Another interesting image from the camera of Mike Palmieri, a northbound local freight headed up by Illinois Central Gulf locomotive #8387. This unit is one of the road’s GP10 models rebuilt at their Paducah Shops in Kentucky in 1974.

Mike caught this train on May 3, 1979 as it was crossing a small creek near Mandeville, Louisiana. Below is the caption to Mike’s photograph.

“The northward local on the ICG’s Shore Line District crosses Little Creek at Bridge NA58.01. The train is between Mandeville and Abita Springs, and about to pass under I-12. It has a typical consist, with 14 cars: three box cars, one covered hopper, two more box cars, six empty pulpwood cars and two gondolas, plus caboose 199034. The two empty C&NW box cars behind the locomotive had been picked up at Imco Services in Lacombe. Imco provided drilling fluids for the extensive oil and gas exploration that was taking place in this area, and C&NW box cars regularly brought in bagged bentonite from Wyoming. Imco also received barite in covered hoppers, but closed after the “oil bust” of 1982.”

I love this scene as it (and the image in last week’s posting) capture the flavor I want to have on my own Louisiana Central model railroad when I eventually get to the scenery and structure details.

Thanks Mike!

The Illinois Central Railroad had an extensive locomotive rebuilding program at one time. The work was performed in groups at their Paducah Shops in Kentucky. The second of these groups of rebuilt locomotives were labeled as GP10 types.

In 1972 the Illinois Central merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio to create the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. The #8397 featured today was originally an I.C. model GP9 built by EMD in January of 1957 as the #9203. She was rebuilt as a GP10 in 1976 during the I.C.G. era as #8397.

Mike Palmieri photographed the locomotive on February 22, 1980 as it was working in Mandeville, Louisiana near the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. I’ll quote Mike’s words as to the description of the scene: “Notice that the engineer is looking towards the rear of the train. He has set out a covered hopper under the Prestressed Concrete Products Co. cement tower in the background and is putting his train back together. This company was formed in 1957 to make components for the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and remained in operation into the 1980’s. It trucked cement from this tower to its plant near the north end of the bridge.”

At one time the Missouri Pacific Railroad operated several car ferries along the Mississippi River. One of those operations was between Natchez, Mississippi and Vidalia, Louisiana. In March of 1982 photographer Ken Albrecht recorded these views of a float approaching, then docking at the landing on the Natchez (east) side of the river.

Although the railroad had seen busier times than this now weekly connection, by 1982 the traffic was down to a trickle. It was fortunate that Ken documented the service as it was discontinued shortly after this in June of 1982.

Back in October of 2017 upon arriving in Hammond, Louisiana, I had reached the last leg of a rail-fanning trip I’d made that day. There I captured this view of a southbound Canadian National freight train as it was picking up speed while approaching the depot. It had been in the siding beyond waiting for northbound Amtrak train #58 to clear.

The Hammond depot is at milepost 859 on the McComb Subdivision of the CN, this line running between Chicago and New Orleans. The track curving to the left is the start of the Hammond Subdivision, and it runs west to Baton Rouge.

My good friend Edgar Dayries traveled out west in (he recalls) October of 1977. His mission was to photograph the Union Pacific’s steam locomotive #8444 on it’s travels through Colorado. He located a spot overlooking the rails and patiently waited for the train to appear. And this is what he was rewarded with.

The big 4-8-4 doesn’t seem to be having any trouble pulling the generous passenger train over these hills. Note that it doesn’t have a diesel locomotive buried in the consist.

The 8444 was originally the 844, but was renumbered when one of those diesels demanded it’s number. But the steamer outlasted the diesel, and when it was retired, it regained it’s original number of 844 which she still carries today.

Nice shot, Edgar!

In April of 2018 my friend Ron Findley and I attended the annual spring railfan gathering of the Southeastern Louisiana Chapter of the N.R.H.S. The event was held in Plaquemine, Louisiana, a small city located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, across from and a bit below Baton Rouge. The Union Pacific Railroad’s mainline between New Orleans and Addis (formerly Texas & Pacific) runs through here, and the track is routed through the center of the city’s old business district, flanked on each side by one-way avenues.

It was a bright and sunny spring day, and we enjoyed several passing trains while there. Eventually Ron and I ventured a bit north from where the group was camped, and we were rewarded by a southbound freight train as it was crossing Bayou Plaquemine on the historic bridge located there. Locomotive #4058, an EMD SD70M, leads the train and is assisted by another UP SD70M locomotive and a pair of Norfolk Southern visitors.

Growing up in New Orleans, this scene in New Orleans really brings back memories for me. The year is 1957 and I would be seeing the world as a nine year old kid. The photographer captured this scene as NOPSI (New Orleans Public Service, Inc.) streetcar #909 waits at the traffic light for the flow of people and automobiles to cross the wide Canal Street in downtown New Orleans. It’s obviously summer, and the typical daily afternoon shower has just ended. This short section of the Canal Street neutral ground (the median) has three tracks rather than the usual pair for the cars traveling in each direction. If you look closely you’ll notice a curved track on the left turning onto St. Charles Avenue. The cars on that line will travel the length of St. Charles, then a distance down Carrollton Avenue before reversing to head back downtown.

The bus seen at far right will only travel a single block before turning to traverse its route elsewhere. Several bus routes in New Orleans will terminate at Canal Street, arriving on a one-way street, turn for the short block down Canal, then head back to their origin via the one-way street running the opposite direction.

Canal Street was the heart of retail business back in the day, and was filled with excellent department stores and smaller specialty stores. You generally dressed fairly well when you went to Canal Street, as it was the “respectable” place to shop. Sadly all those great stores are gone now, and Canal Street has lost its luster. But the streetcars are still running.

Unfortunately I don’t know who the photographer is to credit this image. I will surely post his name if anyone happens to recognize the photo.

Actually, this is a partial re-post of of an entry back in 2017. Ron Findley and I made another of our occasional forays to the Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders club up in Jackson, Louisiana back in March of that year. There once was a small steam powered tourist railroad operation on the property, the Old Hickory Railroad. Unfortunately its operation has been suspended for many years now. The owner has a collection of derelict railroad and farm equipment, most of which is under an open shelter.

Under that shelter are three tiny Plymouth locomotives. They are still in various stages of disassembly, but a fourth had been restored shortly before our visit, and was parked out in the open. Naturally I documented the little critters, and earlier had posted photos of them, along with several other relics stored under the roof.

Presented today is the restored critter (or as women would say, “that cute little thing”).

Ron Findley and I made yet another trip to the Crowell mill property in October of 1999. By then the entire mill complex, including the railroad, had been donated by the family and turned into a museum. The third locomotive there is the #106. She is in the best shape because she is under the roof of the car knocker shed. The only photograph that Ron recorded that day of the 106 was this one. I rather like this image, so decided I’d use it today to wrap up the introduction of the RR&G steam fleet.

This summary is based on information on the RR&G website: Engine #106 is a class 10-32-D #1303 4-6-0. She was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in September of 1923 for the Red River & Gulf Railroad Company at a cost of $29,520. She is similar to the #400 and was the last engine bought for the company. #106 hauled freight trains from Long Leaf to Kurthwood for 22 years. In September of 1945 it switched to the line from Long Leaf to Lecompte. During this time she was sometimes used by Crowell Long Leaf Lumber to haul log trains from Meridian (Evangeline Parish) to Long Leaf. The #106’s last run, and also the last train to be used by the Red River & Gulf before its liquidation, was on March 31, 1953. It was officially retired on April 1, 1953. It has been (cosmetically) restored to its former glory, and is still located in the car knocker shed on the property. If you’re itching to see some photographs of the entire locomotive, you can see them along with additional specs on the RR&G website.

A side-note: If you check those photos on the RR&G website, you’ll notice at bottom left the photograph that Tony Howe used as his inspiration for the wonderful painting that graces the masthead of this blog.

In March of 1988, with our discovery in Long Leaf, the first locomotive that Ron and I came across was the locomotive #400. She was in the woods sitting behind a Clyde double-ended log skidder, surrounded by bushes and trees. And a bit behind her was the engine house (a bit of its roof is seen at the far right of the photo below).

The #400 is of a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement, built by Baldwin for the Crowell & Spencer operation in 1919. She was originally a wood burner, but was later changed to an oil fired locomotive. Apparently at that time they removed the original Rushton cabbage stack and replaced it with the cannon stack she still wears. She’s fairly robust, with an electric headlight, dual 9-inch air pumps, air brakes, and 48-inch driving wheels. She was parked here and retired in 1953.

The locomotive is much easier to view these days. The trees and undergrowth have been cleared out, and I understand that there are plans to eventually get her moved to a more suitable and protected spot. There are some nice photos of the old girl on the Red River & Gulf website. By the way, I highly recommend a visit to the mill and it’s railroad in Long Leaf, Louisiana . . . well worth the visit.