November 25, 1853

The Little Rock and Fort Smith Branch of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company was chartered by the State of Arkansas to construct a line west from what would become North Little Rock (Pulaski County) to a point on the Arkansas River in Indian Territory opposite Fort Smith (Sebastian County). It became the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad Company (LR&FS) on January 22, 1855. Construction was delayed by the Civil War and financial difficulties, and the tracks did not arrive opposite Fort Smith until 1879. The construction of the last few miles was in violation of Indian treaties, so the track was moved back to just north of Van Buren (Crawford County).