I just received word that Louis Saillard passed unexpectedly at his home in Baton Rouge, LA on November 13, 2024.

Louis was one of the premier historians of Louisiana and Mississippi railroading and especially short line railroading.

His work career was 30 years as a Lab Technician at Humble -Exxon in Baton Rouge.

Louis served as the executor of the estate of C.W. Witbeck and as such was responsible for saving much of what Bill had collected over the years. He also was, at various times associated with the Reader Railroad, the Louisiana Midland, Louisiana Steam Train Association, the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Historical Society and the Southern Forest Heritage Museum. He was a professionals photographer, shooting with his Rollei until he could no longer develop his own photos.

He will be remembered not only for all of this, but for rescuing Fernwood, Columbia and Gulf motor #M-4, and donating it to the Southern Forest Heritage Museum where it runs today.

Louis loved what he called "dirt track" railroading and I hope that today he is wandering down a weedy right of way, looking for the ideal location to take his special photo of the weekly freight.

Godspeed, Louis

Thanks for the information. I haven't seen or talked with Louis in some time, but his knowledge and personality will certainly be missed.
Bart

Over 30 years ago, I was in contact with Louis over the course of about a year to try and get Cedar Point and Lake Erie's 2-6-0 Davenport, Albert, repatriated to Louisiana, where it had been (I think) the largest plantation engine in the state, for a proposed plantation museum that I don't think ever came to pass. That effort obviously didn't succeed, but I enjoyed dealing with Louis, and am sorry to hear of his passing.

My name must be added to the list of mourners for a tremendously knowledgeable and dedicated historian, collector, author, & photographer of the Deep South's railroads. His folks were good friends of my Aunt & Uncle in Albany, Louisiana, and Louis was to be a big help to me in collecting and documenting the worldly remains of the Westfield Plantation RR. (Too bad our efforts came to nothing.) He was truly one of a kind, and his passing leaves a very unique void in our ranks.

May every switch be lined for him, and every signal be green, for now and for all time....

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... -saillard/
I remember well his articles in Trains magazine, especially on the MidSouth regional, now a key part of CPKC.