36" Gauge
Headquarters: Laurel, MS (Jones County)
Years of Operation: 1901-1902
Successor Road: Mobile Jackson &
Kansas City
Miles Operated: 25
Locomotives Owned: 5
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Equipment:
5 locomotives, 2 passenger cars, 1 baggage car, 22
freight cars
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Click Map for Larger Version |
History
by Gil Hoffman:
About
1899-1900 the Kingston Lumber Company, of Laurel, built 25 miles of 36-inch
gauge railroad from Laurel to Bay Springs, Jasper County.
The
Kingston & Central Mississippi Railway was chartered in Mississippi on
March 5, 1901 and purchased the Kingston Lumber Company's 25 miles of
36-inch gauge railroad on September 1, 1901 in return for $15,000 of capital
stock per mile. L. L. Denson, of Bay Springs, was president of the railroad,
and F. W. Pettibone, of Laurel, was treasurer and general manager. In 1901
the line owned 5 locomotives, 2 passenger cars, 1 baggage car and 22 freight
cars.
On June 30, 1902 the roadbed, right-of-way, etc. were
sold to the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad. MJ&KC shut down
the railroad at the end of 1902, removed the track, and used the grade to
build standard gauge track in January 1904.
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