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| If the pictures below do not raise your heartbeat, then you've never ridden on a steam powered train. Your loss and you should rectify that. There is nothing like felling power born of a long stroking engine. Harley has made a fortune off this yearning. Old steam trains are being renovated and put back into action to satisfy enthusiast and tourist. I bet Amtrack could be solvant if it went back to steam. What a great idea. The next couple of pictures are "then" followed by "now". On seeing the engines I was first excited and then saddened. Their future is not that hopeful. |
| We walked out of the museum and across the new bridge which had been built by volunteers. I saw the engine in the shed sticking her nose out. I started towards her. Mr. Carroll haulted my progress with a promise that we'd be there later. There was more to see first. Below is the far off train in the shed and carts used in the mill for something. I know, I don't assimilate that well. |
| The Skidder and the Self propelled Loader, both very rare. Also discribed on that site. |
| We crossed the field and entered the "Round House". It had protected this engine somewhat. When Long Leaf closed down everything was left as it was. Nothing was salvaged as I understand it. |
| A rare log car. |
| I can't tell you what I did, but there was a communing in the Round House. I left a changed person. I'm a train nut and if you are, too, you might have an idea of what I'm talking about. A hint: I sat at a window with my hand on a lever. |
| I'll take a picture of anything on rails. And I did. |
| Next to the Mills |
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| Quoted from That Site "At the time of my visit in June, 1995, I saw Meridian Lumber 2-6-0 number 202 (Baldwin/40862/1913) parked next to the engine house, and Long Leaf Lumber 4-6-0 number 400 (Baldwin/51175/1919) parked in the woods across from the engine house. (Engine 202 has since been moved inside the engine house.) It is planned to restore these two engines, in addition to a third engine located on the grounds to operating condition." |
| MORE QUOTES FROM THAT SITE: "Further down the tracks from Engine 400 was Clyde Skidding Machine #321, used to drag the logs out of the forest to the trackside. Located at the opposite corner of the engine house was a huge McGiffert Loader. It was self-propelled; and once it had reached a location in the woods, it could then squat down onto a set of skids. The loader would then be used to lift the logs that were skidded in from the woods onto the flatcars. The loader straddles the logging train, and pulls the train through as it is loading. It is intended to restore both of these steam-powered machines, perhaps back to operating condition". |
| QUOTED FROM THIS SITE "A third engine, Red River & Gulf 4-6-0 number 106 (Baldwin/57203/1923) is currently located in the car knockers shed. (This picture was taken in 1973 by Dan Gray.) It is hoped that two other ex-Long Leaf steam locomotives will be returned to the center, bringing their total steam roster to five. "Railfans" had stolen the works plates and number plates from one of these engines; the grounds are now under 24-hour armed guard. A stretch of the Red River & Gulf railroad from I-49 at Lecompte to the logging camp will also be restored, with a depot at Long Leaf." (I hope) |