Mississippian Railroad

Standard Gauge,  lb. rail

Headquarters: Fulton, MS (Itawamba County)

Years of Operation: 1923-present

Predecessor road: none 

Successor road: none

Miles Operated: 44

Locomotives Owned: steam-5 diesel- ?

Equipment

 

Click Map for Larger Version

Google Earth Map HERE

History by Tony Howe:

The Mississippian was incorporated in 1923 and built a railroad from Amory to Fulton, MS. John T Cochrane, who had just finished completing the Alabama Tennessee & Northern RR, was the major promoter and builder of the railroad. The discovery of large deposits of Bentonite clay in the 1950's bolstered the Mississippian's carloadings and ensured the survival of the railroad for many more years. It continues to operate in 2009 serving an industrial park in the south part of Fulton.

Mississippian's engine facilities at Amory.

Mississippian 76 makes its way through the weeds in the 1960's. 

Mississippian 76 about to cross the highway at Smithville in 1966.

Mississippian 76 switching in 1962.

Mississippian Alco S-2 at the Smithville loader.

No. 314 with train between Amory and Fulton.

Mississippian's caboose was bought secondhand from the Frisco.

Pan shot of Mississippian 77 about 1957.

View from 76 looking out of the shop at Amory.

Mississippian's picturesque shops at Amory.

76 passes a Bentonite plant that provided much-needed traffic to the Mississippian.

76 at the Mississippian depot at Fulton.

Mississippian 77 makes its way along the weed-covered mainline about 1957.

Mississippian No. 10 was a former AT&N locomotive. It is shown here at Amory in June 1940.

March 1937 Official Guide of the Railways- Tony Howe Collection

Jonesboro, Lake City & Eastern 41 became Mississippian 77 in 1947 when it was bought from the Frisco, who had taken over the Arkansas shortline in 1926. 

 

STEAM ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:

 

 

 

Road No.

 

Type

 

Builder

 

C.N.

 

Date

 

Cyls.

 

Dri. Dia.

 

Engine

Wt.

 

Previous Ownership

 

Disposition

 

661

 

2-6-0

 

Baldwin

 

11468

 

12/1890

 

18x24

 

53

 

100000

 

South Florida #28.

Savannah, Florida & Western #228, in 1893.

Atlantic Coast Line #661,  in 1902.

Mississippian #661, on 9/14/1923.

Baldwin class 8-30 D 391

 

Scrapped 1935.

 

10

 

2-6-0

 

Baldwin

 

31844

 

10/1907

 

17x24

 

48

 

100000

 

Alabama, Tennessee & Northern #10.

Mississippian #10, in 1925.

Baldwin class 8-28 D 250

 

Scrapped at Birmingham, AL, in 1947.

 

36

 

0-6-0

 

Lima

 

1183

 

10/1911

 

20x26

 

51

 

145000

 

 Mobile & Ohio #36.

Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #36, in 8/1940.

Mississippian #36, in 1941.

 

Amory Sand & Gravel Co. #36, Amory, MS, ca. 1946.

Scrapped 1948.

 

76

 

2-8-0

 

Baldwin

 

54265

 

12/1920

 

19x24

 

48

 

135800

 

Jonesboro, Lake City & Eastern #40, Jonesboro, AR

St. Louis San Francisco #76, on 3/18/1926.

Mississippian #76, on 1/10/1948.

Baldwin class 10-32 E 174

 

Penn View Mountain R.R. #76, Blairsville, PA, in 9/1967.

Gettysburg R.R. #76, Gettysburg, PA, in 10/1976.

 

77

 

2-8-0

 

Baldwin

 

54266

 

12/1920

 

19x24

 

48

 

135800

 

Jonesboro, Lake City & Eastern #41, Jonesboro, AR

St. Louis San Francisco #77, on 3/17/1926.

Mississippian #77, on 3/12/1947.

Baldwin class 10-32 E 175

 

Muscle Shoals Railroad Club, Tuscumbia, AL, in 1968.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                          

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For more information contact Tony Howe at tonyhowe76@yahoo.com or David S. Price at davidsprice46@gmail.com

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