Mississippi Central Railroad

The Mississippi Central Railroad was an east-west shortline route between Hattiesburg and Natchez, Mississippi. The line was owned by a lumber company in Pennsylvania, but eventually became a part of the Illinios Central Gulf during its formation merger. Prior to the transition era, the little road was known for its large stable of Mikados and converted Pacifics. When the MSC dieselized, they purchased ten SW9 switchers from EMD and later a rare GP28. In both steam and diesel eras, the MSC shops were in Hattiesburg. The Central was the chief operator of the famed "Natchez Route" -- a through-frieght route from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Mobile, Alabama, that utilized the MSC in the middle segment. A portion of the Central's line is still in service today from Furgurson to Natchez, Mississippi, owned and operated by the Canadian National.

Steam Motive Power

Mississippi Central #98

Hattiesburg, Ms / Oct 1944 / collection

Mississippi Central #98

builder:ALCO Schenectedy
arrangement:4-4-0 American
built:Jan 1909, Alco #45921
fuel:coal/water
notes:
to Comite Southern, 1946
to Louisiana Eastern #98
to Strasburg #98
to Wilmington & Western #98

Mississippi Central #100

Hattiesburg, Ms / Jul 1940 / collection

Mississippi Central #100

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
arrangement:4-4-0 American
built:Aug 1905, Baldwin #26510
fuel:coal/water
notes:
scrapped at Hattiesburg MS, 1942

Mississippi Central #102

Builder's photo / collection

Mississippi Central #102

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
arrangement:4-4-0 American
built:Jan 1906, Baldwin #27222
fuel:coal/water
notes:
retired 1941
scrapped at Hattiesburg MS, 1943

Mississippi Central #115

Hattiesburg, Ms / Aug 1942 / collection

Mississippi Central #115

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
arrangement:4-6-0 Ten Wheeler
built:Jun 1907, Baldwin #31037
fuel:coal/water
notes:
scrapped at Birmingham Al, 1948

Mississippi Central #120

Hattiesburg, Ms / May 1953 / collection

Mississippi Central #120

builder:ALCO Brooks
arrangement:2-8-2 Mikado
built:Jul 1921, Alco #63072
fuel:coal/water
notes:
to Louisiana Eastern #14, 1953
scrapped 1963

Builder's photo / collection

Mississippi Central #121

unknown / collection

Mississippi Central #121

builder:ALCO Brooks
arrangement:2-8-2 Mikado
built:Jul 1921, Alco #63073
fuel:coal/water
notes:
scrapped at Memphis TN, 1953

Mississippi Central #130

Hattiesburg, Ms / May 1948 / collection

Mississippi Central #130

builder:ALCO Brooks
arrangement:2-8-2 Mikado
built:Dec 1923, Alco #65351
fuel:coal/water
notes:
scrapped at Memphis TN, 1953

Builder's photo / collection

Mississippi Central #140

Brookhaven, Ms / Jul 1948 / collection

Mississippi Central #140

builder:ALCO Schenectedy
arrangement:2-8-2 Mikado
built:Sep 1923, Alco #64915
fuel:coal/water
notes:
to Louisiana Eastern #16, 1954
to Feliciana Eastern #16, 1956
scrapped at Bluff Creek LA, 1961

Hattiesburg, Ms / Jun 1948 / collection

Mississippi Central #141

Brookhaven, Ms / Apr 1953

Mississippi Central #141

builder:ALCO Schenectedy
arrangement:2-8-2 Mikado
built:Sep 1923, Alco #64916
fuel:coal/water
notes:
to Green Brothers Gravel Co #141, 1953

unknown / collection

Mississippi Central #150

unknown / collection

Mississippi Central #150

builder:ALCO Richmond
arrangement:4-6-2 Pacific
built:Nov 1913, Alco #53199
fuel:coal/water
notes:
blt Illinois Central #1117, later #2077
overhauled IC McComb MS shops, 1948
to Mississippi Central #150, 1948
to DeBardeleben Coal #104, 1953
scrapped 1957

Mississippi Central #152

McComb, Ms / 1948 / collection

Mississippi Central #152

builder:ALCO Schenectedy
arrangement:4-6-2 Pacific
built:Oct 1906
fuel:coal/water
notes:
blt Illinois Central #1036, later #2030
overhauled IC McComb MS shops, 1948
to Mississippi Central #152, 1948
scrapped at Memphis TN, 1953

unknown / collection

Diesel Motive Power

Mississippi Central #201

Hattiesburg, Ms / Oct 1961 / collection

Mississippi Central #201

builder:Electro Motive Division
model:SW9
type:B-B yard switcher
built:Apr 1953, EMD #17988
series:786 produced 1951-53
engine:EMD 567B, 12 cyls. 1200 hp
notes:
first unit in MSC 11-unit EMD order
to Illinois Central #1237, ICG #1237

Mississippi Central #202

Hattiesburg, Ms / Dec 1965 / collection

Mississippi Central #202

builder:Electro Motive Division
model:SW9
type:B-B yard switcher
built:Apr 1953, EMD #17989
series:786 produced 1951-53
engine:EMD 567B, 12 cyls. 1200 hp
notes:
to Illinois Central #1238, ICG #1238

Mississippi Central #204

Hattiesburg, Ms / Oct 1964 / collection

Mississippi Central #204

builder:Electro Motive Division
model:SW9
type:B-B yard switcher
built:Apr 1953, EMD #17991
series:786 produced 1951-53
engine:EMD 567B, 12 cyls. 1200 hp
notes:
to Chicago Short Line #27, 1967

Mississippi Central #205

Hattiesburg, Ms / Oct 1964 / collection

Mississippi Central #205

builder:Electro Motive Division
model:SW9
type:B-B yard switcher
built:Apr 1953, EMD #17992
series:786 produced 1951-53
engine:EMD 567B, 12 cyls. 1200 hp
notes:
to Illinois Central #1240, ICG #1240

Mississippi Central #207

Hattiesburg, Ms / Sep 1959 / JCH

Mississippi Central #207

builder:Electro Motive Division
model:SW9
type:B-B yard switcher
built:Apr 1953, EMD #17994
series:786 produced 1951-53
engine:EMD 567B, 12 cyls. 1200 hp
notes:
to Illinois Central #1242, ICG #1242

Hattiesburg, Ms / Sep 1959 / JCH

Hattiesburg, Ms / Oct 1964 / collection

Mississippi Central #210

Hattiesburg, Ms / Dec 1960 / JCH

Mississippi Central #210

builder:Electro Motive Division
model:SW9
type:B-B yard switcher
built:May 1953, EMD #17997
series:786 produced 1951-53
engine:EMD 567B, 12 cyls. 1200 hp
notes:
leased to Chicago, West Pullman & Southern #51, 1966

Hattiesburg, Ms / Dec 1960 / JCH

Rolling Stock

Mississippi Central #5029

Boxcar / Hattiesburg, Ms / Dec 1960 / JCH

Mississippi Central #8125

Pulpwood rack / Hattiesburg, Ms / Dec 1960 / JCH

Mississippi Central #B-18

Wooden caboose / Hattiesburg, Ms / Sep 1959 / JCH

Hattiesburg, Ms / Sep 1959 / JCH

Locations

Natchez, Ms / Witbeck photo / collection

Brookhaven, Ms / Witbeck photo / collection

Natchez, Ms / Louis Saillard photo / collection

Wanilla, Mississippi

At Wanilla, Mississippi, the east-west Mississippi Central pike crossed the north-south mainline of the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio -- former Gulf, Mobile & Northern and earlier New Orleans Great Northern mainline. With the absorption of both the Mississippi Central and the GM&O into the Illinois Central Gulf system in the earlu 1970s, this diamond ceased to be an interchange point and came under the same system. Today both lines are in use by the Canadian National.

aerial view of diamond / Wanilla, Ms / web

westbound view of MSC line / Feb 2001 / JCH

eastbound view of MSC line / Feb 2001 / JCH

northbound view of ex GM&O mainline / Feb 2001 / JCH

siding on ex GM&O mainline / Feb 2001 / JCH

Lagniappe

collection

Links / Sources

Roster information from Louis R. Saillard, from Natchez Route
Wikipedia article on various "Mississippi Central" railroads