DeKalb
and Western
Standard Gauge, 56 and 60-lb. rail
Mill location: Electric Mills, MS
Officers (1929): F. J. Hughes, President & Gen Man; W. E. Baskin,
VP; R. E. Wilbourn, Sec; E. B. Smith, Tres.; D. C. Gleason, Roadmaster
Years of Operation: 1916-1949
Miles Operated: 1916-1922: 15.48 miles
1922-1929?: 28.40 miles
1929?-1949: 15.48 miles
Locomotives Owned: 5?
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The
De Kalb & Western Railroad was incorporated in Mississippi on
February 11, 1916, for the purpose of acquiring the property, rights and
franchises of the Sanoody Valley Railroad. Title to this property was
obtained on February 21, 1916, from Simon Seelig and P. Sugarman. The
date of organization of the De Kalb & Western Railroad was also
February 21, 1916. Authorized capital stock was $160,000 of which
$147,000 was issued, partly for cash and partly to pay for the property
of the Sanoody Valley Railroad. The charter was amended May 9, 1916, to
allow an extension of the eastern terminus of the railroad from
Sucarnochee, MS, to Sledge, AL
The
line extended from De Kalb, the county seat of Kemper County, to a
connection with the Mobile & Ohio Railroad at Sucanochee and Electric
Mills, then on to Sledge, AL, 28.40 miles. At Sucarnochee the railroad had
joint use of the station and facilities of the Mobile & Ohio. The
section from De Kalb to Sucarnochee, 11.77 miles, was purchased from the
Sanoody Valley Railroad, and the section from Electric Mills Junction to
Electric Mills and Sledge, AL, 12.60 miles, was purchased from the Sumter
Lumber Company effective September 16, 1916. The line from Electric Mills
Junction to Electric Mills, 3.71 miles, was built during 1916 and 1917,
and the remainder to Sledge, AL, was completed in 1922.
On
August 4, 1941, the railroad company applied to the Interstate Commerce
Commission for permission to abandon the segment of line between Electric
Mills and Electric Mills Junction. The reason given was that the plant of
the Sumter Lumber Company, at Electric Mills, would cease operation and be
dismantled within two weeks, after which there would be no traffic on this
portion of the line. Permission was granted on September 23, 1941.
Permission
to abandon the remainder of the railroad was obtained from the I. C. C. on
August 5, 1949, with all operations ending in December 1949.
|
1929 Official Guide of the Railways |
DK&W 504 switches cars at Electric Mills ca. 1940. |
1942 Official Guide of the Railways |
October 1925 Official Railway Equipment Register- Art Richardson Collection |
1920 Official Guide of the Railways |
March 1937 Official Guide of the Railways- Tony Howe Collection
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ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:
Road
No.
|
Type
|
Builder
|
C.N.
|
Date
|
Cyls.
|
Dri.
Dia.
|
Engine
Wt.
|
Previous
Ownership
|
Disposition
|
3
|
No
Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unknown.
Sanoody
Valley #3, DeKalb, MS
Seelig
& Sugarman, on 12/16/1915.
DeKalb & Western #3, on
3/31/1916.
|
Dropped by 6/30/1917.
|
9
|
2-8-0
|
Baldwin
|
42781
|
1/1916
|
16x22
|
44
|
87500
|
Poplarville
Saw Mill Co. #9, Poplarville, MS.
DeKalb
& Western #9, by 6/1917.
Baldwin class 10-26 E 398
|
Re. #502.
|
100
|
4-4-0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unknown.
Sanoody
Valley #100, DeKalb, MS
Seelig
& Sugarman, on 12/16/1915.
DeKalb & Western #100, on
3/31/1916.
|
Re. #501?
|
501
|
4-4-0
|
Baldwin
|
|
1890
|
16x24
|
|
|
Unknown.
DeKalb & Western #501.
|
In
service by 6/30/1917.
|
502
|
2-8-0
|
Baldwin
|
42781
|
1/1916
|
16x22
|
44
|
87500
|
Re. from #9.
|
St.
Francis Material Co., Forrest City, AR,
by 7/1951.
|
503
|
2-6-0
|
Baldwin
|
6411
|
10/1882
|
18x24
|
54
|
80000
|
Mobile
& Ohio #65
Re.
#503 in 1910
Sanoody
Valley #503, DeKalb, MS.
Seelig
& Sugarman, on 12/16/1915.
DeKalb
& Western #503, on 3/31/1916.
Baldwin class 8-30 D 93
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Sumter
Lumber Co. #503, Electric Mills, MS
Scrapped 1941.
|
504
|
2-6-0
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Baldwin
|
52709
|
12/1919
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17x24
|
44
|
111000
|
Wisconsin
& Arkansas Lumber Co. #10, Walco, AR
Sumter
Lb. Co. 2nd #4, by 1/1937.
DeKalb
& Western #504, in 1941.
Baldwin class 8-28 D 320
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