Standard Gauge, lb. rail
Headquarters: Fulton, MS (Itawamba County)
Years of Operation: 1923-present
Predecessor road: none
Successor road: none
Miles Operated: 44
Locomotives Owned: steam-5 diesel- ?
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Equipment
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Click Map for Larger Version
Google Earth Map HERE |
History
by Tony Howe:
The
Mississippian was incorporated in 1923 and built a railroad from Amory to
Fulton, MS. John T Cochrane, who had just finished completing the Alabama
Tennessee & Northern RR, was the major promoter and builder of the
railroad. The discovery of large deposits of Bentonite clay in the 1950's
bolstered the Mississippian's carloadings and ensured the survival of the
railroad for many more years. It continues to operate in 2009 serving an
industrial park in the south part of Fulton.
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Mississippian's engine facilities at Amory. |
Mississippian 76 makes its way through the weeds in the 1960's. |
Mississippian 76 about to cross the highway at Smithville in 1966. |
Mississippian 76 switching in 1962. |
Mississippian Alco S-2 at the Smithville loader. |
No. 314 with train between Amory and Fulton. |
Mississippian's caboose was bought secondhand from the Frisco. |
Pan shot of Mississippian 77 about 1957. |
View from 76 looking out of the shop at Amory. |
Mississippian's picturesque shops at Amory. |
76 passes a Bentonite plant that provided much-needed traffic to the
Mississippian. |
76 at the Mississippian depot at Fulton. |
Mississippian 77 makes its way along the weed-covered mainline about
1957. |
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Mississippian No. 10 was a former AT&N locomotive. It is shown here
at Amory in June 1940. |
March 1937 Official Guide of the Railways- Tony Howe Collection |
Jonesboro, Lake City & Eastern 41 became Mississippian 77 in 1947
when it was bought from the Frisco, who had taken over the Arkansas
shortline in 1926. |
STEAM ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:
Road
No.
|
Type
|
Builder
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C.N.
|
Date
|
Cyls.
|
Dri.
Dia.
|
Engine
Wt.
|
Previous
Ownership
|
Disposition
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661
|
2-6-0
|
Baldwin
|
11468
|
12/1890
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18x24
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53
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100000
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South
Florida #28.
Savannah,
Florida & Western #228, in 1893.
Atlantic
Coast Line #661, in
1902.
Mississippian
#661, on 9/14/1923.
Baldwin class 8-30 D 391
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Scrapped 1935.
|
10
|
2-6-0
|
Baldwin
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31844
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10/1907
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17x24
|
48
|
100000
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Alabama,
Tennessee & Northern #10.
Mississippian
#10, in 1925.
Baldwin class 8-28 D 250
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Scrapped at Birmingham, AL, in 1947.
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36
|
0-6-0
|
Lima
|
1183
|
10/1911
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20x26
|
51
|
145000
|
Mobile
& Ohio #36.
Gulf,
Mobile & Ohio #36, in 8/1940.
Mississippian #36, in 1941.
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Amory
Sand & Gravel Co. #36, Amory, MS, ca. 1946.
Scrapped 1948.
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76
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2-8-0
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Baldwin
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54265
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12/1920
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19x24
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48
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135800
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Jonesboro,
Lake City & Eastern #40, Jonesboro, AR
St.
Louis San Francisco #76, on 3/18/1926.
Mississippian
#76, on 1/10/1948.
Baldwin class 10-32 E 174
|
Penn
View Mountain R.R. #76, Blairsville, PA, in 9/1967.
Gettysburg R.R. #76, Gettysburg, PA,
in 10/1976.
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77
|
2-8-0
|
Baldwin
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54266
|
12/1920
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19x24
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48
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135800
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Jonesboro,
Lake City & Eastern #41, Jonesboro, AR
St.
Louis San Francisco #77, on 3/17/1926.
Mississippian
#77, on 3/12/1947.
Baldwin class 10-32 E 175
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Muscle Shoals Railroad Club,
Tuscumbia, AL, in 1968.
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