Hi everybody

My great great grandfather was an engineer and also worked in the roundhouse shops of the Mississippi Central sometime in the early 1900's. I have a large original picture of the entire shop staff(including my kin) with the roundhouse in the background and a steam engine on the right.

I would like to know any information about the railroad, specifically what kind of locomotives were used and if the roundhouse is still intact. Im open to anything you have to say.

Thank you in advance!

Anthony Aman

-- Anthony James Aman (bar_spin@hotmail.com), February 01, 2000

Answers

Anthony, I read your inquiry with interest. The Mississippi Central was a dandy little railroad. In my collection I have quite a lot of info on the road, including photos. I would be very interested in seeing your photo of the shop employees including your family. I note that Jim Broome has already given you a pretty good reply to your question. If I can help further, please let me know.

Sorry that our little book is out of print now. Maybe we will redo it in an expanded edition someday.

David Price Hattiesburg, MS sprice@netdoor.com

-- David S. Price (sprice@netdoor.com), February 25, 2000.

Thanks a great deal for all the information! I really appreciate you taking the time to share all that information.

Anthony

-- Anthony Aman (bar_spin@hotmail.com), February 02, 2000.

The Mississippi Central started life as the Pearl & Leaf Rivers Railroad in November 1897. It was owned by the J.J. Newman Lumber Company of Hattiesburg, MS. In June of 1905 the name was changed to Mississippi Central Railroad. In 1908 the MSC connected with the Natchez & Eastern at Brookhaven,MS and began operating through service from Hattiesburg to Natchez. In may of 1909 the MSC absorbed the N&E. The MSC later had one branch to the Camp Shelby Army Base southeast of Hattiesburg and for a time operated through service from Mobile, Alabama. The MSC was sold to the Illinois Central Railroad in March of 1967. The railroad is still operated west of Ferguson, MS, where there is a large Georga Pacific paper mill, to Brookhaven,MS and from there to Natchez,MS where there is a International Paper Company mill. The line has been taken up from Ferguson to Hattiesburg.

The Mississippi Central operated a variety of 4-4-0s, 4-6-0s, 2-8-2s and three ex-ICRR 2000 class frieght 4-6-2s as well as some others. One of the 4-4-0s, No. 98, can still be seen in operation on the Wilmington & Western Railroad. One of the big 2-8-2s is on display at Georgetown, MS where she finished her days on a gravel pit line. In the diesel era the MSC operated with EMD SW-9 switchers and one GP-28.

Sadly, few MSC structures, including the Hattiesburg roundhouse, survived. One that did is the station at Natchez which is well worth seeing if you are in the area.

A book," Natchez Route," by David S. Price and Louis Saillard was published by the Mississippi Great Southern Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, in Hattiesburg, some years ago. It is currently out of print but I hope will be available again sometime in the future.

-- Jim Broome (sweep@netdoor.com), February 01, 2000.