Sumter & Choctaw Railway

Allison Lumber Co.

Standard Gauge Headquarters: Bellamy, AL Years of Operation: 1904- Predecessor Roads: Allison Lumber Co. Successor Roads: none Miles Operated: 22.216  Locomotives Owned:	Equipment: 6/30/1914: Locomotives: 7. Cars: 2 passenger, 5 box, 86 flat, 1 tank, 3 caboose, 14 service.	Click Map for Larger Version
HISTORY by Gil Hoffman: The Sumter & Choctaw Railway was incorporated in Alabama on July 12, 1904, to acquire the railroad of the Allison Lumber Company, extending from Lilita to Whitfield, AL, and to construct and operate a railroad from Bellamy in a southerly direction to Steiner, AL. Through a charter amendment, dated April 22, 1911, the southern terminus was changed to Choctaw City, AL. The date of organization was July 12, 1904. The entire capital stock of $50,000 was owned by E. F. Allison and others, who comprised the board of directors of the Allison Lumber Company.  The railroad connected with the Southern Railway at Lilita, AL. The country traversed from Lilita to Choctaw City was rolling and the longest trestle on the line was 1,500 feet. The line was built primarily to serve the parent Allison Lumber Company. In addition to freight service, passengers, mail and express were hauled. The line from Lilita to Whitfield, AL, 10.00 miles, was bought from the Allison Lumber Company on August 3, 1904. The line from Whitfield to Choctaw City, 12.66 miles, was completed in 1911 and opened for operation on October 1, 1911.  The Allison Lumber Company built it first sawmill, a small circular type, at Bellamy, AL in 1899. Initially the company was a partnership, but was incorporated in 1902. In June 1902 the sawmill cutting capacity was increased. This mill operated continuously until 1922 when it was replaced by a larger plant with an 8-ft. band head saw having a cutting capacity of 75,000 feet per day. The new mill cut both pine and hardwoods.   REFERENCES   1. “Sumter & Choctaw Railway Company,” Valuation Docket No. 426, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 110, p.405-18. 2. “A Word and Pictorial Sketch of the Allison Lumber Company’s Activities at Bellamy, Alabama,” Southern Lumberman, August 2, 1924, p. 44-56.
January 1915 Official Railway Equipment Register- Art Richardson Collection	January 1912 Official Guide of the Railways	March 1937 Official Guide of the Railways- Tony Howe Collection
ROSTER by Gil Hoffman
1   40-2 Shay   Lima   363   7/1891   3-11x12   32   57000   United Lumber Co. #3, Portage Creek, PA Allison Lumber Co. #1, Bellamy, AL Sumter & Choctaw Ry. #1   Allison Lumber Co. #1, Bellamy, AL, by 6/30/1917.   9   0-4-2T   Porter   1828   2/1898   10x14       30000   Geo. W. Dimeling & Co., Lawshe, PA Allison Lumber Co. #9, Bellamy, AL, ca. 1902. Sumter & Choctaw Ry. #9, in 1904.   Retired by 6/30/1917.   100   2-6-0   Baldwin   5694   6/1881   13x18   43   46000   Minneapolis, Lyndale & Minnetonka Ry. #12 Dr. Wm. B. Hawkes.  Built 36" gauge. Minneapolis Street Ry. #12, in 1889. Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Ry. #322, in 1891. Rebuilt to std. gauge, 9/1891. Wisconsin & Chippewa Ry. #999., in 2/1897. Marinette, Tomahawk & Western Ry. #999, Marinette, WI, in 6/1898. Re. #3. F. M. Hicks Co., Chicago, IL, (dealer), in 7/1904. Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. Allison Lumber Co. #100, Bellamy, AL, in 6/1905. Sumter & Choctaw Ry. #100   Scrapped ca. 1938.   7   28-2 Shay   Lima   1916   6/1907   3-8x10   26½   47140   New, via Bellamy Supply Co.   Allison Lumber Co. #7, Bellamy, AL, by 6/30/1917. For sale 1/1926.   11   28-2 Shay   Lima   2118   3/1909   3-8x10   27½   47600   Allison Lumber Co. #11, Bellamy, AL Lettered “Sumter & Choctaw Ry. Co.”   Allison Lumber Co. #11, Bellamy, AL, by 6/30/1917. Scrapped ca. April 1928.   8   4-6-0   Rhode Island   2364   8/1890   18x24   56   100000   Macon Construction Co. #223, Macon, GA Macon & Birmingham Ry. #223, on 5/25/1896. Georgia Southern & Florida #134 Hawkinsville & Florida Southern Ry., Macon, GA, in 1906. Sumter & Choctaw Ry. #8, in 1914   In service 6/30/1917.   101   2-6-0   Baldwin   18719   2/1901   19x24   51   104000   Alabama & Vicksburg Ry. #408 Sumter & Choctaw Ry. #101, in 1916. Baldwin class 8-32 D 599   In service 6/30/1917.   102   2-8-2   Baldwin   57778   4/1924   17x24   44   122000   New via Allison Lumber Co. Cost $23,330. Baldwin class 12-28¼ E 26   Retired 6/1961 due to cracked boiler. National Railroad Museum, Inc., Green Bay, WI, in 8/1964.   103   2-6-2   Baldwin   58754   10/1925   15x20   44   89000   New via Allison Lumber Co. Cost $16,900. Baldwin class 10-24¼ D 160   Empire State Railway Museum, Middletown, NY, in 1961, for use in excursion service. Valley R.R. #103, in 1970.

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