List of Louisiana railroads explained

The following railroad companies operate in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Common freight carriers

Private freight carriers

Laurel Valley & Rousseau Station Railroad (n.g. plantation railroad connecting Barker & Lepine properties along Bayou LaForche to one another[mainly cane fields to sugar mill] and to S.P. trunk line).

Passenger carriers

Defunct railroads

NameMarkSystem[1] MilesFromToSuccessorNotes
Alexandria and Western RailwayA&W18.5019091925
Alexandria, Junction City and Shreveport RailroadAJC&SRIJune 29, 18971899Arkansas Southern Railroad
Alexandria and St. Louis RailwayMP18921893Houston, Central Arkansas and Northern Railway
Alexandria, Woodworth and Beaumont Railway
Anacoco Valley Railway
Angola Transfer CompanyKCS19061929Louisiana Railway and Navigation Company
Arkansas and Gulf Railroad
Arkansas, Louisiana and Gulf Railroad19141915N/ALeased the Arkansas, Louisiana and Gulf Railway
Arkansas, Louisiana and Gulf RailwayAL&G19061915Arkansas and Louisiana Midland Railway
Arkansas and Louisiana Midland RailwayA&LM19151920Arkansas and Louisiana Missouri Railway
Arkansas and Louisiana Missouri RailwayA&LM, ALM19201991Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi Railroad
Arkansas, Louisiana and Southern RailwayKCS18971900Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad
Arkansas Southeastern Railway
Arkansas Southern RailroadASRRRI18921905Rock Island, Arkansas and Louisiana RailroadThe Arkansas Southern Railroad (formed August 29, 1892) consolidated with the Alexandria, Junction City & Shreveport Railway Company in March 1899, continuing as the Arkansas Southern Railroad Company. Consolidated with the Arkansas Southern Extension Railway, and the Little Rock Southern Railway Company into the Rock Island, Arkansas and Louisiana Railroad on October 31, 1905.[2]
Arkansas and Southern RailwaySSW18871887St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railway
Arkansas Southern Extension RailwayRI19031905Rock Island, Arkansas and Louisiana RailroadFormed November 28, 1903
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayATSF19651996Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
Avoyelles RailroadMP18981900Texas and Pacific Railway
Bastrop and Lake Providence Railway4.00
Baton Rouge Grosse Tete and Opelousas Railroad18531883[3]
Baton Rouge, Hammond and Eastern RailroadIC19001946Illinois Central Railroad
Bernice and Northwestern Railway1908N/A
Black Bayou Railroad1904N/A
Bodcaw Valley Railway24.001904N/A
Boston and Little River Railway
Brimstone Railroad and Canal Company7.7219051931N/A
Calcasieu, Vernon and Shreveport RailroadKCS16.50 miles18801897Kansas City, Shreveport and Gulf RailwayReference note:[4]
Central Louisiana and Gulf RailroadCLGR19811987MidLouisiana Rail Corporation
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific RailroadRI, ROCKRI183.4319471980Central Louisiana and Gulf Railway, South Central Arkansas RailwayLiquidated in January 1980, parts taken over by the Union Pacific railroad between Brinkley and West Memphis and also by the Little Rock and Western railroad between Little Rock and Danville.[5]
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific RailwayRIRI19061948Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans RailroadIC18781951Illinois Central Railroad
Christie and Eastern Railway10.5019171934N/AFrom the ghost town of Sandel on the Kansas City Southern Railroad line approximately twelve miles to the mill site at Peason. A line was extended east to connect with the Red River and Gulf Railroad at Kurthwood, with connections to Lecompte.[6]
Cinclare Central Factory Railroad
Clinton and Port Hudson RailroadIC18331889Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railway
Colfax and Northern Railway19011903Louisiana Railway and Navigation CompanyChartered on July 10, 1901 from Aloha to Winnfield. Abandoned prior to the Louisiana and Arkansas Railway merger.
Colorado Southern, New Orleans and Pacific RailroadMP19051910New Orleans, Texas and Mexico Railroad
Commercial Transit CompanyIC18771878New Orleans Belt Railroad
Delhi, Baskin and Southwestern Railway
Donaldsonville and Napoleonville RailwayMP19021903Texas and Pacific Railway
Dorcheat Valley Railroad1906N/A
East Camden and Highland RailroadEACH19831990Ouachita Railroad
East Louisiana RailroadGM&O18871905New Orleans Great Northern Railroad
Englewood, Alexandria and Southwestern Railroad
Enterprise Railway1903N/A
Farmerville and Southern RailroadMP19031909St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
Fernwood & Gulf Railroad44March 31, 19061972Illinois Central GulfFernwood & Gulf Railroad became Fernwood, Columbia & Gulf Railroad April 17, 1920, with of track. See: Fernwood Lumber Company[7] The FC&G purchased the unique Brill Model 30 rail bus Car(M-1) in 1930. M-3 had a Ford V-8. Car No.6 was a Jim Crow car.[8]
Franklin and Abbeville RailroadSP1903Franklin and Abbeville Railway
Franklin and Abbeville RailwaySP19031934Texas and New Orleans Railroad
Garyville Northern Railroad19151932N/A
Glenmora and Western RailwayG&W
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe RailwayATSF19061965Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Gulf, Mobile and Northern RailroadGM&NGM&O19331940Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
Gulf, Mobile and Ohio RailroadGM&OGM&O19401972Illinois Central Gulf Railroad
Gulf, Sabine and Red River Railroad
Gulf and Sabine River Railroad19061927N/A
Harrisonburg, Mississippi & Tensas River Railway & Navigation Company of Louisiana19111912N/APossibly failed to operate any trains.
Helena Southwestern Railroad
Houston, Central Arkansas and Northern RailroadMP18871893Alexandria and St. Louis Railway
Houston, Central Arkansas and Northern RailwayMP18931893St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
Houston and Shreveport RailroadHEWTSP18911934Texas and New Orleans Railroad
Iberia, St. Mary and Eastern RailroadMP19091956Missouri Pacific Railroad
Iberia and Vermilion RailroadI&VSP18911934Texas and New Orleans Railroad
Illinois Central RailroadICIC18831972Illinois Central Gulf Railroad
Illinois Central Gulf RailroadICG19721988Illinois Central Railroad
Jackson Railroad
Jasper and Eastern RailwayATSF19041948Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway
Jefferson and Lake Pontchartrain Railroad18531864
Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf RailroadKCS18951900Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City, Shreveport and Gulf RailwayKCS18941935Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City, Shreveport and Gulf Terminal CompanyKCS1897N/A
Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf RailwayMP18871902St. Louis, Watkins and Gulf Railway
Kentwood and Eastern Railroad1922N/A
Kentwood and Eastern RailwayK&E19061922N/A
Kentwood, Greensburg and South Western Railroad19051921N/A
Kinder and Northwestern Railroad
Kingston Railroad
Lake Charles Railway and Navigation Company1908N/A
Lake Charles and Leesville Railway
Lake Charles and Northern RailroadLC&NSP19061934Texas and New Orleans Railroad
Lake Providence, Texarkana and Western Railroad19111930N/A
Leesville East and West Railroad
Leesville, Slagle and Eastern Railway
Little Rock and Monroe RailwayMP19031909St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
Little Rock Southern Railway Company1903November 28, 1903
Loranger, Louisiana and Northeastern Railroad19161926N/A
Loring and Western Railway
Louisiana RailwayN/A
Louisiana Railway and Navigation CompanyKCS19031934Louisiana and Arkansas Railway
Louisiana and Arkansas RailroadKCS18981902Louisiana and Arkansas Railway
Louisiana and Arkansas RailwayL&A, LAKCS19021992Kansas City Southern Railway
Louisiana Central Railroad1904N/A
Louisiana Central Railroad of LouisianaMP18681870New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Vicksburg Railroad
Louisiana Central Stem RailwayMP18561868Louisiana Central Railroad of Louisiana
Louisiana East and West RailwayMP19041907Texas and Pacific Railway
Louisiana Midland RailwayLOAM19741981N/A
Louisiana Midland RailwayIC19451967Illinois Central Railroad
Louisiana Nickel Plate Railway1908N/A
Louisiana North and South Railroad18851890Louisiana and North West Railroad
Louisiana and Pacific Railway19041926N/A
Louisiana Southern RailwayLSOSOU18971993Alabama Great Southern Railroad
Louisiana Western RailroadLWSP18781934Texas and New Orleans Railroad
Louisville and Nashville RailroadL&N, LNL&N18801983Seaboard System Railroad
Louisville, New Orleans and Texas RailwayIC18841892Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad
Mandeville and Sulphur Springs RailroadSOU18681870New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad
Mangham and Northeastern Railway1905N/A
Mansfield Railway and Transportation Company18811959N/A
Memphis, Helena and Louisiana RailroadMP19021903St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
Mexican Gulf RailwaySOU18371867Southeastern Railroad
MidLouisiana Rail CorporationMDR19871993Kansas City Southern Railway
MidSouth Rail CorporationMSRC19861993Kansas City Southern Railway
Mill Creek and Little River Railway and Navigation Company1905N/A
Minden Railroad and Compress CompanyKCS18821898Arkansas, Louisiana and Southern Railway
Minden East and West RailwayKCS19061909Louisiana and Arkansas Railway
Mississippi and La Fourche RailwayMP18961900Texas and Pacific Railway
Mississippi, Terre-aux-Boeuf and Lake RailroadSOU18771886New Orleans and Gulf Railroad
Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway of TexasMKTTMKT19011923Louisiana Railway and Navigation Company
Missouri and Louisiana Railroad19021914Neame, Carson and Southern Railroad
Missouri Pacific RailroadMPMP19171997Union Pacific Railroad
Monroe and Southwestern Railway1904N/A
Monroe and Texas Railroad
Morgan's Louisiana and Texas RailroadSP18691878Morgan's Louisiana and Texas Railroad and Steamship Company
Morgan's Louisiana and Texas Railroad and Steamship CompanyML&TSP18771934Texas and New Orleans Railroad
Natchez, Ball and Shreveport RailwayN/A
Natchez, Red River and Texas RailroadMP18811897Natchez and Western Railway
Natchez, Urania and Ruston Railway18991970N/A
Natchez and Western RailwayMP19041905St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
Natchitoches RailroadMP18871893Natchitoches and Red River Valley Railroad
Natchitoches Land and Railway CompanyMP18851887Natchitoches Railroad
Natchitoches and Red River Valley RailroadMP18931894Natchitoches and Red River Valley Railway
Natchitoches and Red River Valley RailwayMP18941901Texas and Pacific Railway
Neame, Carson and Southern RailroadNC&S19141929N/A
New Iberia and Northern RailroadNI&NMP19091956Missouri Pacific Railroad
New Iberia, St. Martin and Northern RailroadMP19071909New Iberia and Northern Railroad
New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Vicksburg RailroadMP18691881New Orleans Pacific Railway
New Orleans Belt RailroadIC18781886Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad
New Orleans Belt and Terminal CompanySOU19011903New Orleans Terminal Company
New Orleans, Fort Jackson and Grand Isle RailroadMP18881911New Orleans Southern and Grand Isle Railway
New Orleans Great Northern RailroadNOGNGM&O19051933New Orleans Great Northern Railway
New Orleans Great Northern RailwayGM&O19331983Illinois Central Gulf Railroad
New Orleans and Gulf RailroadSOU18861891New Orleans and Southern Railroad
New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern RailroadIC18531874New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago Railroad
New Orleans, Jackson and Northern RailroadIC18771878Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad
New Orleans Lower Coast RailroadNOLR19911999New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railway
New Orleans and Lower Coast RailroadNLCMP19161978Missouri Pacific Railroad
New Orleans and Mississippi Valley RailroadIC18811884Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railway
New Orleans, Mobile and Chattanooga RailroadL&N, MP, SP18681871New Orleans, Mobile and Texas Railroad
New Orleans, Mobile and Chicago RailroadGM&O19121913N/A
New Orleans, Mobile and Texas RailroadL&N, MP, SP18711881Louisiana Western Railroad, Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Morgan's Louisiana and Texas Railroad and Steamship Company
New Orleans, Natalbany and Natchez Railway19021938N/A
New Orleans, Natchez and Fort Scott RailwayMP18861890New Orleans and Northwestern Railway
New Orleans and Northeastern RailroadN&NESOU18701969Alabama Great Southern Railroad
New Orleans and Northwestern RailroadMP19021909St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
New Orleans and Northwestern RailwayMP18901902New Orleans and Northwestern Railroad
New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western RailroadSP18521869Morgan's Louisiana and Texas Railroad
New Orleans Pacific RailwayMP18761881Texas and Pacific Railway
New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago RailroadIC18741877New Orleans, Jackson and Northern Railroad
New Orleans and San Francisco RailroadSOU19021903New Orleans Terminal Company
New Orleans and Southern RailroadSOU18911897Louisiana Southern Railway
New Orleans Southern RailwayMP19081911New Orleans Southern and Grand Isle Railway
New Orleans Southern and Grand Isle RailwayMP19111916New Orleans and Lower Coast Railroad
New Orleans, Spanish Fort and Lake Railroad
New Orleans Terminal CompanyNOTSOU19031993Alabama Great Southern Railroad
New Orleans, Texas and Mexico RailroadMP19101916New Orleans, Texas and Mexico Railway
New Orleans, Texas and Mexico RailwayMP19161956Missouri Pacific Railroad
New Orleans and Western RailroadSOU18951901New Orleans Belt and Terminal Company
North Louisiana and Gulf RailroadNL&G, NLG19061987MidLouisiana Rail CorporationSubsidiary of the Huie-Hodge Lumber Company. Acquired smaller lines like Louisiana & North West in the 1940s. Acquired by Kansas City Southern but name still survives as a leased asset.[9]
North Louisiana and Texas RailroadIC18681875Vicksburg, Shreveport and Texas Railroad
Oakdale and Gulf RailwayO&G11.6February 7, 1916November 17, 1927 N/ALeased tracks from Forest Lumber Company and the Bowman-Hicks Lumber Company. The capital stock was owned by the two companies. Oakdale to Oakdale Junction, Godwin, Boone, Caney, and Wards. Connections at Oakdale: Missouri Pacific Railroad and Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe Railway, at Wards: Missouri Pacific RR.[10]
Oberlin, Hampton and Eastern Railway
Old River and Kissatchie Railway
Opelousas, Gulf and Northeastern RailwayMP19041915Texas and Pacific Railway
Ouachita and Northwestern Railroad19051947N/A
Pontchartrain RailroadL&N18301935N/A
Red River RailroadMP18351878New Orleans Pacific Railway
Red River and Gulf Railroad19051954N/A
Red River and Rocky Mount Railway1904N/A
Robeline and Sabine Pass Railway
Rochelle and Western Railway
Rock Island, Arkansas and Louisiana RailroadRI19051948Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
Roosevelt and Western Railroad1909N/A
Sabine and Northern Railway
St. Bernard RailroadSOU1834Mexican Gulf Railway
St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas RailwaySSW18871891St. Louis Southwestern Railway
St. Louis, Avoyelles and Southwestern RailroadMP18941895St. Louis, Avoyelles and Southwestern Railway
St. Louis, Avoyelles and Southwestern RailwayMP18951899Avoyelles Railroad
St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern RailwayMP18911917Missouri Pacific Railroad
St. Louis and San Francisco RailroadSLSF19051913N/A
St. Louis Southwestern RailwaySSWSSW18911997Union Pacific Railroad
St. Louis, Watkins and Gulf RailwayMP19021909St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway
Seaboard System RailroadSBD19831986CSX Transportation
Sherman, Shreveport and Southern RailwayMKT19001901Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway of Texas
Shreveport, Alexandria and Southwestern Railway
Shreveport and Arkansas RailwaySSW18871887Arkansas and Southern Railway
Shreveport and Houston RailwaySP18831890Houston and Shreveport Railroad
Shreveport and Red River Valley RailwayKCS18971903Louisiana Railway and Navigation Company
Sibley, Lake Bisteneau and Southern Railway19001942N/A
South Central Arkansas RailwaySCK19821983East Camden and Highland Railroad
Southeastern RailroadSOU18551882Mississippi, Terre-aux-Boeuf and Lake Railroad
Southern Railway and Navigation Company
Southern Pacific CompanySPSP19611969Southern Pacific Transportation Company
Southern Pacific CompanySP18851901N/A
Southern Pacific RailroadMP18621872Texas Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Transportation CompanySPSP19691998Union Pacific Railroad
Teche Railroad and Sugar Company
Texarkana, Shreveport and Natchez RailwayMP18951901Texas and Pacific Railway
Texas and New Orleans RailroadT&NO, TNOSP19271961Southern Pacific Company
Texas Pacific RailroadMP18721872Texas and Pacific Railway
Texas and Pacific RailwayT&P, TPMP18721976Missouri Pacific Railroad
Texas Pacific – Missouri Pacific Terminal Railroad of New OrleansTPMPMP19241978Missouri Pacific Railroad
Tioga and Southeastern Railway1905N/A
Trans-Mississippi Terminal CompanyMP19121914Trans-Mississippi Terminal Railroad
Trans-Mississippi Terminal RailroadMP19141924Texas Pacific – Missouri Pacific Terminal Railroad of New Orleans
Tremont and Gulf RailroadIC19021908Tremont and Gulf Railway
Tremont and Gulf RailwayT&GIC19071959Illinois Central Railroad
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific RailroadIC18791901Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific RailwayVS&PIC19011959Illinois Central Railroad
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Texas RailroadIC18521879Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railroad
Victoria, Fisher and Western Railroad1902N/A
Vidalia and Lake Concordia Railroad and Steamboat Transportation CompanyMP18761881Vidalia and Western Railroad
Vidalia and Western RailroadMP18811881Natchez, Red River and Texas Railroad
West Feliciana RailroadIC18311888Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railway
West Feliciana Railway19441948N/A
White Castle and Lake Natchez Railway
Woodworth and Louisiana Central Railway19001926N/A
Yazoo and Mississippi Valley RailroadIC18921946Illinois Central Railroad
Zachary and Northeastern Railroad
Zimmerman, Leesville and Southwestern Railway
Zwolle and Eastern Railway19041922N/A
Special notes:

General references

Notes and References

  1. This is one or more of the Class I railroads that the railroad became part of, if any.
  2. Book: Farnsworth, Robert S.. The Grand Western Railroad Game: The History of the Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railroads: Volume I: The Empire Years: 1850 Up to the Great War. 236. Dorrance Publishing. Dec 11, 2017. 9781480927070. 2019-05-19 .
  3. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4231653 Baton Rouge Grosse Tete and Opelousas Railroad
  4. http://www.msrailroads.com/Calcasieu_Vernon_Shreveport.htm Calcasieu, Vernon and Shreveport Railroad
  5. http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5101 Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
  6. http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/sabine/history/peason.txt US War Archives: Peason
  7. https://www.msrailroads.com/images/FCG_TT_1920.jpg Fernwood & Gulf Railroad
  8. http://www.taplines.net/August/augindex.htm FC&G rail bus
  9. https://www.american-rails.com/nlg.html North Louisiana and Gulf Railroad
  10. http://www.msrailroads.com/Oakdale_Gulf.htm Mississippi Rails: Oakdale and Gulf Railway
  11. http://www.loggingrailroads.com/la.htm Louisiana Logging Railroads