Echoes From The Attic and Poems, Early Rail History, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Don Johnson, Mar. 2001
Typed by Belford Carver
Written by by Edna F. Campbell
Copyrighted by Edna F. Campbell
With special thanks to her family for permission to use her works.

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************

EARLY RAIL HISTORY INCLUDES GATOR TRACKS

Locomotives and alligators often crossed paths in the swampy, bayou trails of 
Louisiana after the final spike was driven in 1856 for the Illinois Central 
Railroad's New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad line.  The railroad, 
part of a growing link of railroads serving the south and becoming a part of the 
Illinois Central railroad, didn't stop at Hammond initially.  Its first stations 
coming out of New Orleans were spaced at 10 mile intervals, including Manchac at 
38 miles, Ponchatoula at 48 miles, Tickfaw at 58 miles, Amite at 68 miles, 
Tangipahoa at 78 miles, Magnolia at 98 and Summit at 108 miles.  Service to 
now-thriving cities such as Hammond, McComb, Miss., came in later years.

The Illinois Central's vast expansion and progress earned it the title "Main Line 
of Mid-America".  The railroad continued to experience a steady increase in 
traffic from New Orleans to Cairo, Ill., up until the Civil War on both its rail 
and steamboat lines.

At its peak, the railroad passenger train service included seven trains going 
north and south daily.  All trains, passenger and freight, stopped in Hammond 
for coal refueling and for water.  Railroad employees from McComb to New Orleans 
frequented the popular railroad lunch room, known as "The Beanery".

History is deeply rooted in the historical records as the track crossed land 
where Peter Hammond, the town's first settler, landed.  A train from New Orleans 
transported Charles E. Cate to Hammond to begin its development.

The railroad's publicity and promotion attracted Colonel H. W. Robinson, original 
owner and builder of Hammond's landmark hotel, the Casa de Fresa.  This same 
publicity assisted Cate in bringing northerners and midwesterners to Hammond via 
the development of the Iowa Land Development Company, which Cate headed.

The excellent transportation service provided to the area gave people similar 
service in the freight and mail departments.  The local strawberry industry for 
many years depended solely on the railroads for the transportation of its berries.

Numerous people from Hammond commuted daily to New Orleans for business affairs.  
The early scheduled largely a military railroad.  The 25 years before World War I 
brought the Illinois Central years of prestige and importance, as it expanded in 
all facets.

Hammond owes much of its development and growth to the Illinois Central Railroad.  
Hammond eventually became the best known of towns along the line in Louisiana.

The old depot was once the hub of activity, with the loading and unloading of 
passengers during the frequent train stops.  At its peak, the morning train No. 
31 carried the passengers to New Orleans.  The evening train No. 32 brought them 
home in time for the evening meal.  The train was also used for shopping and 
pleasure trips to the Crescent City.

Amite is strongly linked with the history of the railroad.  The company's first 
president, John Calhoun, married into one of the town's pioneer families.  Calhoun 
married John Bach's daughter.  The Bach's home was one of Amite's first.  Calhoun 
and Bach were business associates.  Calhoun was first secretary and then later 
president of the railroad.

Ponchatoula profited from the railroad's expansion.  It was a busy place in 1853 
and 1854 when the railroad was built from that point north to Osyka.  Work began 
slowly from its track to Manchac.  The railroad provided a livelihood for many 
men.  The towns grew to become the first incorporated in the area.

Independence came into railroad focus in 1837 when the New Orleans Nashville 
Railroad, the predecessor of the Illinois Central, made its unsuccessful attempt.  
The location of the town the railroad planned to make a thriving community was 
east of Independence, and was called Uncle Sam.

Developers led by Maurice Hoffman had great aspirations for the project.  
Waterpower was to come from a dam.  However, plans for the dam, town, hotel, 
bridge and factories vanished with the panic of 1837.

Independence later was favored by Illinois Central officials over Uncle Sam, since 
the latter town had the stigma of the other railroad's failure.

(From ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC, X, 1979, by Edna Campbell)

(Pic of locomotive)