Mississippi Rails

W. C. Wood Lumber Co.

Standard gauge, -lb rail

Headquarters: Collins, MS

Mill Location: Collins, MS (Covington County)

                        Mendenhall, MS (Simpson County)

Mill Capacity: Collins- 100,000 ft/day

                        Mendenhall-

Years of Operation: Collins- 1903-1925

                                 Mendenhall- 1925-1930

Miles Operated: 15 miles in 1917

Locomotives Owned: 8 known

Equipment:

Also see: J. M. Russ Lumber Co.

S. H. Hemphill & Son

Gulledge Lbr. Co.

Click Maps for Larger Versions

History by Gil Hoffman:

Collins Mill:

The W. C. Wood Lumber Company was originally a copartnership composed of W. C. Wood, W. B. Allen, E. N. Wood, E. E. Robertson and W. McAlexander. On September 16, 1903 Wood and Robertson transferred a mill site in Collins to the lumber company. This site was adjacent to the mill of S. H. Hemphill & Son. The W. C. Wood Lumber Company was incorporated at Collins, on November 2, 1903 by William C. Wood, W. B. Allen, E. N. Wood and E. E. Robertson with authorized capital stock of $100,000. A double band mill with a cutting capacity of 100,000 feet per day was completed at Collins in early 1904. The partnership sold all its property to the corporation on January 12, 1904 for $83,000 cash. Included in the transfer were 4,436 acres of timber. The company manufactured longleaf yellow pine lumber, flooring, ceiling, finish, lath and shingles. In August 1906 the W. C. Wood Lumber Company was consolidated with the J. M. Russ Lumber Company, which was the successor to S. H. Hemphill & Son.

In May 1910 the sawmill was destroyed by fire with a loss of $35,000. The mill was immediately rebuilt and the company continued to operate a saw and planing mill. On September 1, 1912 one of their mills was shut down, after which they continued to operate the other mill, which had a daily capacity of 75,000 ft.

In August 1917 logging operations were moved to Belpine, Rankin County, with logs shipped to the Collins mill over the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad. In August 1925 the sawmill at Collins was closed and all operations were moved to the newly purchased Gulledge mill at Mendenhall, Simpson County.

The W. C. Wood Lumber Company, of Collins, Covington County, purchased a large tract of timber in Simpson County in June 1916 and in August 1917 moved its woods crews to Simpson County to cut this timber. The logs were hauled to the sawmill in Collins by the company's own equipment over the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad. A logging camp was established at Belpine, just into Rankin County.
On October 18, 1923, the Belpine logging camp and logging railroad were sold to the Elton Lumber Company, of Braxton, Simpson County.
Mendenhall Mill:

On July 27, 1925 the W. C. Wood Lumber Company, of Collins, Covington County, purchased the sawmill plant at Mendenhall, Simpson County, and logging railroad of the Gulledge Lumber Company for $46,000. Part of the deal was that Wood was to pay Gulledge $1.00 per thousand feet each month for logs delivered to the mill. The Gulledge mill contained a band saw, resaw and gang edger. With this purchase, the plant of the W. C. Wood Lumber Company at Collins was closed and all of the employees transferred to Mendenhall, although the company continued to operate a retail yard at Collins. The plant at Mendenhall began sawing around September 1925.

The mill at Mendenhall cut out in 1930.

W. C. Wood Lumber Co. #6 was a 2-6-2 built by Lima. After going through several owners, it ended up on the North Louisiana & Gulf RR, where it is shown here at Hodge, LA on August 9, 1941.

ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:
?                  0-4-4F             Baldwin                  4653                    5-1879                     42                    12x16                      45000

                                  Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL, on 9-22-03.

Built as Long Island R.R. #107, renumb. #203 in 10-1898; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co.

For sale 5-1905.

Baldwin class 8-14⅓ C 43

?                  0-4-4F             Baldwin                  4655                    5-1879                     42                    12x16                      45000

                                 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL, on 4-13-04.

Built as Long Island R.R. #108, renumb. #204 in 10-1898; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co.

For sale 5-1905.

Baldwin class 8-14⅓ C 44

1                  2-6-0               Lima                        1014                    9-1905                     36                    14x18                      59600

                                 Purchased new. Cost $5,500.

Sold to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #882, Atlanta, GA; to Cybur Lumber Co., Cybur, MS, on 11-16-12; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1257, Atlanta, GA; to Kinston Manufacturing Co., Kinston, NC, on 2-13-18; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1496, Atlanta, GA; to Lyon Pine Co., Gulf Pine, FL, on 11-24-19; to Rockett Foundry & Machine Works, Hattiesburg, MS; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1909, Atlanta, GA; to Mutual Crate Co. #1, Avon Park, FL, in 1925.

1st 2            2-6-0               Lima                        1018                    10-1905                   36                    14x18                      59600

                                 Purchased new. Cost $5,500.

Sold to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #886, Atlanta, Ga.; to Wyatt Lumber Co. #2, Wyatt, LA, on 12-11-12; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1281, Atlanta, GA; to Berry-Reeves Lumber Co. #2, Pinebelt, AL, on 3-25-18; to Excelsior Cypress Co., Timberton, LA; to Bomer-Blanks Lumber Co. #2, Blanks, LA, in 1925; to Rockett Foundry & Machine Works, Hattiesburg, MS; to Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #547, Atlanta, GA; to Clancy Logging Co. #2, Midway, FL, on 6-20-25; to McRae Lumber & Manufacturing Co. #2, Midway, FL.

2nd 2          2T Shay         Lima                        2437                    3-1911                     36                    3-12x12                   120000

                                 Purchased from Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1091, Atlanta, GA, on 11-20-16.

Cost $4,650.

Built as Stony Brook Lumber Co. #1, Lopez, PA; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1091.

Transferred to Belpine, MS, about 1917.

                                Sold to Elton Lumber Co., Belpine, MS, in 10-1923; to General Equipment Co., New Orleans, LA, in 8-1924; to Batson &                  Hatten Lumber Co. #11, Lyman, MS, in 10-1924.

3                  2-8-0               Lima                        1067                    4-1908                     40                    15x20                      86000

                                 Purchased new. Cost $9,995.

Transferred to Belpine, MS, about 1917.

Transferred to Mendenhall, MS, in 1925.

6                  2-6-2               Lima                        1103                    11-1909                   46                    15x20                      92200

                                 Purchased new.

Transferred to Belpine, MS, about 1917.

Sold to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1431, Birmingham, Ala.; to Greenville & Northern Ry. #6, Greenville, SC, on 5-31-22; to Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #602, Atlanta, GA; to North Louisiana & Gulf #6, Hodge, LA, in 10-1928.

7                  2T Shay         Lima                        2039                    4-1908                     28                    3-8x12                     64000

                                 Purchased new. Cost $5,700.

Sold to Eureka Lumber Co., Eastabuchie, MS; to A. Marx & Sons, New Orleans, LA (dealer), in 1912; to Gammill Lumber Co. #7, Pelahatchie, MS; to Sherrill Hardwood Lumber Co. #7, Merryville, LA; to Kirby Lumber Co. #97, Merryville, LA, in 1-1926. Scrapped about 3-1929.

1                  3T Shay         Lima                        2156                    3-1909                     36                    3-12x15                   158000

                                 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL, on 4-30-21.

Built as Pine Belt Lumber Co. #3, Fort Towson, OK; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co.

Sold to Elton Lumber Co. #1, Belpine, MS, in 10-1923. Scrapped 1936.

Mendenhall:

2                                          2T Heisler              Heisler                1389                        -1919               36     14x12             80000

                                             Purchased from Gulledge Lumber Co. #2, Mendenhall, MS, on 7-27-25.

3                                          2-8-0                       Lima                    1067                        4-1908             40    15x20             86000

                                             Transferred from W. C. Wood operation at Belpine, MS, in 1925.

                                            Sold to Roseland Veneer & Package Co., Ltd. #3, Roseland, LA.

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Standard gauge, -lb rail Headquarters: Collins, MS Mill Location: Collins, MS (Covington County) Mendenhall, MS (Simpson County) Mill Capacity: Collins- 100,000 ft/day Mendenhall- Years of Operation: Collins- 1903-1925 Mendenhall- 1925-1930 Miles Operated: 15 miles in 1917 Locomotives Owned: 8 known	Equipment: Also see: J. M. Russ Lumber Co. S. H. Hemphill & Son Gulledge Lbr. Co.	Click Maps for Larger Versions
History by Gil Hoffman: Collins Mill: The W. C. Wood Lumber Company was originally a copartnership composed of W. C. Wood, W. B. Allen, E. N. Wood, E. E. Robertson and W. McAlexander. On September 16, 1903 Wood and Robertson transferred a mill site in Collins to the lumber company. This site was adjacent to the mill of S. H. Hemphill & Son. The W. C. Wood Lumber Company was incorporated at Collins, on November 2, 1903 by William C. Wood, W. B. Allen, E. N. Wood and E. E. Robertson with authorized capital stock of $100,000. A double band mill with a cutting capacity of 100,000 feet per day was completed at Collins in early 1904. The partnership sold all its property to the corporation on January 12, 1904 for $83,000 cash. Included in the transfer were 4,436 acres of timber. The company manufactured longleaf yellow pine lumber, flooring, ceiling, finish, lath and shingles. In August 1906 the W. C. Wood Lumber Company was consolidated with the J. M. Russ Lumber Company, which was the successor to S. H. Hemphill & Son. In May 1910 the sawmill was destroyed by fire with a loss of $35,000. The mill was immediately rebuilt and the company continued to operate a saw and planing mill. On September 1, 1912 one of their mills was shut down, after which they continued to operate the other mill, which had a daily capacity of 75,000 ft. In August 1917 logging operations were moved to Belpine, Rankin County, with logs shipped to the Collins mill over the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad. In August 1925 the sawmill at Collins was closed and all operations were moved to the newly purchased Gulledge mill at Mendenhall, Simpson County. The W. C. Wood Lumber Company, of Collins, Covington County, purchased a large tract of timber in Simpson County in June 1916 and in August 1917 moved its woods crews to Simpson County to cut this timber. The logs were hauled to the sawmill in Collins by the company's own equipment over the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad. A logging camp was established at Belpine, just into Rankin County. On October 18, 1923, the Belpine logging camp and logging railroad were sold to the Elton Lumber Company, of Braxton, Simpson County. Mendenhall Mill: On July 27, 1925 the W. C. Wood Lumber Company, of Collins, Covington County, purchased the sawmill plant at Mendenhall, Simpson County, and logging railroad of the Gulledge Lumber Company for $46,000. Part of the deal was that Wood was to pay Gulledge $1.00 per thousand feet each month for logs delivered to the mill. The Gulledge mill contained a band saw, resaw and gang edger. With this purchase, the plant of the W. C. Wood Lumber Company at Collins was closed and all of the employees transferred to Mendenhall, although the company continued to operate a retail yard at Collins. The plant at Mendenhall began sawing around September 1925. The mill at Mendenhall cut out in 1930.
W. C. Wood Lumber Co. #6 was a 2-6-2 built by Lima. After going through several owners, it ended up on the North Louisiana & Gulf RR, where it is shown here at Hodge, LA on August 9, 1941.


ROSTER by Gil Hoffman: ? 0-4-4F Baldwin 4653 5-1879 42 12x16 45000 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL, on 9-22-03. Built as Long Island R.R. #107, renumb. #203 in 10-1898; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. For sale 5-1905. Baldwin class 8-14⅓ C 43 ? 0-4-4F Baldwin 4655 5-1879 42 12x16 45000 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL, on 4-13-04. Built as Long Island R.R. #108, renumb. #204 in 10-1898; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. For sale 5-1905. Baldwin class 8-14⅓ C 44 1 2-6-0 Lima 1014 9-1905 36 14x18 59600 Purchased new. Cost $5,500. Sold to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #882, Atlanta, GA; to Cybur Lumber Co., Cybur, MS, on 11-16-12; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1257, Atlanta, GA; to Kinston Manufacturing Co., Kinston, NC, on 2-13-18; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1496, Atlanta, GA; to Lyon Pine Co., Gulf Pine, FL, on 11-24-19; to Rockett Foundry & Machine Works, Hattiesburg, MS; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1909, Atlanta, GA; to Mutual Crate Co. #1, Avon Park, FL, in 1925. 1st 2 2-6-0 Lima 1018 10-1905 36 14x18 59600 Purchased new. Cost $5,500. Sold to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #886, Atlanta, Ga.; to Wyatt Lumber Co. #2, Wyatt, LA, on 12-11-12; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1281, Atlanta, GA; to Berry-Reeves Lumber Co. #2, Pinebelt, AL, on 3-25-18; to Excelsior Cypress Co., Timberton, LA; to Bomer-Blanks Lumber Co. #2, Blanks, LA, in 1925; to Rockett Foundry & Machine Works, Hattiesburg, MS; to Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #547, Atlanta, GA; to Clancy Logging Co. #2, Midway, FL, on 6-20-25; to McRae Lumber & Manufacturing Co. #2, Midway, FL. 2nd 2 2T Shay Lima 2437 3-1911 36 3-12x12 120000 Purchased from Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1091, Atlanta, GA, on 11-20-16. Cost $4,650. Built as Stony Brook Lumber Co. #1, Lopez, PA; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1091. Transferred to Belpine, MS, about 1917. Sold to Elton Lumber Co., Belpine, MS, in 10-1923; to General Equipment Co., New Orleans, LA, in 8-1924; to Batson & Hatten Lumber Co. #11, Lyman, MS, in 10-1924. 3 2-8-0 Lima 1067 4-1908 40 15x20 86000 Purchased new. Cost $9,995. Transferred to Belpine, MS, about 1917. Transferred to Mendenhall, MS, in 1925. 6 2-6-2 Lima 1103 11-1909 46 15x20 92200 Purchased new. Transferred to Belpine, MS, about 1917. Sold to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1431, Birmingham, Ala.; to Greenville & Northern Ry. #6, Greenville, SC, on 5-31-22; to Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #602, Atlanta, GA; to North Louisiana & Gulf #6, Hodge, LA, in 10-1928. 7 2T Shay Lima 2039 4-1908 28 3-8x12 64000 Purchased new. Cost $5,700. Sold to Eureka Lumber Co., Eastabuchie, MS; to A. Marx & Sons, New Orleans, LA (dealer), in 1912; to Gammill Lumber Co. #7, Pelahatchie, MS; to Sherrill Hardwood Lumber Co. #7, Merryville, LA; to Kirby Lumber Co. #97, Merryville, LA, in 1-1926. Scrapped about 3-1929. 1 3T Shay Lima 2156 3-1909 36 3-12x15 158000 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL, on 4-30-21. Built as Pine Belt Lumber Co. #3, Fort Towson, OK; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. Sold to Elton Lumber Co. #1, Belpine, MS, in 10-1923. Scrapped 1936. Mendenhall: 2 2T Heisler Heisler 1389 -1919 36 14x12 80000 Purchased from Gulledge Lumber Co. #2, Mendenhall, MS, on 7-27-25. 3 2-8-0 Lima 1067 4-1908 40 15x20 86000 Transferred from W. C. Wood operation at Belpine, MS, in 1925. Sold to Roseland Veneer & Package Co., Ltd. #3, Roseland, LA.