Interesting stories on Steve's History Hunts blog http://tinyurl.com/6plcp7
about two little steamers in a shed at the Patout sugar mill, the Red River & Gulf, and a derelict steamer at Sun, La.

Jim Tatum.

I had the pleasure of visiting this location about 10 years ago (hard to believe), and was shown around by Mr. Patout himself.

The poor H.K. Porter without a cab is "Bessie", 6458/1920. She is in her present condition as the result of an accident. She was stored inside in the metal building that also contained brown sugar; it is sad to see her sitting outside now.

The H.K. Porter stored in the back of the shed is "Ida P"; 4375/1909. She appears to be complete, and in great cosmetic condition.

She shares the shed with an extremely rare machine, "Stephanie", a Dickson 0-6-2T, 1005/1898. (The shed doors opened easier for us back then, and I got a good shot of her peaking out the shed.) Mr. Patout had sold her to a private owner in Mississippi, who restored her. (Mr. Patout expressed disatisfaction with the work.) When he died, the engine returned to Patoutville, where it remains stored to this day.

The two engines also owned by the Patout family, and running at Six Flags over Texas in Arlington are:

"Lydia", a H.K. Porter 0-4-0, #1754/1897. She is the smaller of the two, and is painted red. She is only used for backup power or when traffic at the park is light; last time I saw her run was during the Christmas season.

"Mary Ann", a Dickson 2-4-2, 1280/1901. She is painted green, and is the primary engine at the park. Both engines run on diesel fuel.

Have spent many a pleasant hour riding behind Mary Ann, and hope to do so again this some summer. The park paid for the restoration and upkeep of both engines; but they are still owned by the Patouts.

According to my uncle who lives near Baldwin, there was talk at one time of setting up a tourist railroad in Patoutville. Apparently, nothing ever came out of it; but probably explains why there is a station on the mill grounds.