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]
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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]
References
edit- ^ Incorporation Record Pike County, Mississippi.
- ^ a b "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.