Louisiana Southern Railway facts for kids

The Louisiana Southern Railway Company (LS) was a railroad in southern Louisiana. It started in 1897. It took over from several smaller railroads that ran along the Mississippi River. These included the Mississippi, Terre aux Boeuf, and Lake; New Orleans and Gulf; and New Orleans and Southern lines. Eventually, the Louisiana Southern became part of the much larger Southern Railway system.

Early Days of the Railway

The Louisiana Southern Railway was first owned by two half-brothers, Franklin (Frank) Emery Prewett and Granville Prewett. They were both from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Frank was born in 1872 and Granville in 1896. Their father was Vernal Franklin Prewett.

Where the Trains Traveled

The main route of the Louisiana Southern Railway went from New Orleans to a place called Bohemia, Louisiana. This was about 50 miles long. By the early 1920s, the railway had a total of 65.1 miles of track.

In 1911, the line was leased to the New Orleans, Texas and Mexico Railway. This railway was run by the Gulf Coast Lines. However, in the 1920s, a group called the National Railway Labor Board decided that the Louisiana Southern was still its own independent company.

What the Railway Carried

At first, the Louisiana Southern Railway mainly carried sugar cane and sugar products. These were very important goods for the railroad. But over time, the sugar mills in the area closed down. This meant there was no more sugar to transport.

After that, the railway's main business came from truck farms. These were large farms that grew vegetables and other produce for sale in markets. This became almost the only thing the trains carried.

Becoming Part of the Southern Railway

In 1952, the Southern Railway bought the Louisiana Southern line. By then, it was about 15 miles long. It ran along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Braithwaite, Louisiana. This marked the end of the Louisiana Southern Railway as a separate company.