Black Bayou Lumber Co. 1904-1907

Southern Lumber Co. 1907-1922

Black Bayou Railroad 1904-1922

Standard gauge, 35-lb rail, later 60-lb rail Headquarters:  Mill Location: Myrtistown, LA (Caddo Parish) Mill Capacity: 50,000 ft/day in 1910 Years of Operation: 1904-1922 Miles Operated:  1907: 12 miles, 3 locomotives, 32 cars. 1910: 11 miles, 3 locomotives, 26 cars. 1917: 28 miles. Locomotives Owned: 3 known	Other Equipment: 12/1918: 3 locomotives, 25 freight cars.	Click Map for Larger Version
History by Gil Hoffman: The Black Bayou Railroad was organized in 1904 and was operated in the interest of the sawmill of the Black Bayou Lumber Company, which had a sawmill at Myrtistown, LA. The lumber company got into financial trouble as a result of the Panic of 1907 and ceased operation. The Southern Lumber Company subsequently purchased the assets and reorganized the Black Bayou Railroad on June 10, 1910, in Texas. The old railroad company in the meantime had forfeited its charter. The new Black Bayou Railroad issued $50,000 in capital stock and was rebuilt and relocated. Its 35-lb steel rail was replaced by 60-lb steel.   The railroad connected with the Kansas City Southern at Myrtistown, LA, and in 1911 extended into the timber for 7 miles, crossing the state line into Texas. In addition to this track, there were 8 miles of logging spurs. The mill of the Southern Lumber Company was located at the junction of the Kand City Southern and the Black Bayou Railroad. The railroad was operated for freight only and in December 1918 extended from Myrtistown, LA westward to Smithland, TX, 15 miles.   The sawmill was rebuilt in 1910, and was equipped with a circular and a gang saw, and had a capacity of 100,000 feet per day. It was destroyed by fire on March 2, 1916, and rebuilt.   REFERENCE   1.  ”The Tap Line Case,” Investigation & Suspension Docket No. 11, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 23, p. 323-4.
ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:      Road No. Type Builder C.N. Date Cyls. Dri. Dia. Engine Wt. Previous Ownership Disposition 3 2-6-0 Davenport 408 9/1905 13x18     New by Black Bayou Lumber Co.   2 37-2 Shay Lima 1788 12/1906 3-10x12 28 74000 Waterman Lumber & Supply Co. #2, Waterman, TX Southern Lumber Co. #2, on ? Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1766 J. R. Wallace Lumber Co. #1, Jackson, AL, on 10/16/1922. Clarke County Saw Mill Co. #1, Jackson, AL, in 3/1924. Sterling Timber Co. #1, Butler, AL, in 4/1924. Tombigbee Logging Co. #5, Coffeeville, AL, in 10/1927. Eureka Sawmill Co. #5, Coffeeville, AL, on 5/15/1929. Scrapped 1933. 3 2-8-0 Davenport 1126 4/1911 16x24     New by Southern Lumber Co.

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