Mississippi Central Railroad

Standard Gauge, 77.5 and 80-lb rail Headquarters: Hattiesburg, MS (Forrest Co.) Years of Operation: 1904-1967 Predecessor Roads: Pearl & Leaf Rivers Successor Roads: Illinois Central  Miles Operated:  Natchez to Pines: 164.0 miles Hattiesburg to Tallahala: 12 miles Locomotives Owned: See roster below	See also: J. J. Newman Lumber Co. Equipment: On Dec 31, 1916- 16 locomotives, 12 passenger cars, 1 combine, 5 baggage, mail & express, 96 box, 838 flats, 40 ballast, 4 coal, 6 cabooses, 23 other (per Poor's Manual)	Click Map for Larger Version Google Earth Map HERE
History by David Price and Tony Howe:             As the Pearl & Leaf Rivers Railroad was expanded, the new goal to reach Natchez was chosen and the railroad was renamed the Mississippi Central on February 13, 1904.  In 1908 the much publicized first through passenger train was pulled from Hattiesburg to Natchez by engineer A. S. Trigg. The J. J. Newman Lumber Company, owner of the Mississippi Central, was huge. By 1905 its timber holdings had reached 400,000 acres and the company estimated its total capital investment at $26,000,000. Another huge sawmill was built at Bude in 1912, and called the Homochitto Lumber Co. The Mississippi Central tied these mills together, provided a backbone to many logging branches that supplied these mills, and gave ready and profitable choices of outlets for finished lumber. J. J. Newman, Homochitto, and the Mississippi Central were part of the holdings of the United States Lumber Company, whose president and prime-mover was Fenwick Peck. In 1921, the Mississippi Central adopted a new slogan, “The Natchez Route,” and for several exciting years did a brisk through-freight business between Natchez and the port city of Mobile utilizing leased trackage between Hattiesburg and Beaumont and trackage rights over the Gulf, Mobile & Northern to Mobile. Five new mikado locomotives were purchased new in 1921 to handle the increased business. The 1920's proved to be the pinnacle of profit and tonnage for the Mississippi Central. Mississippi Central also operated two additional branches out of Hattiesburg. Construction started on what was called the “Pascagoula Extension” in 1906. It was planned to complete this line to Pascagoula to give the company an outlet to the Gulf. For various reasons, the line was never completed more than 14 miles to a point called “Pines.” Its primary function was to tap Newman timber lands east of the G&SI, and many miles of logging spurs were built by the lumber company eastward off of it. It also became the  basis of Mississippi Central’s access to Camp Shelby during World War I. The line was removed in 1921, but was quickly relaid in 1941 to serve Camp Shelby, only to be removed again after World War II. The second branch was even more short-lived. On November 23, 1921, MSC leased a 12-mile branch extending east from Hattiesburg to a point known as Tallahala in Perry County. This line had been built as the logging railroad of the Tallahala Lumber Co. in 1917 and logs were hauled by the G&SI to Tallahala’s mill at Ora, near Collins. In 1921, Major-Sowers Saw Mill Co. bought the logging railroad and timber land, and built a large sawmill at Tallahala. After this mill cut out in January 1929, the line was quickly abandoned.  Mississippi Central survived the closing of the big mills in the early 1930's. Location of a $30-million paper mill on the MSC at Ferguson on the east side of the Pearl River in the mid-1960's spelled the end of Mississippi Central ownership. Heavy debts made further capital investment by the railroad extremely difficult. In 1965 an agreement was reached for the Illinois Central to purchase the Mississippi Central, and this became a fact on March 29, 1967. After several years of more or less business-as-usual operation, through traffic to Natchez was discontinued. Finally the eastern segment was abandoned between the paper mill at Ferguson and Hattiesburg. Rails were finally removed in the early 1990's, and a popular hiking and biking trail, the Longleaf Trace, now occupies the right-of-way between Hattiesburg and Prentiss.     NOTE: There were two other railroads in Mississippi named Mississippi Central RR. The first Mississippi Central RR operated 1855-1874 between Canton, MS and Jackson, TN and Cairo, IL. The newest Mississippi Central RR operates between Grand Jct., TN and Oxford, MS and was formed in 1993.
An early view at Mississippi Central's engine facility at Hattiesburg.	Mississippi Central's main shops at Hattiesburg.	Mississippi Central's depot at Bude on the left and the Homochitto Lumber Co.'s office on the right.
Mississippi Central 105 was built new by Alco-Brooks in 1904. Here fireman Ed Berry and engineer Spec Brinson pose with the 105 at Hattiesburg on October 3, 1931.	Mississippi Central 100 at the depot in Natchez in 1910.	Mississippi Central combine 293
An early MSC passenger train at the Hotel Hattiesburg, which MSC and G&SI used as their passenger depot in Hattiesburg.	Mississippi Central 150 and 141 doublehead on a freight 52 leaving Brookhaven for Hattiesburg in June 1953.	Mississippi Central motorcar 300 was built by the Four Wheel Drive Auto Co. in the early 1920's when the MSC leased GM&N branch from Hattiesburg to Beaumont. After the railroad lost that lease, the cars sat unused at the shops in Hattiesburg, where this photo was taken on August 3, 1938.
The east end of the Mississippi Central yard looking west on May 1, 1948. The large shop building is just out of the photo to the right.		Excellent view of 4-6-0 Number 115 at Brookhaven on September 10, 1948.
Mississippi Central 150 at Brookhaven in 1953.	MSC 101 at Brookhaven on February 28, 1941.	Train 1 leaving Brookhaven.
150 and 141 at Brookhaven yard in April 1953.	MSC 115 with a westbound work train at Brookhaven in November 1948.	2-8-2 Number 123 on the passenger train at Brookhaven.
Mississippi Central converted a number of flats, such as 8007, to pulpwood cars starting in the 1920's.	Mississippi Central's office building on Bouie St. near the shops in Hattiesburg on Sept. 4, 1952.	MSC 201 leads a westbound freight out of the Hattiesburg yard on June 3, 1953.
202 and 201 at Hattiesburg in 1966.	The black SW9 is a hint of things to come as the merger into Illinois Central is about a year away in this 1966 photo at Hattiesburg.	MSC 211, an EMD GP28 was built in 1964.
Mississippi Central's classic depot at Sumrall in 1970.	Pullman-Standard 40' boxcar 5002.	MSC No. 124 switches Hattiesburg yard, a regular assignment for the engine.
MSC 36' boxcar 101 was still used for company service in 1966.	The depot in Bude has been preserved.	Mississippi Central's depot in Roxie in 1954.
Mississippi Central caboose B-13 in color.	MSC B-18 at Brookhaven in December 1937.	Caboose B-11 at Brookhaven tower on an arriving freight on July 26, 1948.
Caboose B-14 in the Hattiesburg caboose track on Sept. 3, 1952.	Caboose B-19 was rebuilt from what appears to be an ex-Southern Railway SU-class 36' boxcar.	Caboose B-12 at Hattiesburg in August 1966.
MSC caboose 1 at Hattiesburg in 1966.	The Mississippi Central depot at Bassfield looking east. Today the Longleaf Trace, a popular hiking and biking trail occupies the mainline right-of-way here.	The MSC depot at Prentiss didn't last much longer after this photo taken on June 26, 1974.
September 1910 Official Guide of the Railways	Mississippi Central's 3 track stub terminal at Natchez about 1970.	January 1915 Official Railway Equipment Register- Art Richardson Collection
October 1919 Official Railway Equipment Register- Art Richardson Collection	December 1930 Official Railway Equipment Register- Art Richardson Collection	July 1950 Official Railway Equipment Register- Art Richardson Collection
March 1937 Official Guide of the Railways- Tony Howe Collection	July 1907 Official Guide of the Railways
Steam Roster by Dr. Gilbert Hoffman     Road No. Type Builder C.N. Date Cyls. Dri. Dia. Engine Wt. Previous Ownership Disposition Photos 75 No Data             Pearl & Leaf Rivers R.R. #3 or #11, Mississippi Central #75. Out of service 11/30/1909. Scrapped 11/1910.     98 4-4-0 A/Schenectady 45921 2/1909 19x26 69 136000 New. Cost $11,329. Comite Southern #98, Amite, LA, in 1946. Louisiana Eastern #98, Shiloh, LA Thomas C. Marshall, Jr., Wilmington, DE, in 1/1960 to Wilmington & Western #98, Wilmington, DE (still in service).   1st 99 0-4-2 Brooks 699 4/1882 16x22 50 58500 Chicago & Atlantic #4. Chicago & Erie #404, in 8/1890. Erie R.R. #26, in 1895. J. J. Newman Lumber Co. #2, Hattiesburg, MS, in 6/1897. Pearl & Leaf Rivers #2 Mississippi Central 1st #99, on 2/13/1904. Dropped from equipment by 2/1909.   2nd 99 4-4-0 A/Schenectady 45922 2/1909 19x26 69 136000 New. Cost $11,329. Scrapped by Shemper Brothers, Hattiesburg, MS, in 12/1942.   100 4-4-0 Baldwin 26510 9/1905 18x24 68 113000 New. Cost $10,694. Baldwin class 8/30 C 620 Scrapped by Shemper Brothers, Hattiesburg, MS, in 12/1942.   101 4-4-0 U.P. Omaha Shops   10/1891 18x26 62   Union Pacific #838 (see Note 1) Hicks Locomotive & Car Works #1018, Chicago, IL, in 1904. Mississippi Central #101, in 12/1904. Cost $5,506 plus $207 freight from Chicago. New ALCO boiler #74938 installed in 1922. Shemper Brothers, Hattiesburg, MS, in 1/1943 (for scrap).   102 4-4-0 Baldwin 27222 1/1906 18x24 68 113000 New. Cost $10,768. Baldwin class 8-30 C 631 Shemper Brothers, Hattiesburg, MS, in 1/1943 (for scrap).   103 2-6-0 Rogers 2937 2/1882 18x24 50 84100 Alabama Great Southern #30. Re. #130. See Note 2. Mississippi Central #103, in 1906. Traded to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1661, on 2/28/1921 in partial payment on 2nd #107. Kanfla Lumber Co., Holt, FL, on 8/23/1922. 104 2-6-0 D. & H.     18x24 54 96400 Delaware & Hudson #? Mississippi Central #104. by 11/1906 Out of service 11/30/1909. Ingram-Day Lumber Co. #7, Lyman, MS, on 3/21/1911, for $1,000. 105 2-8-0 A/Brooks 29527 2/1904 19x26 50 140000 Pearl & Leaf Rivers #12 Mississippi Central #105, on 2/13/1904. No record. 106 2-8-0 Baldwin 3841 3/1876 20x24 50 93600 Pennsylvania R.R. #120. New York Equipment Co., New York, NY, in 1/1897. Kentucky & Indiana Bridge Co. #6, Louisville, KY. Pearl & Leaf Rivers #6, on 9/30/1901. Changed to 0-8-0. Mississippi Central #106, on 2/13/1904. Baldwin class 10-34 E 20 Changed back to 2-8-0. J. J. Newman Lumber Co. #19, Hattiesburg, MS. 1st 107 2-8-0 Baldwin 21962 4/1903 20x24 50 128000 Pearl & Leaf Rivers #9.                                   Mississippi Central 1st #107, on 2/13/1904. Baldwin class 10-34 E 1665 J. J. Newman Lumber Co. #18, Sumrall, MS, on 3/4/1916. Homochitto Lumber Co. #18, Bude, MS, after 9/1928.     2nd 107 0-6-0 Baldwin     18x24 44   International Pipe & Supply Co. Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1653. Mississippi Central 2nd #107, on 2/28/1921. Cost $6,000 with $1,000 allowed in trade on #103. Retired 1927.   108 4-6-0 Baldwin 25665 5/1905 19x26 56 140000 New. Cost $12,360. Baldwin class 10-32 D 929 Scrapped 1927.   109 4-6-0 Baldwin 26733 10/1905 19x26 56 140000 New. Cost $12,363. Baldwin class 10-32 D 930 Scrapped 8/1926.   110 4-6-0 Baldwin 26740 10/1905 19x26 56 140000 New. Cost $12,363. Baldwin class 10-32 D 931 Lamar Lumber Co. #110, Bogalusa, LA, in 5/1930.   111 4-6-0 Baldwin 21220 11/1902 18x24 56 124000 Pearl & Leaf Rivers #8. Mississippi Central #111, on 2/13/1904. Baldwin class 10-30 D 437 Scrapped at Hattiesburg, MS, in 1/1930.   112 4-6-0 Baldwin 30353 3/1907 19x26 56 140000 New. Cost $12,600. Baldwin class 10-32 D 1010 Scrapped at Hattiesburg, MS, in 2/1934.   113 4-6-0 Baldwin 31022 6/1907 19x26 56 140000 New. Cost $12,600. Baldwin class 10-32 D 1011 Scrapped by Shemper Brothers, Hattiesburg, MS, in 12/1942.             114 4-6-0 Baldwin 31023 6/1907 19x26 56 140000 New. Cost $12,600. Baldwin class 10-32 D 1012 Scrapped by Shemper Brothers, Hattiesburg, MS, in 12/1942. 115 4-6-0 Baldwin 31037 6/1907 19x26 56 140000 New. Cost $12,600. Baldwin class 10-32 D 1013 Jaffe-Wohl Iron & Metal Co., Birmingham, AL, in 11/1948 (for scrap).   116-119 Vacant   Road No. Type Builder C.N. Date Cyls. Dri. Dia. Engine Wt. Previous Ownership Disposition Photos 120 2-8-2 A/Brooks 63072 7/1921 20x28 56 177000 New. Cost $35,600. Louisiana Eastern #14, Shiloh, LA, on 7/15/1953. Scrapped 1963. 121 2-8-2 A/Brooks 63073 7/1921 20x28 56 177000 New. Cost $35,600. Southwest Steel Co., Memphis, TN, in 6/1953 (for scrap). 122 2-8-2 A/Brooks 63074 7/1921 20x28 56 177000 New. Cost $35,600. Southwest Steel Co., Memphis, TN, in 6/1953 (for scrap). 123 2-8-2 A/Brooks 63167 11/1921 20x28 56 178000 New. Cost $31,000. Southwest Steel Co., Memphis, TN, in 6/1953 (for scrap). 124 2-8-2 A/Brooks 63168 11/1921 20x28 56 178000 J. J. Newman Lumber Co. #20, Hattiesburg, MS Mississippi Central #124, in 12/1935. Cost $8,000. Green Brothers Gravel Co. #124, Franklinton, LA, in 6/1953. Scrapped 9/1965.                                                 125-129            Vacant   Road No. Type Builder C.N. Date Cyls. Dri. Dia. Engine Wt. Previous Ownership Disposition Photos 130 2-8-2 A/Brooks 65351 12/1923 20x28 54 177000              New. Cost $37,000. Southwest Steel Co., Memphis, TN, in 6/1953 (for scrap). 131 2-8-2 A/Brooks 65352 12/1923 20x28 54 177000 New. Cost $37,000. Southwest Steel Co., Memphis, TN, in 6/1953 (for scrap). See Note 3.                                                                                                 132-139            Vacant   Road No. Type Builder C.N. Date Cyls. Dri. Dia. Engine Wt. Previous Ownership Disposition Photos 140 2-8-2 A/Schen 64915 9/1923 23x28            54 251000 New. Cost $49,745. Louisiana Eastern #16, Shiloh, LA,, in 6/1954. Feliciana Eastern #16, Bluff Creek, LA, in 1/1956. Scrapped 9/1961. 141 2-8-2 A/Schen. 64916 9/1923                23x28 54 251000 New. Cost $49,745. Green Brothers Gravel Co. #141, Georgetown, MS, in 6/1953. City of Georgetown, MS (for display). 142 2-8-2 A/Schen. 68041 9/1929 23x28 54 255000 New. Cost $51,693. Southwest Steel Co., Memphis, TN, in 6/1953 (for scrap).   143-149            Vacant   Road No. Type Builder C.N. Date Cyls. Dri. Dia. Engine Wt. Previous Ownership Disposition Photos 150 4-6-2 A/Rich. 53199 3/1913 25x26 61 248733 Illinois Central #1117. Re. #2077, on 8/19/1942. Mississippi Central #150, on 7/16/1948. Cost $5,000 plus $16,206.56 for Class III overhaul at I. C. McComb Shops. DeBardeleben Coal Corp. #104, Holt, AL, in 6/1953. Scrapped 4/1957. 151 4-6-2 A/Schen. 49186 11/1910 25x26 61 248733 Illinois Central #1064. Re. #2075, on 5/12/1942. Mississippi Central #151, on 11/2/48. Cost $5,000. See Note 4. DeBardeleben Coal Corp. #105, Holt, AL, in 6/1953. Scrapped 9/1961. 152 4-6-2 A/Schen. 40355 10/1906 25x26 61 248733 Illinois Central #1036. Re. #2030, on 12/8/1942. Mississippi Central #152, on 1/22/1949. Cost $5,000 plus $25,539.42 for Class III overhaul at I. C. McComb Shops. Southwest Steel Co., Memphis, TN, in 6/1953 (for scrap).   Note 1. Union Pacific #838 rebuilt at Omaha Shops from U. P. #767 (Rogers c.n. 3846 11/1887), a Mother Hubbard 4-4-0. Only the chassis of No. 767 was retained in building No. 838; the remainder was built new.   Note 2. No. 103 is thought to have come from the Camp & Hinton Co., at Lumberton, MS.   Note 3. No. 131 was scrapped at Hattiesburg after derailment 6/4/1953 enroute to Memphis, TN.   Note 4. No. 151 was leased to Miss. Central on 5/13/1948 at $30 per day with rental applied toward purchase price.   REFERENCE   1. “Mississippi Central Railroad Company,” Valuation Docket No. 1472. Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 135, p.286-326.      Steam Roster by Gilbert H. Hoffman
Diesel Roster      Road No. Model Builder Frame Number Serial Number Date Built Previous Ownership Disposition Photos 201 SW9   EMD   6503-1   17988 4-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Illinois Central #1237 on 3-29-1967. to Illinois Central Gulf #1237 on 8-10-1972. rebuilt to SW14B slug and renumbered #52 in 9-1981. sold for scrap 6-1987.   Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE 202 SW9   EMD   6503-2   179889 4-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Illinois Central #1238 on 3-29-1967. to Illinois Central Gulf #1238 on 8-10-1972. rebuilt to SW14B slug and renumbered #53 in 9-1981   Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE 203 SW9   EMD   6503-3   17990 4-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Illinois Central #1239 on 3-29-1967. to Illinois Central Gulf #1239 on 8-10-1972. rebuilt to SW14 in 8-1978 and renum. to #1410 to National Railway Equipment Co. (NREX) #1410 on 4-4-1995   Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE 204 SW9   EMD   6503-4   17991 4-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Chicago Short Line #27 in 4-1967.   Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE 205 SW9   EMD   6503-5   17992 4-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Illinois Central #1240 on 3-29-1967. to Illinois Central Gulf #1240 on 8-10-1972. to Cedar Chemical Co. in 1984   206 SW9   EMD   6503-6   179993 4-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Illinois Central #1241 on 3-29-1967. to Illinois Central Gulf #1241 on 8-10-1972. rebuilt to SW14 in 1978 and renum. to #1419   Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE 207 SW9   EMD 6503-7   17994 4-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Illinois Central #1242 on 3-29-1967. to Illinois Central Gulf #1242 on 8-10-1972. rebuilt to SW14B slug and renumbered #51 in 9-1981   Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE 208 SW9   EMD   6503-8   17995 4-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Chicago Short Line #26 in 4-1967. to LTV Steel #1201, Hammond, IN by 1990.   Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE 209 SW9   EMD   6503-9   17996 5-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Illinois Central #1243 on 3-29-1967. to Illinois Central Gulf #1243 on 8-10-1972. rebuilt to SW14B slug and renumbered #55 in 1981. to National Railway Equipment Co.  to Indiana Harbor Belt #PB5 in 1995 to Larry's Truck Electric Co. 2005 to Birmingham Southern #304 in 2- 2006 to Fairfield Southern #304   Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE 210 SW9   EMD   6503-10   17997 5-1953  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Chicago, West Pullman & Southern #51 in 2-1966 to Chicago Rail Link #51 by 1989   Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE 211 GP28   EMD 5670-1    29593 9-1964  Bought new by Mississippi Central RR. to Illinois Central #9441 on 3-29-1967. to Illinois Central Gulf #9441 on 8-10-1972. to West Tennessee RR #9441 1984 to Ashley Drew & Northern #1816 in 5-1990 to Arkansas Louisiana & Mississippi #1816 ca. 1991 Link to additional rrpicturearchives photos of this locomotive HERE

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