Black Bayou Lumber Co. 1904-1907

Southern Lumber Co. 1907-1922

Black Bayou Railroad 1904-1922

Standard gauge, 35-lb rail, later 60-lb rail

Headquarters

Mill Location: Myrtistown, LA (Caddo Parish)

Mill Capacity: 50,000 ft/day in 1910

Years of Operation: 1904-1922

Miles Operated

1907: 12 miles, 3 locomotives, 32 cars.

1910: 11 miles, 3 locomotives, 26 cars.

1917: 28 miles.

Locomotives Owned: 3 known

Other Equipment:

12/1918: 3 locomotives, 25 freight cars.

 

Click Map for Larger Version

History by Gil Hoffman:

The Black Bayou Railroad was organized in 1904 and was operated in the interest of the sawmill of the Black Bayou Lumber Company, which had a sawmill at Myrtistown, LA. The lumber company got into financial trouble as a result of the Panic of 1907 and ceased operation. The Southern Lumber Company subsequently purchased the assets and reorganized the Black Bayou Railroad on June 10, 1910, in Texas. The old railroad company in the meantime had forfeited its charter. The new Black Bayou Railroad issued $50,000 in capital stock and was rebuilt and relocated. Its 35-lb steel rail was replaced by 60-lb steel.  

The railroad connected with the Kansas City Southern at Myrtistown, LA, and in 1911 extended into the timber for 7 miles, crossing the state line into Texas. In addition to this track, there were 8 miles of logging spurs. The mill of the Southern Lumber Company was located at the junction of the Kand City Southern and the Black Bayou Railroad. The railroad was operated for freight only and in December 1918 extended from Myrtistown, LA westward to Smithland, TX, 15 miles.  

The sawmill was rebuilt in 1910, and was equipped with a circular and a gang saw, and had a capacity of 100,000 feet per day. It was destroyed by fire on March 2, 1916, and rebuilt.

 

REFERENCE

 

1.  ”The Tap Line Case,” Investigation & Suspension Docket No. 11, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 23, p. 323-4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:   

 

Road No.

Type

Builder

C.N.

Date

Cyls.

Dri. Dia.

Engine

Wt.

Previous Ownership

Disposition

3

2-6-0

Davenport

408

9/1905

13x18

 

 

New by Black Bayou Lumber Co.

 

2

37-2

Shay

Lima

1788

12/1906

3-10x12

28

74000

Waterman Lumber & Supply Co. #2, Waterman, TX

Southern Lumber Co. #2, on ?

Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1766

J. R. Wallace Lumber Co. #1, Jackson, AL,

on 10/16/1922.

Clarke County Saw Mill Co. #1, Jackson, AL,

in 3/1924.

Sterling Timber Co. #1, Butler, AL, in 4/1924.

Tombigbee Logging Co. #5, Coffeeville, AL,

in 10/1927.

Eureka Sawmill Co. #5, Coffeeville, AL,

on 5/15/1929.

Scrapped 1933.

3

2-8-0

Davenport

1126

4/1911

16x24

 

 

New by Southern Lumber Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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For more information contact Tony Howe at tonyhowe76@yahoo.com or David S. Price at dsprice46@bellsouth.net

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