Operations Overview
General
The Louisiana Central Railroad Company is
an 86 mile long shortline operating between Monterey, Louisiana and
Bude, Mississippi. The Business Office is located in Monterey,
Louisiana and the Operations Headquarters for the system is in Willis,
Mississippi. Trains operate under timetable and train order
authority. Presently the only trains listed in the timetable are
passenger trains and a pair of general merchandise trains (one east and
one west). All other trains are run as extras, though most
typically depart their respective stations at the same time each day.
Passenger
Passenger traffic consists of four trains, two each direction daily
(except Sundays), providing service between Monterey and Bude, with
intermediate stops at Oneida, Whitcomb, Maynard (flagstop) and Willis.
Riders are primarily workers employed by the local mills and the
Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. There is also mail
and express service offered system wide.
Freight
The general merchandise trains run between Monterey and Bude, with a
stop in Willis. These are a mix of freight coming on and going off
line via the three interchanges, and a small amount of bridge traffic
between the Texas and Pacific Railway and the Mississippi Central
Railroad. The latter business is showing substantial growth lately
as the connecting railroads (and shippers) are finding this a speedy and
practical alternative to freight routed down and through New Orleans.
There are also a pair of locals operating each way daily between
Monterey and Bude. These service all the individual industries on
the line with certain exceptions as mentioned below. Principal
products hauled include crude oil, sand and gravel, food products, rough
sawn lumber, farm supplies and equipment, and general merchandise.
Finally, there is the "wood train" that runs daily from Willis to
Monterey and return. This train serves the G-P mill and the
pulpwood yard at Willis, and the paper products plant in Monterey.
Products include pulpwood and wood chips.
There are occasional express shipments originating on line.
Crawfish exports are a seasonal industry, as well as certain
agricultural products produced locally in and around the prison at
Angola which is located north of Monterey.
Interchange
Interchange is done with the Texas and Pacific Railway daily at
Monterey. The T&P handles the exchange via their branch line
originating a few miles away at their car ferry operation on the
Mississippi River.
There is an interchange connection with the Illinois Central Railroad at
Willis. This is served twice daily by the IC with their north and
south locals running between Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Vicksburg,
Mississippi.
And finally, there is an interchange with the Mississippi Central
Railroad at Bude. Interchange there is on an ongoing basis via the
shared yard trackage.
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