According to a note in Flimsies from the Bogalusa, Louisiana DAILY NEWS, the 4-6-0 on display at the Washington Parish Fairgrounds in Franklinton, is going to be getting a $50K facelift. This engine is one of only two surviving Gulf, Mobile & Ohio steamers (4-6-2 #580/GM&N 425 is the other). The Ten-Wheeler, built as New Orleans-Great Northern #72 by Alco in 1914, was sold by the GM&O in 1946 to Gaylord Container Company which was headquartered in Bogalusa where it operated its own rail line, including operations over GM&O common carrier rails. GCC became Crown Zellerbach Corp. in 1955 and the 72 was sold to gravel hauling Washington & Western in 1960. It was put on display at the Fairgrounds in 1981.

Gaylord/CZC eventually dieselized their pulpwood hauling railroad with a pair of Alco RS-1's; numbers 302 and 303, which operated until the tracks were abandoned and pulled up in 1972. Both RS-1's were moved to another Crown Zellerbach operation in Louisiana until they were scrapped in the 1980's. But, one part of the CZC's Bogalusa rail operation WAS saved. A used wood bodied center cupola caboose had been purchased in the 1950's for common carrier operations to replace worn out caboose "A". Painted a medium green with a yellow center stripe to match the RS-1's, CZC "B" rode on passenger car type trucks and was a neat ending to Crown Zellerbach's pulpwood trains. The caboose avoided scrapping and was put on display next to the old GM&O depot in Bogalusa, incorrectly lettered for the NOGN. Sitting outside all these years makes me wonder how CZC "B" has fared. Anyone know her current condition, or if she is even still there?

Les

Might that be it next to the brown roofed building in this Google Earth view:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Wil ... 6&t=h&z=18

I visited this engine a few years back, and am glad it is being taken care of; it was looking pretty sad back then.

Another note from the area: supposively, in a gravel pit in Enon, is another steam locomotive. It was supposively sitting dead at the end of the track on the edge of the pit, when it was bumped by another train, and sent rolling into the pit.

Does anyone know anything more about it? Might this be the pit; it is labeled as Willis, Louisiana; and I assume the operator was the Willis Short Line RR:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... 2&t=h&z=16

Caboose "A" was taken by a Crown Zellerbach employee and moved to his property in St Helena parish to be used as a hunting cabin. It later burned to the ground. Caboose "B" came from up north, one of the "iron roads"(DL&W?) and as far as I know is still on display next to the depot in Bogalusa. I haven't been up there since 2003.....when I was there, the "freight depot" was being converted to commercial use(laundromat?) and the depot was in the first stages of rehab.....they've gotten some money, I think to convert to a community center....so nothing is being totally neglected up there. Caboose is lettered and numbered on one side NOGN RR CO 1907, using what looks like playskool letters. Don't know the significance of 1907. Very unique caboose.

http://tinyurl.com/2q626t

I put the second inquiry out to experts in Louisiana, and this is what i heard back:

"There are the remains of several engines, at least two and possibly more,
at the bottom of one of the pits, @ 40-60' depth at the old Green Brothers
site off Enon Highway. There was an IC engiine {possibly 210, an 0-6-0} and a
Miss Central 2-8-2 {124} and a switcher {GM&O 60, an 0-6-0} that were on a siding
which ended in an old pit. They were in the process of being cut up for
scrap when the scrap iron price dropped so low that it was not worth the
cost of cutting them up and the engines were pushed into the pit. If I recall,
what was left was mainly the running gear, and fire box, and possibly
the cab, seems like the boilers were cut up first for the tubes.

All of these were known to have been purchased by Green Brothers, and they disappeared in late 1965. Photos were known to have been taken of the "remains" in the fall of 65.

Before anyone gets any ideas, there is nothing remotely possible to be
restored, these engines were in worse shape than the 72 is now, before
they were cut up., Besides trying to get them out of a deep gravel pit, it
would require a huge amount of money, probably would take a 750 ton crane
to be able reach out far enough to keep the crane from ending up in the pit
due to bank collapse. A couple of million for a bunch of rusted scrap, I
don't think so."

Greg -

Thanks for the info and the photo of caboose "B". I have seen some photos of DL&W wooden center cupola cabooses and yes it is possible that CZC "B" is a former Lackawanna hack. Looks as if she is in decent condition.

Also thanks for the info on the Green Bros. steamers. I remember seeing a photo of an 0-6-0 at work for this outfit in an old issue of TRAINS Magazine, and I think the number WAS 210.

Les

Caboose "B" is def a DL&W wood hack. Would be perfect in Scranton...

Howard P.
Ice Box, NY

Thank you very much Greg. There is a picture of IC 210 while it worked for Green Brothers Sand & Gravel Co. on Don Ross' website at:

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr872.htm

(Scroll down to about the middle of the page.)

As I recall the CZ operation at Bogalusa also ran some old wood bodied Chicago El cars, maybe powered from a gen set to provide the 600 volts. I remember trying to search them out and maybe have a few slides on the shelf somewhere. Upon finding them, disappointed to see one side cut out so large rolls of paper could be easily slid in and out from a dock.

Or am I thinking of someplace else?

Bob Kutella

You are thinking of former Northwestern Elevated/CRT 1796. There are two photos of this car in CERA B-113 Chicago's Rapid Transit Volume I: Rolling Stock 1892-1947. The photos are on page 72.

Les and the group,

In regards to the equipment mentioned by Les, I had the recent opportunity to look over both the wooden caboose in Bogalusa along with the GM&O steam locomotive in the Washington Parish Fairgrounds in Franklinton Louisiana. I thought I would share the following thoughts.

Things in Bogalusa look 100 percent neglected with absolutely no effort being put forward to protect the wooden caboose. The caboose sits just to the north of the old GM&O large depot, which itself looks mostly abandonded and boarded up. It is obvious from my recent trip to Bogalusa, that the local homeless population must use the area around the caboose and depot at night for their activity as the area is over-grown, littered with trash and clothing, and overall is totally neglected. The depot roof is failing in multiple locations, and although boarded up, the depot itself I suspect is an inviting place for the local undesirable population to mingle..... The caboose looks totally neglected with windows broken and or partially boarded up, and the area around the caboose, covered with litter and debris. However the caboose overall is not in bad condition, with its high ladders still in place, and it appeared still locked. The side facing the old ICG is in worse condition with the windows busted out and the open to the elements. Does anyone know who actually owns this caboose, as it is without question subject to local vandals and is one matchstick away from being lost.

The GM&O steam engine in the Washington Parish Fairgrounds, is in poor condition. The locomotive boiler has holes in it, and you can see many years of homemade patches all over the boiler. The engine shows extensive rust, so bad that the cab steps have fallen off, the cylinder jacketing is rusted out, cab equipment is mostly missing, and the accessories such as headlight, bell, whistle etc being long gone. The tender is rusted out, with large rust holes in its side sheets and floor. The overall condition of this locomotive is poor, all due to total neglect, as it is obvious nothing has been done to this locomotive for many many years... It was indeed depressing to see this impressive unique locomotive left to rot. If indeed the city intends to spend $50,000 to do a cosmetic restoration, it will sure require enormous amounts of metal work.

I would be more than pleased to email current photographs of both the wooden caboose in Bogalusa and the GM&O engine in Franklinton Louisiana to anyone with an interest. Please send me a message with your email address, and I will be more than happy to send you plenty of current photographs

Dean Levin

Here is a pic of CRT 1796 at Bogalusa looking forlorn. It was scrapped in about 1966. The side next to the building was open and it was used to haul big rolls of paper around the plant.

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0100/gc1796a.jpg

Sorry to hear that Bogalusa has not progressed with their depot and surrounding area. When I was there in 2003, they had gotten SOME money, and had redone all the electrical in the building, new doors and windows, and had put a new cupola on top of the building(which I think blew off in a storm). It still needed a complete new roof. The caboose had not been vandalized at that point. It could definitely benefit from a roof over its head.

Les... ( and the forum )

Thought I would go back to 2008 and bring back to life your thread on the GM&N 72 at Franklinton Louisiana.... As you mentioned 2 years ago, the engine was to be subject of a 50,000 facelift....

Had the opportunity to pass through Franklinton today, and thought I would see what has happened in two years.... From my last visit till today, the engine has been painted, perhaps a small bit of sheet metal work was done, some lettering and likely most important, a canopy / roof was built over the locomotive.... Display also including lighting above the locomotive and fencing...

All and all a much improved display, with a marker explaining the locomotives role is a vast improvement over my visit two years ago....

Thought some members of the forum would appreciate seeing an update of this locomotive....


Dean Levin

Dean -

Thanks for the update. Yes, the 72 looks a bit better. And the roof will help. I wonder why they didn't put the fake headlight back on the platform on the smokebox door, instead of up on the boiler? That position would have been more indicative of what the engine looked like in service most of her career. But, I guess some attempt is better than no attempt.

By any chance, did you happen to get by the depot and caboose "B" while you were there?

Les

That does indeed look much better; it was sad looking engine at the time of my visit as well. Looks like the money was well spent.

The drought Lousiana had a few years would have been a good time to seek out the remains of steam engines said to be sunk in bayous and other bodies of water, while the water level was low. Alas, I did not get a chance to.

Slightly off topic; but looking at Google Earth, the Caire & Graugnard Sugar Factory in Edgard, LA is apparently being dismantled; just the latest sugar mill to come down. I can kick myself for not checking them out while they were still operating right in my back yard; at least I have some VHS footage to enjoy.

Les and James... ( and the forum ) ..

Here is another shot of the front of the locomotive... Did this locomotive run on the GM&N with a conventional Pyle National headlight ( with side numbers ) ... Perhaps they didnt place the headlight back on the platform because the original sized / style was not available ??

Meanwhile the situation is a vast improvement... As two years ago, it was a real sad state of affairs.... I suspect the 50,000.00 was used for the building along with the cosmetic repairs....

For anyone who does not know, Franklinton is about an hour north of New Orleans and the locomotive is at the Washington Parish Fair Grounds.....


Dean Levin