U.S.A.
Happenings
on the
Main Line
• January-March – Wild Wild
West Excursions continue from
Fort Smith to Winslow, Saturdays
at 11 a.m.
• March 30 – Hop & Hunt on the
A&M Eggspress
• March 30– The Glory Train kicks
off the spring foliage excursions
from Springdale to Van Buren and
Van Buren to Winslow. Enjoy blue-
grass and gospel music on board
as you travel through the Boston
Mountains.
• May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
Celebration, Springdale to Rogers
• May 11 – Sunrise Tour,
Springdale to Seligman, depart-
ing 5 a.m.; Chamber Spring Fling,
Seligman to Van Buren; National
Train Day Celebration, Fort Smith
Trolley Museum and downtown
Van Buren
• May 12 – Mother’s Day Brunch,
Springdale to Winslow
• May 25 – Annual Troop Train;
veterans ride free
• June 15 – Sunset Tour, Fort Smith
to Winslow, to raise funds for the
Fort Smith Trolley Museum; Sunset
Dinner,Van Buren to Winslow
• June 16 – “Throw Daddy on the
Train,” Springdale to Winslow
• July 4 – Independence Day
• Aug. 31 – Frisco Festival,
Springdale to Rogers
• Sept. 18-21 – Bikes, Blues, & BBQ