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Mobile & Ohio Railroad

"The Mobile Road" / Route of the Gulf Coast Special

East Saint Louis, Il / Jul 1935 / collection

german_t he "Mobile Road," as it was often called in its early days, was planned by the people of Mobile to serve the city, in the same manner that the Mississippi River had served New Orleans. The railroad was expected to bring the trade of the upper Mississippi, the Missouri, and the Ohio River basins to Mobile. The project was named the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, because it was to connect that city with the great river systems which converged near Cairo, Illinois, and thus the port of Mobile was to assume a much greater role in commercial affairs at the expense of New Orleans.

James H. Lemly

egyptian_k nown as the route of the "Gulf Coast Special," the Mobile & Ohio Railroad was chartered in 1848 — early in Deep South railroading — by the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The primary purpose of the new road was to operate from the seaport of Mobile, Alabama, emerging shipping interests at the Ohio River in the region of Cairo, Illinois. The first section of track opened for service in 1852 between Mobile and Citronelle, Alabama. By 1882, with the purchase of the narrow-gauge St. Louis & Cairo, the M&O reached St. Louis, Missouri. During the Civil War, the line was hotly contested and was converted to military use: a role which left it in financial ruin after the conflict. Nevertheless, in 1896 the company chose to build a line from its Columbus, Mississippi, terminal eastward into Alabama. In June of 1898 a Tuscaloosa to Montgomery line opened, along with other short branch lines in the region. After 1902, the road was under the control of the much larger Southern Railway, who operated it until selling its bonds to parallel north-south operator Gulf, Mobile & Northern. On September 13, 1940, the M&O was merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad to form the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad.

1910 Official Guide map / collection

1930 mainline list / collection

1940 timetable / collection

collection

at a glance

	1929	1940
Miles operated	1159	1180
Locomotives	231	119
Passenger cars	112	31
Freight cars	8368	3298
Service cars	361	___
Reporting marks	M&O
Headquarters	Saint Louis, Mo
Named trains	Gulf Coast Special
Successors	Gulf Mobile & Ohio Illinois Central Gulf

1940 Official Guide ad / collection

collection

1930 Official Guide ad / collection

1940 timetable / collection

See also our successor Gulf, Mobile & Ohio mainline scrapbook in our Rebel Routes family collection

Motive Power

collection

from Guide to North American Steam Locomotives
by George Drury / collection

Mobile & Ohio locomotive roster since 1900

Type	Numbers	Qty	Builder	Built	Retired
0-6-0	11-14	4	Rogers	1900	1931-34
0-6-0	15-17	3	Baldwin	1905	1934-40
0-6-0	18-22	5	Baldwin	1904-05	1934-43
0-6-0	23-27	5	Baldwin	1906-07	1934-45
0-6-0	30-37	8	Lima	1911	1940-48
0-6-0	40-49	10	Cooke	1918	1948-50
0-6-0	50-62	13	Richmond, Schen	1927, 28	1948-50
2-8-0	540-554	15	Baldwin, Richmond	1914	1935-48
2-8-2	400-420	21	Baldwin	1911-16	1946-49
2-8-2	450-486	37	various	1922-28	1946-50
4-6-0	178-187	10	Rogers	1900	1918-34
4-6-0	220-227	8	Baldwin	1903	1918-40
4-6-0	230-239	10	Baldwin	1906	1931-49
4-6-0	300-306	7	Baldwin	1904	1918-40
4-6-0	310-321	12	Baldwin	1904	1930-40
4-6-0	325-384	60	Baldwin	1905-07	1918-49
4-6-2	250-253	4	Baldwin	1912	1939-40
4-6-2	260-269	10	Baldwin	1923-26	1946-49

classes listed in orange above are featured in our scrapbook below.

Mobile & Ohio #37

Mobile, Al / Aug 1933 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #37

builder:Lima Locomotive Works

arrangement:0-6-0 Six-coupled

built:Oct 1911, Lima #1184

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

16.5 x 24" cylinders, 60" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #37
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #37

Mobile & Ohio #50

East Saint Louis, Il / May 1939 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #50

builder:Alco - Richmond

arrangement:0-6-0 Six-coupled

built:April 1927, Alco #67274

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

21 x 28" cylinders, 51" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #50
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #50

Mobile & Ohio #168

collection

Mobile & Ohio #168

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler"

built:Nov 1899, Rogers #5457

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18 x 26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #168
to Georgia Car & Locomotive #518, 1923
listed unsold, 1930

Mobile & Ohio #180

Birmingham, Al / collection

Mobile & Ohio #180

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler"

built:Nov 1899, Rogers #5476

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18 x 26" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #180
to Mobile & Ohio #217
retired by 1928

Mobile & Ohio #203

Meridian, Ms / Jul 1931 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #203

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler"

built:Mar 1898, Rogers #5250

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18 x 26" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #139
to Mobile & Ohio #203
retired by 1940

Mobile & Ohio #253

Mobile, Al / Mar 1937 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #253

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-2 "Pacific"

built:May 1912, Baldwin #37749

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

24 x 28" cylinders, 72.5" drivers

blt Southern Rwy #1274
to Mobile & Ohio #253
retired by 1940

Mobile & Ohio #264

East Saint Louis, Il / Jul 1935 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #264

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-2 "Pacific"

built:Feb 1924, Baldwin #57658

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

25 x 28" cylinders, 73" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #264
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #563
scrapped by 1949

East Saint Louis, Il / Aug 1930 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #266

collection

Mobile & Ohio #266

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-2 "Pacific"

built:Mar 1926, Baldwin #59085

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

25 x 28" cylinders, 73" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #266
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #565
scrapped by 1949

Mobile & Ohio #269

East Saint Louis, Il / Apr 1939 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #269

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-2 "Pacific"

built:Mar 1926, Baldwin #59092

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

25 x 28" cylinders, 73" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #269
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #568
scrapped, 1947

Mobile & Ohio #335

Tuscaloosa, Al / 1938 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #335

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler"

built:Aug 1905, Baldwin #26361

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

21 x 28" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #222
to Mobile & Ohio #335
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #335
scrapped by 1946

Mobile & Ohio #386

Tuscaloosa, Al / Nov 1939 / David Price collection

Mobile & Ohio #386

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler"

built:1906, Baldwin #29815

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

21x28" cylinders, 69" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #233
to Mobile & Ohio #386
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #386
scrapped by 1949

Mobile & Ohio #401

Mobile, Al / Aug 1933 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #401

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:2-8-2 "Mikado"

built:Nov 1911, Baldwin #37196

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

27 x 30" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #401
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #401
scrapped by 1949

Mobile & Ohio #411

East Saint Louis, Il / May 1937 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #411

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:2-8-2 "Mikado"

built:Jan 1914, Baldwin #41056

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

27 x 30" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #411
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #411
scrapped by 1946

Mobile & Ohio #472

collection

Mobile & Ohio #472

builder:Lima Locomotive Works

arrangement:2-8-2 "Mikado"

built:Dec 1924, Lima #6775

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

26 x 30" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #472
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #472
scrapped by 1947

Mobile & Ohio #474

East Saint Louis, Il / Sep 1938 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #474

builder:Lima Locomotive Works

arrangement:2-8-2 "Mikado"

built:Dec 1924, Lima #6916

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

26 x 30" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #474
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #474
scrapped by 1947

Mobile & Ohio #540

East Saint Louis, Il / May 1939 / collection

Mobile & Ohio #540

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:2-8-0 "Consolidation"

built:Jan 1914, Baldwin #41095

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

24 x 30" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #540
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #540

Close Up — Second Acts

Mobile & Ohio steamers in our collection that went on to other railroads

Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #56

East Saint Louis, Il / Jul 1947 / collection

Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #56

builder:Alco - Schenectady

arrangement:0-6-0 Six-coupled

built:1928, Alco #67561

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

21x28" cylinders, 51" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #56
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #56

Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #377

Meridian, Ms / Dec 1946 / David Price collection

Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #377

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler"

built:1907, Baldwin #32116

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

21x28" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #377
to Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #377

See also our complete Gulf, Mobile & Ohio steam scrapbook here in Mainlines

Columbus & Greenville #165

Columbus, Ms / collection

Columbus & Greenville #165

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Jan 1897, Rogers #5162

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18x26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #58
to Mobile & Ohio #131
to Columbus & Greenville #165, 1923
retired 1940

Columbus & Greenville #166

Columbus, Ms / collection

Columbus & Greenville #166

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Jun 1897, Rogers #5195

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18x26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #117
to Mobile & Ohio #134
to Columbus & Greenville #166, 1923
scrapped 1947

Columbus & Greenville #171

Columbus, Ms / collection

Columbus & Greenville #171

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Nov 1899, Rogers #5460

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18x26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #171
to Columbus & Greenville #171, 1923
scrapped 1946

Columbus & Greenville #175

Columbus, Ms / collection

Columbus & Greenville #175

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Nov 1899, Rogers #5469

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18x26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #175
to Columbus & Greenville #175, 1923
scrapped 1946

Columbus & Greenville #177

Durant, Ms / 1940 / collection

Columbus & Greenville #177

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Nov 1899, Rogers #5471

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18x26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #177
to Columbus & Greenville #177, 1923
sold to Columbus Gravel Co, 1948

Columbus & Greenville #178

Winona, Ms / 1940 / collection

Columbus & Greenville #178

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Aug 1900, Rogers #5609

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18x26" cylinders, 57" drivers, later 63"

blt Mobile & Ohio #187
to Mobile & Ohio #178
to Columbus & Greenville #178, 1923
rebuilt by Columbus shops, 1948
retired 1951
on display in Propst Park, Columbus

Columbus, Ms / collection

Columbus & Greenville #216

builder:Rogers Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Dec 1899, Rogers #5475

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

18x26" cylinders, 63" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #179
to Mobile & Ohio #216
to Columbus & Greenville #216, 1923
rebuilt by Columbus shops, 1939
scrapped 1946

Columbus & Greenville #301

Columbus, Ms / Mar 1944 / collection

Columbus & Greenville #301

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Mar 1904, Baldwin #23857

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

21x26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #205
to Mobile & Ohio #315
to Columbus & Greenville #301, 1930
scrapped 1939

Columbus & Greenville #303

Columbus, Ms / 1944 / collection

Columbus & Greenville #303

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Mar 1904, Baldwin #23938

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

21x26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #209
to Mobile & Ohio #319
to Columbus & Greenville #303, 1930
scrapped 1948

Columbus & Greenville #304

Columbus, Ms / Jul 1937 / collection

Columbus & Greenville #304

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Mar 1904, Baldwin #23855

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

21x26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #203
to Mobile & Ohio #313
to Columbus & Greenville #304, 1934
scrapped 1952

Columbus & Greenville #305

collection

Columbus & Greenville #305

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works

arrangement:4-6-0 Ten-wheeler

built:Mar 1904, Baldwin #23854

fuel:soft coal / water

notes:

21x26" cylinders, 57" drivers

blt Mobile & Ohio #202
to Mobile & Ohio #312
to Columbus & Greenville #305, 1934
scrapped 1947

See also our complete Columbus & Greenville Railway premier steam scrapbook in Shortlines

Publications

1868 Official Guide ad / collection

1870 Official Guide ad / collection

1870 Official Guide map / collection

1877 Official Guide ad / collection

1889 Official Guide ad / collection

1895 Official Guide ad / collection

1902 Official Guide map / collection

1910 Official Guide ad / collection

1920 Official Guide ad / collection

1930 Official Guide ad / collection

1940 freight advertisement / collection

1930 ad clipping / collection

1940 ad clipping / collection

Scrapbook

all pages from Mobile & Ohio Railroad scrapbook / JCH

Lagniappe A little something extra ...

Mar 2015

Regarding the Mobile & Ohio, I received this interesting note and picture from Michelle George:

george_inset I came across your website while searching for a train that my great grandfather, Franklin Dade DeLaBar, engineered. He was the engineer on the Mobile and Ohio railroad on engine #264 in which you do have a picture of! My great grandfather is from Meridian, MS. He actually hand carved a replica of the engine and in the early 1950's he donated it to the city of Meridian. It is now in the railroad museum in Meridian. I have attached a copy of my great grandfather with the engine he carved. It is really neat to get to see a picture of the actual engine! - MDG

Links / Sources

Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Historical Society
Wikipedia article for Mobile & Ohio Railroad
History of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad by James H. Lemly
Mississippi Rails page for Mobile & Ohio
George Drury, Guide to North American Steam Locomotives (Kalmbach, 1993) 255-6
Historical Guide to North American Railroads - Second Edition (Kalmbach, 2000) 263-4
Steam locomotive roster data courtesy of Allen Stanley at Railroad Data Exchange

This page was updated on 2021-11-24