Liberty–White Railroad

Last updated April 17, 2019

The Liberty–White Railroad was chartered on December 22, 1902,^[1] and acquired the 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge logging railroad of the J.J. White Lumber Company running southwest from McComb, Mississippi. A branch of this logging railroad was converted to 4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge and extended to the Amite County seat of Liberty and opened July 20, 1904.^[2]

Three foot gauge railways have a track gauge of 3 ft or 1 yard. This gauge is a narrow gauge and is generally found throughout North, Central, and South America. In Ireland, many secondary and industrial lines were built to 3 ft gauge, and it is the dominant gauge on the Isle of Man, where it is known as the Manx Standard Gauge. Modern 3 ft gauge railways are most commonly found in isolated mountainous areas, on small islands, or in large-scale amusement parks and theme parks. This gauge is also popular in model railroading, and model prototypes of these railways have been made by several model train brands around the world, such as Accucraft Trains (US), Aristo-Craft Trains (US), Bachmann Industries, Delton Locomotive Works (US), LGB (Germany), and PIKO (Germany).

McComb is a city in Pike County, Mississippi, United States, approximately 80 miles (130 km) south of Jackson. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 12,790. It is the principal city of the McComb, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Mississippi is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. Mississippi is the 32nd most extensive and 34th most populous of the 50 United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana to the south, and Arkansas and Louisiana to the west. The state's western boundary is largely defined by the Mississippi River. Jackson, with a population of approximately 167,000 people, is both the state's capital and largest city.

A 4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge branch was also built eastward from the J.J. White mill in South McComb to New Holmesville in 1907 and extended to Tylertown in 1912.^[2] J.J. White was notable for being one of the first Mississippi lumbermen to operate a private logging railroad in 1879.

Tylertown is a town in Mississippi, United States. It is the county seat of Walthall County. The population was 1,910 at the 2000 census.

Lumber or timber is a type of wood that has been processed into beams and planks, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for structural purposes but has many other uses as well.

The Liberty–White Railroad began experiencing financial difficulties after the J.J. White Lumber Company mill in South McComb closed in 1912 and was moved to Columbia, Mississippi. The 3 ft (914 mm) gauge line running southwest to Keiths was immediately abandoned, and the branch to Tylertown was abandoned December 1918.

Columbia is a city in Marion County, Mississippi, which was formed six years before Mississippi was admitted to statehood. Columbia was named for Columbia, South Carolina, from which many of the early settlers had migrated. The population was 6,603 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County.

The remaining 4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge line from South McComb to Liberty was finally abandoned per Interstate Commerce Commission order September 23, 1921.^[3]

The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was a regulatory agency in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including interstate bus lines and telephone companies. Congress expanded ICC authority to regulate other modes of commerce beginning in 1906. Throughout the 20th century several of ICC's authorities were transferred to other federal agencies. The ICC was abolished in 1995, and its remaining functions were transferred to the Surface Transportation Board.

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References

↑ Incorporation Record Pike County, Mississippi.
1 2 "Liberty-White Railroad," in "Tap Line Case," Investigation and Suspension Docket No. 11, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 23, pp. 644-645.
↑ "In the Matter of the Application of the Liberty-White Railroad Company for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity," Finance Docket No. 1514, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 70, pp. 411-412.

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[1] Incorporation Record Pike County, Mississippi.

[tap-2] 1 2 "Liberty-White Railroad," in "Tap Line Case," Investigation and Suspension Docket No. 11, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 23, pp. 644-645.

[3] "In the Matter of the Application of the Liberty-White Railroad Company for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity," Finance Docket No. 1514, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 70, pp. 411-412.