Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Hot Springs Railway Company

— Hot Springs Central Avenue Historic District —

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 5, 2022

1. Hot Springs Railway Company Marker

Inscription. The original tracks of the Hot Springs Railway Company covered almost two miles, and its operations began in 1875 with two cars. This was the oldest continuously operating streetcar system in Arkansas. By 1893 electrically operated cars replaced the earlier ones drawn by mules.

Erected by City of Hot Springs.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 34° 30.867′ N, 93° 3.23′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It can be reached from Central Avenue (Arkansas Route 7), on the right when traveling south. Marker is on the sidewalk, next to a lamp post. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 348 Central Ave, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hale Bathhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Springs Utility Improvements (within shouting distance of this marker); Ohio and Southern Clubs (within shouting distance of this marker); The Arlington Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Kenneth Adair Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Maurice Bathhouse

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Superior Bathhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Springs Railroad Improvements (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

Regarding Hot Springs Railway Company. From the Garland County Historical Society:

Hot Springs was the first in Arkansas with animal-drawn streetcars and the second with electric streetcars. David Butterfield’s Hot Springs Railroad Company started in January 1875 with 2 trolleys each initially pulled by a horse (later teams of mules).

Samuel Fordyce, S. H. Stitt, and Charles Maurice, major investors in hotels, bathhouses and other areas of Hot Springs development invested in the HS Railroad Company in 1893. They upgraded the system with new equipment and upgraded the tracks with overhead wires which powered Hot Springs' first electric streetcars.

The HS fire of 1913 destroyed the electric power plant, taking out the electricity so mules were quickly brought back, again providing trolley transportation until electrical power was restored to the city.

"Clang, clang, clang went the trolley..." until October 16, 1938, when the electric street
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 5, 2022

2. Hot Springs Railway Company Marker
cars were replaced by 21 person passenger busses.

Hot Springs Railway trolley image. Click for full size.

Via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), circa 1910

3. Hot Springs Railway trolley

Hot Springs Street Railway image. Click for full size.

Street Railway Journal via Internet Archive (Public Domain), 1907

4. Hot Springs Street Railway

This later (1907) photo shows Hot Springs Street Railroad cars waiting to pick up passengers at an unidentified Hot Springs racetrack.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 935 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 23, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on November 24, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.