On a spring day earlier this year, I spent the day in Hammond, Louisiana with a few friends. We were gathered at the north end of the Amtrak depot there to shoot the breeze and watch a few trains passing by. Amtrak train #59 arrived at 1:41 PM that day, headed up with one of their new ALC-42 locomotives. The train was there but a few minutes to discharge several passengers, then departed for the last leg of its trip to New Orleans. Photograph recorded on April 29, 2023.
Several years ago I came across this image of a Cass Scenic Railroad train headed up by one of their Shay locomotives. This is in West Virginia and I can’t think of a better railroading scene to represent the fall season and our time of Thanksgiving here in the United States of America. This photograph was taken by Mr. Walter Scriptunas II. The date is unknown to me, but the scene is timeless.
Another of the slides rescued by my friend Ron Findley, GM&O RS1 #1116 is seen here at rest in the servicing area in Bogalusa, Louisiana. The edge of the turntable is located at the left and the sand tower spanning the track just in front of the unit. Note the bunk car beyond and one of those beautiful GM&O cabooses. Again, I’m not sure of the exact date. Your estimate of time would be appreciated.
I’ve mentioned before that I lost my slide collection in the Great Flood of 2016 in South Louisiana. My friend Ron Findley had copies of a few of those images and he sent them to me awhile back. This scan, while a bit poor in its quality, features a Gulf, Mobile and Ohio RS1 locomotive sitting in front of the depot in Bogalusa, Louisiana. I’m not sure of the exact date. I’ve always been rather fond of these locomotives!
In the trackside photograph of the Hammond depot a few posts back, I mentioned that the view presented wasn’t able to be duplicated due to the now present Amtrak platform. The photograph below was taken in 2015 and shows the facility as it looks today.
In March of 1965 I visited the Illinois Central Mays Yard in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. It was right at dusk that day when I spotted this switcher with its cut of cars patiently waiting for a couple Geep locomotives to clear. This view is looking West, with the yard throat just behind us.
The Illinois Central Railroad built a wonderful depot in Hammond, Louisiana back in 1912. And it is still in use today, though in modified form. The track is now owned by the Canadian National Railway, and the passengers are served by Amtrak. It is still a busy place. The views below were recorded in February of 2004.
A bit after sunset on a day in June of 1965, Southern Railway locomotive #2100 is seen hauling its freight train over the underpass at Marconi Drive as it approaches City Park in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This locomotive is an EMD model NW5 built in 1947, the only one owned by the Southern, and one of only 13 built.
The shop area for the railroad is complete . . . well, almost. The Wilsonart laminate is installed, all the baseboards and quarter-round trim are in place, and the plastic coverings have been removed from the shelving above the cabinets. There is still a bit of paint touch-up left. I say “almost complete” as I see the ugly reality that the white paint on the shelving isn’t the same color as the white paint on the cabinets. One would think that white is white but that ain’t so (as the photos show). If it nags me, I’ll have to slap a coat of “new” white over those shelves. Judge for yourself below.
I’ve been working on a “final” list of things left to do and making some pretty good progress. The trim installation is complete in the main train room . . . all that awaits is some caulking, filling of nail holes, and some touch-up paint. After that, all of the remaining layout leg bracing can be reinstalled and the plastic covering removed from the layout.
I’m confident that trains will be rolling this winter! 
In the early 1970s the Southern Railway ran a series of steam powered excursion trains throughout its system. Steam locomotive No. 722, of a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement, is shown here on the return leg of the day’s journey heading for New Orleans, Louisiana from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Mr. Walter Dove, a long time employee of the Southern, is at the throttle.
It’s 2008 and the Kansas City Southern is running their business train to New Orleans in time for the BCS Bowl Championship Game. The locomotives are looking good in their “retro” paint scheme. Shawn Levy has captured this image at a perfect angle, and within excellent surroundings.
The local LSU Tigers prevailed in the contest against the Ohio State Buckeyes, with the final score of 38-24.
Making a station stop is the former Fernwood, Columbia and Gulf Railroad’s motorcar, number M4. She is presently undergoing restoration, and is in operation at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum located in Longleaf, Louisiana. She was donated to the museum some years ago by railfan and historian Louis Saillard. The museum sports a large oval of track running around the perimeter of the compound, and they like to run the motorcar on special occasions.
This photograph was recorded in April of 2011. The restoration of the car had slowed considerably for a number of years. However volunteers have been quite busy recently in the process. She now has glazing in her windows, and much work has occurred in the interior with a new roof liner and a new permanent dashboard for the operator. The exterior sports a new air-horn and rear view mirrors.