Mississippi Central Railroad

msc_state egyptian_t he 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 Illinois 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.

See our complete Mississippi Central scrapbook in Shortlines

collection

Steamers marked in orange above are included in our scrapbook below

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:soft coal / water

notes:

blt Mississippi Central #98
to Comite Southern, 1946
to Louisiana Eastern #98
to Strasburg #98
to Wilmington & Western #98

from Steam Locomotive & Railroad Tradition
#9 - Dec 1961 / collection

Close Up — Wilmington & Western #98

Wilmington, De / May 2005 / Thomas Gears / collection

whyte_american The first locomotive with a 4-4-0 wheel arrangement was built in 1837 and the design lasted for nearly a century. By the end of the 1920s, over 25,000 such locomotives had been built. The 4-4-0 was a popular choice for nearly every American railroad, so much so that the wheel arrangement soon earned the name "American Standard," or simply "American." Engine 98 was built by the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, NY, in January 1909 (construction #45921). She worked in passenger service on the Mississippi Central before being retired in December 1944. Paulsen Spence purchased No. 98 in 1947 for the Comite Southern, and later the Louisiana Eastern. Thomas C. Marshall and T. Clarence Marshall purchased the locomotive in January of 1960 with the intent of operating her (and several other engines) on a proposed weekend steam tourist railroad in Wilmington, DE. Engine 98 was moved to the Strasburg Rail Road where she was placed in storage until facilities could be obtained in Wilmington. In April 1964, No. 98 was moved off Strasburg property and shipped to the Wilmington & Western where she was returned to service in October 1972. Tom Marshall officially donated the locomotive to Historic Red Clay Valley Inc. in December of 1977. No 98 operated regularly throughout the 80s, 90s and 2000s. She was removed from service in 2017 to undergo the federally-mandated 1,472 day inspection, a process which will require disassembly of the locomotive for inspection and repair.

Wilmington & Western Railroad