Standard Gauge
Headquarters: Hodge, LA
Years of Operation: 1906-present
Predecessor Roads:
Successor Roads:
Miles Operated: Main line: Hodge, LA to Bienville, LA,
24.732 miles.
Locomotives Owned:
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Equipment
12/31/1918: Locomotives: 2. Cars: 1
passenger, 1 gasolene motor, 2 service.
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Click Map for Larger Version |
HISTORY by Gil Hoffman:
The
Huie-Hodge Lumber Company, Ltd., was organized in Louisiana on
February 25, 1901, and immediately erected a sawmill at Hodge, LA which cut
shortleaf pine exclusively. A second mill to cut hardwoods was built at
Danville, LA and a third mill at Bienville, LA was purchased in 1909 from
the Richardson-Taylor interests. On Dec. 1, 1921 the name was changed to the
Hodge-Hunt Lumber Company.
The
North Louisiana & Gulf Railroad was incorporated in Louisana on
January 22, 1906 with the same stockholders as the Huie-Hodge Lumber Co.
under a 10-year charter. The date of its organization was January 22, 1906.
The amount of capital stock authorized was $1,500,000, of which $200,000 was
issued in considertion of road and equipment acquire from the lumber
company.
The
railroad originally had two disconnected sections. One track connected with
the Rock Island at Hodge, extended westward to Danville, 10.00 miles. This
track was built in 1902 for use as a private logging road by the Huie-Hodge
Lumber Co. and was taken over by the North Louisiana & Gulf in Jan.
1906. As of 1910, beyond Danville there were several miles of unincorporated
logging road. This track was deeded back to the lumber company by the North
Louisiana & Gulf in exchange for a 4-mile segment running from Bienville,
on the L&NW, eastward to a point in the woods known as Walsh. This line
was laid by the D.C. Richardson-Taylor mill in 1907 and was acquired by the
Huie-Hodge Lumber Co. in 1909. The connecting line from Danville to
Bienville, 16.00 miles, was built by the North Louisiana & Gulf between
1909 and 1911. This 16-mile line cost about $107,000 to build.
The
rails and fastenings in 12.238 miles of the line were owned by the Rock
Island and leased to the H-H Lumber Co., which granted their use to the
North Louisiana & Gulf. This rail was 56-lb. relay rail. On the 24.732
miles of road between Hodge and Bienville were 49 pile-and-frame trestles.
The
charter of the North Louisiana & Gulf expired in 1916 and was not
renewed, but the company continued to operate as though the charter was in
existence. In Sept. 1927 the railroad was re-incorporated under the same
name with essentially the same stockholders.
See American Lumberman, May 8, 1909, pp.
67-82 for illustrated article.
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STEAM ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:
Road
No.
|
Type
|
Builder
|
C.N.
|
Date
|
Cyls.
|
Dri.
Dia.
|
Engine
Wt.
|
Previous
Ownership
|
Disposition
|
1
|
2-6-0
|
Danforth
|
830
|
8/1873
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17x24
|
|
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Tennessee
Coal & Railroad Co. #4 A. M. Shook
Tennessee
Coal, Iron & Railroad Co. #4,
on
9/13/1881.
Birmingham
Rail & Locomotive Co.
Huie-Hodge
Lumber Co. #1, in 1902.
North Louisiana & Gulf #1, in
1/1906.
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Dropped by 6/30/1918.
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3
|
2-6-0
|
Davenport
|
401
|
4/1906
|
14x20
|
42
|
66000
|
Hodge-Hunt
Lumber Co. #3.
Ordered
4/15/1904.
First
2-6-0 built by Davenport.
North Louisiana & Gulf #3, in
1/1906.
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Dropped by 6/30/1918.
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7
|
4-6-0
|
Baldwin
|
10428
|
11/1889
|
18x24
|
56
|
112000
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Western
New York & Pennsylvania #121.
Re
#127 in 1891.
Pennsylvania
RR #6263 in 1903.
Southern
Iron & Equipment Co. #714, in 4/1909.
Ruston
& New Orleans #3, on 12/13/09.
North
Louisiana & Gulf #7, in 1912.
Baldwin class 10-30 D 235.
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2nd North Louisiana & Gulf #7, in
9/1927.
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8
|
2-6-0
|
|
|
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17x24
|
|
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Engine
rebuilt in 1910.
North Louisiana & Gulf #8, in
1913.
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Dropped
by 1927.
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25
|
4-6-0
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Baldwin
|
39266
|
2/1913
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18x26
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58
|
130000
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Louisiana
& Northwest #25, Homer, LA
North
Louisiana & Gulf #25, in 2/1926.
Baldwin class 10-30 D 632
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Scrapped 1950.
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