Louisiana Southern Railway Company
The Louisiana Southern Railway Company was chartered in 1897 as the successor to several defunct southeast Louisiana shortlines that operated below New Orleans along the Mississippi River, including the Mississippi River Terre aux Boeuf & Lake, the New Orleans & Gulf, and then the New Orleans & Southern in 1892. At its peak, successor Louisiana Southern operated a mainline that extended 45 miles, from Elysian Fields Avenue in New Orleans to Pointe a la Hache in Plaquemines Parish, with a 15 mile branch from Poydras Junction to Shell Beach on Lake Borgne. For twelve years, beginning in 1911, the property was leased to the New Orleans, Texas & Mexico Railroad Company. Independent operation followed, struggling until a war-era boost in traffic made the line profitable and attractive for purchase. Through its regional subsidiary, New Orleans & Northeastern, the Southern Railway acquired the shortline in 1953.
See also our complete Louisiana Southern scrapbook in Shortlines
Louisiana Southern #5
New Orleans, La / Apr 1923 / collection
Louisiana Southern #5
to Louisiana Southern #5, Feb 1897
Louisiana Southern #6
New Orleans, La / Jul 1913 / collection
Louisiana Southern #6
to Louisiana Southern #6, Feb 1897
Louisiana Southern #8
New Orleans, La / Apr 1923 / collection
Louisiana Southern #8
to Louisiana Southern #8
tender lettered "Gulf Coast Lines"
Louisiana Southern #10
New Orleans, La / Jun 1937 / collection
Louisiana Southern #10
renumbered Texas & Pacific #519, 1882
renumbered Texas & Pacific #43, 1886
to Louisiana Southern #10, 1910
Louisiana Southern #11
New Orleans, La / Aug 1931 / collection
Louisiana Southern #11
to Texas & Pacific #63, 1881
renumbered #530, 1882; later #63, 1886
to Louisiana Southern #11, 1915
Louisiana Southern #12
New Orleans, La / Feb 1935 / collection
Louisiana Southern #12
to New Orleans Texas & Mexico #314
to New Iberia & Northern #45, May 1916
to Louisiana Southern #12, Sep 1923
New Orleans, La / unknown / collection
Louisiana Southern #13
New Orleans, La / Jun 1937 / collection
Louisiana Southern #13
to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive
to Louisiana Southern #13, Jan 1925
Louisiana Southern #14
New Orleans, La / Aug 1931 / collection
Louisiana Southern #14
to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive
to Louisiana Southern #14, Jan 1925
Louisiana Southern #16
New Orleans, La / Feb 1950 / collection
Louisiana Southern #16
to Missouri Kansas & Texas #685
to Louisiana Southern 16
retired, Dec 1948
to Westwego Salvage Co, Aug 1950
Louisiana Southern #17
New Orleans, La / Apr 1950 / collection
Louisiana Southern #17
renumbered Missouri Pacific #2516
to New Orleans & Lower Coast #2516
to Louisiana Southern #17, Mar 1948
retired, Oct 1948
to Southern Scrap, New Orleans, July 1953
Links / Sources
- John B. Hyde, Legal History of the Lines of Railroad of Southern Railway Company, 1958
- Steam locomotive roster data courtesy of Allen Stanley at Railroad Data Exchange