Mississippi & Alabama Railroad
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Standard Gauge, 52 lb. rail Headquarters: Vinegar Bend, AL Years of Operation: 1922-1950 Predecessor road: Alabama & Mississippi Successor road: none Miles Operated: 16.945 Locomotives Owned: 3 |
Equipment 2 locomotives, 4 freight cars, 1 motor bus, 2 work cars in 1928 |
Click Map for Larger Version |
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History by Gil Hoffman: The
Mississippi & Alabama Railroad was incorporated in Mississippi on
August 12, 1922, to acquire and operate 16.945 miles of railroad extending
from Leakesville, Mississippi to Vinegar Bend, Alabama, formerly part of
the Alabama & Mississippi Railroad, which was purchased at bankruptcy
sale by the Leakesville Investment Company. The line was operated under
lease for an annual rental of $5,000. It connected with the Mobile &
Ohio at Vinegar Bend, Alabama. Authorized
capital stock was $6,000 which was issued to allow purchase of the
following equipment: one 50-ton locomotive, $2,500; one 56-ton locomotive,
$3,500, and three flat cars at $200 each. The
original railroad was constructed as a logging road by the Vinegar Bend
Lumber Company about the turn of the century, and was operated as a common
carrier for about 20 years until abandonment was authorized by the I. C.
C. on October 21, 1921. The
country traversed was rolling, except for the last few miles on the west
end hear the Chickasawhay River, where it was low and flat. The region was
originally heavily timbered, but by the late 1920's the timber had been
mostly cut off. The principal industry was logging and the manufacture of
lumber. The road served a large sawmill at Leakesville and a veneer plant
at Dueitt. The only metal bridge on the road was over the Chickasawhay
River, 153 feet in length, and consisting of one through, pin-connected,
truss span and two pile piers. As a result of unprofitable operation, abandonment of the entire line was authorized by the I. C. C. in February 1950 and operations were discontinued on March 31, 1950.
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M&A tracks at Rounsaville, MS. |
M&A 4 takes water. |
M&A 62 was an old Mobile & Ohio 2-6-0. It is seen here at Leakesville on May 2, 1938. |
M&A 4 "wooding up" at Leakesville. M&A was considered the country's last woodburning common carrier. |
M&A 4 making its way through second-growth pine forest. |
Number 4 switches at the veneer mill at Dueitt. |
Number 4 at Leakesville. |
M&A's caboose 201 at Vinegar Bend. |
M&A fireman and engineer. |
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M&A's depot at Leakesville about 1940. |
Photographer Bill Witbeck enjoyed a cab ride on the M&A on at least one occasion. |
The wood trestle approach to the east side of the Chickasawhay River bridge. |
M&A's bridge over the Chickasawhay River at Leakesville. |
M&A's shops at Leakesville were just east of the depot. |
M&A's depot in Leakesville was still standing and used as a feed store. This photo taken in 1996. It has since been demolished, unfortunately.
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M&A 62 switching loads of pulpwood east of the veneer mill. |
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M&A's railcar provided passenger service between Vinegar Bend and Leakesville. It is shown here on the short turntable at Leakesville used to turn the rail car. |
M&A's caboose at the GM&O depot in Vinegar Bend, which was also used by the M&A. |
 March 1937 Official Guide of the Railways- Tony Howe Collection |
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If you have additional photos or information, please contact Tony Howe at tonyhowe76@yahoo.com David S. Price at davidsprice46@gmail.com or Brian Johnston at johnston127235@bellsouth.net
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