The Red River and Gulf Railroad

Long Leaf Junction to LeCompte, Mederain, and Kurthwood, LA

This logging line to the southwest of Alexandria, LA, extended in 3 directions from Long Leaf Junction on the Missouri Pacific (now UP). One line went from Long Leaf Junction to Forest Hill, Holdup, Togo, and then LeCompte on the Texas & Pacific (later MP and now UP). To the southeast of Long Leaf Junction, the line went to Long Leaf, location of a major saw mill complex which is being preserved (see below), then Louisiana Junction, Audebert, Cocodrie, Causey and ending at the Rock Island in Mederain, also a sawmill town. To the northwest, the RR&G went to Big Cut, Melder, Bliss, Elmelhine, Lewiston, Walding, Stille, Hood, Comrade, Mathis, Hutton, Alco, Dusenbury, and ending in Kurthwood. The line was apparently built for the sawmills it served.

In addition to Everett Lueck's photos, Steve has provided some pictures of a historical marker at Peason, LA, which shows some of the RR&G operations in the area, along with some more pictures of the rail equipment at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum. For more information on the railroad equipment or for the RR&G in general, please see both the Museum's website, and Steve's blog, both linked below.

Picture of abandonment.
Photo by Everett Lueck.
*Southern Forest Heritage Museum:* This is near the Long Leaf Sa...
Southern Forest Heritage Museum: This is near the Long Leaf Sawmill complex which is in the process of being preserved and restored as the Forest Heritage Museum. Photo by Everett Lueck.
*Southern Forest Heritage Museum:* One of the RR&G engines remai...
Southern Forest Heritage Museum: One of the RR&G engines remaining at the Long Leaf Sawmill Complex which is in the process of being preserved and restored as the Forest Heritage Museum. Photo by Everett Lueck.
*Southern Forest Heritage Museum:* An old steam locomotive and t...
Southern Forest Heritage Museum: An old steam locomotive and tender. Photo by Steve, 3/30/2005.
*Southern Forest Heritage Museum:* An old steam locomotive.
Southern Forest Heritage Museum: An old steam locomotive. Photo by Steve, 3/30/2005.
*Southern Forest Heritage Museum:* The tender of the steam locom...
Southern Forest Heritage Museum: The tender of the steam locomotive. Photo by Steve, 3/30/2005.
*Southern Forest Heritage Museum:* This is a Clyde 4-line Rehaul...
Southern Forest Heritage Museum: This is a Clyde 4-line Rehaul Skidder, and was built in 1919 by Clyde Iron Works, Duluth, Minnesota, and is the only Clyde skidder known to exist. Photo by Steve, 3/30/2005.
*Southern Forest Heritage Museum:* This is a McGiffert Loader, b...
Southern Forest Heritage Museum: This is a McGiffert Loader, built in 1919. The Loader would lift an adjacent empty log car into its loading bin, and fill the log car from above. Its curved out legs would support the log car on the tracks as it was being loaded. Photo by Steve, 3/30/2005.
*Southern Forest Heritage Museum:* Some railroad equipment -- it...
Southern Forest Heritage Museum: Some railroad equipment -- it is not known what these are used for. Photo by Steve, 3/30/2005.
*Peason Historical Marker:* Red River and Gulf engine that ran f...
Peason Historical Marker: Red River and Gulf engine that ran from Lecompte to Alco, Kurthwood, and on to Peason. From Pearson it traveled on to Sandel. (3/26/2008, submitted by Steve)
*Peason Historical Marker:* The Toonerville Trolley that ran fro...
Peason Historical Marker: The Toonerville Trolley that ran from Peason to Sandel daily. Photo by Steve, 3/26/2008.
*Peason Historical Marker:* Christie and Eastern engine 104 comi...
Peason Historical Marker: Christie and Eastern engine 104 coming into Peason. Photo by Steve, 3/26/2008.
*Peason Historical Marker:* Log train on spur track being loaded...
Peason Historical Marker: Log train on spur track being loaded by McGiffert log loader. Next stop, the Peason mill. Photo by Steve, 3/26/2008.
The historical marker at Lecompte, LA, describing the Red River ...
The historical marker at Lecompte, LA, describing the Red River Railroad, a possible pre-cursor of the Red River & Gulf. Photo by Steve, 3/26/2008.
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