Meridian & Bigbee River Railroad (1926-1952)
Meridian & Bigbee Railroad (1952-present)
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Standard Gauge Headquarters: Meridian, MS (Lauderdale Co.) Years of Operation: 1926-present Predecessor Roads: Meridian & Deep Water Successor Roads: Meridian & Bigbee Railroad Miles Operated: 51 Locomotives Owned: see roster below |
Equipment:
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Click Map for Larger Version Google Earth Map HERE |
| History
by Tony Howe:
A local businessman, Sam Neville, incorporated the Meridian & Deep Water Railway on April 5, 1911. After grading the first few miles, the project was abandoned and Neville focused his attention on building the Meridian & Memphis. Several years later the Meridian & Bigbee River Railroad was incorporated on January 23, 1917, by Sam Neville and associates. Finally construction started on Dec. 24, 1926 and was put into operation from Meridian southeast to a connection with the Alabama Tennessee & Northern at Cromwell, Ala., 29.87 miles, on April 16, 1928. The final eastward extension to a connection with the L&N at Myrtlewood was completed on October 15, 1935. The railroad was reorganized as the Meridian & Bigbee Railroad in July 1952. The M&B was later owned by James River Corp., owners of the large paper mill built on the M&B at Naheola, AL in 1958. The M&B was sold to the Genesee & Wyoming group of shortlines in the last few years, and in 2003 bought the former L&N trackage from Myrtlewood to near Montgomery from CSX. |
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M&BR 4-6-0 Number 52 abandoned at Meridian on February 18, 1935.
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M&BR 474 was an ex-Illinois Central 2-6-0 and is seen here switching at Meridian in the mid-1930's. |
M&BR 125 at Meridian in September 1940. |
M&BR caboose Number 1 at Meridian on December 26, 1949. |
Mogul 3729 was another ex-IC locomotive. It sits outside the M&BR shops at Meridian in December 1949. |
A view of the M&BR mainline several miles outside of Meridian shortly after the line was built in the 1920's. |
M&BR 125 at Meridian was an ex-Western Ry of Alabama locomotive. |
M&BR Number 235 unused at Meridian. |
This depot sat at the M&BR crossing with the AT&N at Cromwell, Alabama. The diamond had been removed just a few years before this photo was made in 1994. |
Joint M&BR-AT&N depot at Cromwell in September 1994. |
M&B's first diesel, GP-7 #1 at Meridian about 1958. |
The crew of M&B 1 has doors propped open to help cool the cab about 1958. |
M&B 1 and 102 about 1958. |
M&B 1 on a freight about 1958. |
An M&B transfer run passes under 22nd Ave and by a busy GM&O freighthouse in 1957. Note the horse-drawn wagon above the second engine. |
M&B caboose 107 in its original form. |
M&B caboose 107 as rebuilt with steel sides. |
2-8-0 #991 and caboose at Meridian in 1949 was one of Parker's first train photos. |
2056 doubleheads with a second locomotive about 1949. |
3729 and 119 on a transfer run to the Southern-IC yard pass the Swift Oil Mill at the south end of GM&O's yard in 1952. |
2056 and 3729 doubleheading at Meridian about 1952. |
 March 1937 Official Guide of the Railways- Tony Howe Collection |
 July 1950 Official Railway Equipment Register- Art Richardson Collection |
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| ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:
1
2-6-0
Baldwin
11225
9-1890
52½
19x24
98690 Purchased
from Jackson & Eastern Ry. #1, in 1926. Built
as New Orleans & Northeastern #243; to Meridian & Memphis Ry.
#1, on 2-18-1913; to Jackson & Eastern Ry. #1. Dropped
from service by 1931. Baldwin
class
8-32 D 399 18
4-4-0
NC&StL
----
-1882
66
17x24
82500 Purchased
from Jackson & Eastern Ry. #18, in 1926. Built
as U. S. Military R.R. #?; to Nashville & Chattanooga #58; to
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis #58 in 1873, rebuilt by NC&STL
in 1882 (a Cullen engine), renumb. #18 in 1915; to Georgia Car &
Locomotive Co. #416, Atlanta, GA, on 6-1-1919; to Jackson & Eastern
Ry. #18, on 7-19-1919. Dropped
from service by 1931. 52
4-6-0
Pittsburgh
-1893
57
18x24
95800 Purchased
from Jackson & Eastern Ry. #52, in 1926. Dropped
from service by 1935. 55
4-6-0
Rogers
-1895
55
18x24
95200 Purchased
from Jackson & Eastern Ry. #55, in 1926. 235
2-6-0
Baldwin
7439
9-1884
52½
19x24
94700 Purchased
from Jackson & Eastern Ry. #235, in 1926. Built
as New Orleans & Northeastern #226, rebuilt in 1903, renumb. #235 by
6-1910; to Jackson & Eastern Ry. #235, on 4-29-1917. Dropped
from service by 1931. Baldwin
class
8-32 D 86 421
2-6-0
Rogers
4785
11-1892
56½
19x26
126000 Purchased
from Illinois Central #421, in 9-1930. Dropped
from service in 1937. 125
4-6-0
ALCO-Rogers
43022
3-1907
61
21x28
180000 Purchased
from Western Railway of Alabama #125, in 1936. Scrapped
1950. 469
2-6-0
Rogers
5078
11-1895
56½
19x26
126000 Purchased
from Illinois Central #469, on 12-15-1936. Dropped
from service about 1940. 474
2-6-0
Brooks
2603
11-1895
56½
19x26
126000 Purchased
from Illinois Central #474, on 12-15-1936. Dropped
from service about 1940. 991
2-8-0
Baldwin
36178
3-1911
63
22x30
238200 Purchased
from Illinois Central #991, on 9-27-1939. Cost $5,000. Scrapped
1950. Baldwin
class
10-38 E 3578 668
2-8-0
Rogers
5781
7-1902
57½
20x28
199210 Purchased
from Illinois Central #668, on 12-28-1940. Cost $4,600. Dropped
from service in 1946. 3729
2-6-0
Pittsburgh
2293
8-1901
53½
20½x28
167200 Purchased
from Illinois Central #3729, on 10-2-1941. Built
as Illinois Central #570, renumb. #3729 on 9-7-1937. To
Meridian & Bigbee #3729, in 7-1952. Scrapped
1953. 116
2-8-0
Baldwin
44835
1-1917
51
23x28
211500 Purchased
from Susquehanna & New York #116, in 2-1943. To
Meridian & Bigbee #116, in 7-1952. Donated
to City of Meridian, MS, in 5-1953 (for display). Baldwin
class
10-40 E 176 2056
4-6-2
ALCO-Rich.
53215
3-1913
75½
25x26
247500 Purchased
from Illinois Central #2056, on 1-8-1946. Built
as Illinois Central #1133, renumb. #2056 on 12-30-1941. To
Meridian & Bigbee #2056, in 7-1952. Scrapped
1953.
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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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