masthead_steam

Godchaux Sugar Company

tag_quote

Leon Godchaux, realizing the importance of the plantation railroad in bringing about the centralization of the grinding and refining on the many plantations he purchased, built an amazing system of tramways. Of all the Louisiana plantation railroads, these were in a class by themselves.

Godchaux-Reserve House Historical Society

gsc_state As early as 1890, the Godchaux Sugar Company began using rails to bring its sugar cane crops to its south Louisiana mills for processing. Five years later, Godchaux had purchased its first two steam locomotives -- two Baldwin tank engines -- and had track stretching at least 20 miles. The elaborate 36" narrow gauge system was scrapped in 1958 when the mill changed hands, but not before rostering 7 active steam engines, a Whitcomb switcher, over 250 double-truck cane cars, and dozens of miles of trackage all across the plantation fields.

tag_jump

See also our complete Godchaux Sugar Company steam scrapbook in Industrials

Godchaux Sugar Company #1

  • builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
  • arrangement:0-4-4T Forney four-coupled
  • built:1895, Baldwin #14065
  • fuel:coal/water
  • notes:
  • blt for Reserve Plantation
    to C. W. Whitbeck, 1956
    to Disneyland Railroad #3, 1957
  • builder

    Godchaux Sugar Company #3

  • builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
  • arrangement:0-4-4T Forney four-coupled
  • built:1898, Baldwin #16200
  • fuel:coal/water
  • notes:
  • blt for Reserve Plantation
    scrapped, 1952
  • builder

    Godchaux Sugar Company #5

  • builder:Dickson Manufacturing Co.
  • arrangement:0-4-4T Forney four-coupled
  • built:unknown, Dickson #1017
  • fuel:coal/water
  • notes:
  • blt for LaPlace Plantation
    to Reserve Plantation, 1909
    scrapped, 1942
  • Godchaux Sugar Company #6

  • builder:Davenport Locomotive Works
  • arrangement:0-4-4T Forney four-coupled
  • built:1907, Davenport #741
  • fuel:coal/water
  • notes:
  • blt for Alma Plantation
    to Reserve Plantation, 1938
    rebuilt 2-6-0 with tender
    to Edaville Railroad, 1959
  • builder

    Godchaux Sugar Company #7

  • builder:H. K. Porter Company
  • arrangement:0-6-4T Forney six-coupled
  • built:1911, Porter #4969
  • fuel:coal/water
  • notes:
  • blt for Supple Plantation
    to Elray Kocke Service, Inc, 1951
    to Tally-Ho Station, 1958
    to C. W. Witbeck, 1960
    to Reno, Nevada, 1962
  • builder

    Links / Sources

    This page was updated on 2019-05-31