Gulf and Mississippi Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Gulf and Mississippi Railroad was the first regional railroad
in the United States upon its creation in 1985. With over 713 miles (1,147.5 km) of track in the states of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama it was among the largest spin-off railroads in the post-Staggers Act era. MidSouth Rail acquired the entire G&M railroad in 1988, operating it as a separate entity, SouthRail. Kansas City Southern purchased MidSouth Rail in 1994 and most of the former G&M lines are still in service under KCS.
before the 1972 acquisition of that railroad by the Illinois Central. The GM&O previously maintained two parallel routes through eastern Mississippi, and the easternmost route from Corinth, Mississippi
to Mobile, Alabama
, 331 miles (532.7 km), formed the backbone of the G&M system. This route, as well as the Artesia, Mississippi
through Tuscaloosa
to Holt, Alabama
line belonged to the Mobile & Ohio
prior to merger with the GM&N in 1940.
In addition to the Corinth - Mobile route, the G&M owned a route from Middleton, Tennessee
to Woodland, Mississippi
, including a branch to Tupelo, Mississippi
through trackage rights with Burlington Northern. This allowed access between the main G&M system and the disconnected line from Middleton to Woodland. Initially the disconnected branch was reached through Corinth and Middleton via trackage rights with the Southern. Further lines included Aberdeen
to Laurel, Mississippi
, and Union
to Walnut Grove, Mississippi
.
Tracks between Ackerman
and Laurel, Middleton and Woodland, as well as the branch from Union to Walnut Grove belonged to the Gulf, Mobile, & Northern
prior to 1940. The Aberdeen to Ackerman route was an Illinois Central line and the only Gulf & Mississippi route without Mobile & Ohio or Gulf, Mobile, & Northern heritage.
The Gulf & Mississippi purchased the lines and began service on July 10, 1985. A number of commodities including lumber, wood products, chemicals, and grain were hauled over the railroad, generated around 75,000 annual carloads. However, the railroad was short lived, and on April 14, 1988 the company was sold to MidSouth subsidiary SouthRail.
Kansas City Southern purchased MidSouth in 1994, and SouthRail holdings were merged into KCS operations along with MidSouth. Most of the former Gulf & Mississippi network survives under KCS, although some segments have been abandoned and others sold to other shortline operations such as the Meridian Southern
or Mississippi Tennessee
.
Regional railroad
In the United States, a regional railroad is a railroad company that is not Class I, but still has a substantial amount of traffic or trackage . The Association of American Railroads has defined the lower bound as of track or $40 million in annual operating revenue...
in the United States upon its creation in 1985. With over 713 miles (1,147.5 km) of track in the states of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama it was among the largest spin-off railroads in the post-Staggers Act era. MidSouth Rail acquired the entire G&M railroad in 1988, operating it as a separate entity, SouthRail. Kansas City Southern purchased MidSouth Rail in 1994 and most of the former G&M lines are still in service under KCS.
History
Nearly all components of the Gulf & Mississippi were previously owned by the Gulf, Mobile, & OhioGulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio was a Class I railroad in the central United States whose primary routes extended from Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, to St...
before the 1972 acquisition of that railroad by the Illinois Central. The GM&O previously maintained two parallel routes through eastern Mississippi, and the easternmost route from Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth is a city in Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,054 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Alcorn County. Its ZIP codes are 38834 and 38835.- History :...
to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, 331 miles (532.7 km), formed the backbone of the G&M system. This route, as well as the Artesia, Mississippi
Artesia, Mississippi
Artesia is a town in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 498 at the 2000 census.-History:Artesia was originally Artesia Junction, a junction point on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. During the railroad's construction in the 1850s, an offer was made to the towns of Columbus...
through Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
to Holt, Alabama
Holt, Alabama
Holt is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 4,103. It is part of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
line belonged to the Mobile & Ohio
Mobile and Ohio Railroad
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad was a railroad in the Southern U.S. The M&O was chartered in January and February 1848 by the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It was planned to span the distance between the seaport of Mobile, Alabama and the Ohio River near Cairo, Illinois...
prior to merger with the GM&N in 1940.
In addition to the Corinth - Mobile route, the G&M owned a route from Middleton, Tennessee
Middleton, Tennessee
Middleton is a city in Hardeman County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 602 at the 2000 census. It is located at the intersection of Tennessee State Route 125 and Tennessee State Route 57. It's slogan is the "Crossroads of the South".-History:...
to Woodland, Mississippi
Woodland, Mississippi
Woodland is a village in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 159 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodland is located at ....
, including a branch to Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
through trackage rights with Burlington Northern. This allowed access between the main G&M system and the disconnected line from Middleton to Woodland. Initially the disconnected branch was reached through Corinth and Middleton via trackage rights with the Southern. Further lines included Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Mississippi
Aberdeen is a city in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County....
to Laurel, Mississippi
Laurel, Mississippi
Laurel is a city located in Jones County in Mississippi, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,393 although a significant population increase has been reported following Hurricane Katrina. Located in southeast Mississippi, southeast of...
, and Union
Union, Mississippi
Union is a town in Neshoba and Newton Counties in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 2,021 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Union is located at . Most of the town is in Newton County with a portion extending north into adjacent Neshoba County...
to Walnut Grove, Mississippi
Walnut Grove, Mississippi
Walnut Grove is a town in Leake County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 488 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Walnut Grove is located at ....
.
Tracks between Ackerman
Ackerman, Mississippi
Ackerman is a town in Choctaw County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,696 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Choctaw County.It is named for an early landowner.-Geography:Ackerman is located at ....
and Laurel, Middleton and Woodland, as well as the branch from Union to Walnut Grove belonged to the Gulf, Mobile, & Northern
Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad
The Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad was a railroad in the Southern United States. The first World War had forced government operation upon the company; and in 1919, when it became once more a free agent, it chose Ike Tigrett to charter its new course...
prior to 1940. The Aberdeen to Ackerman route was an Illinois Central line and the only Gulf & Mississippi route without Mobile & Ohio or Gulf, Mobile, & Northern heritage.
The Gulf & Mississippi purchased the lines and began service on July 10, 1985. A number of commodities including lumber, wood products, chemicals, and grain were hauled over the railroad, generated around 75,000 annual carloads. However, the railroad was short lived, and on April 14, 1988 the company was sold to MidSouth subsidiary SouthRail.
Kansas City Southern purchased MidSouth in 1994, and SouthRail holdings were merged into KCS operations along with MidSouth. Most of the former Gulf & Mississippi network survives under KCS, although some segments have been abandoned and others sold to other shortline operations such as the Meridian Southern
Meridian Southern Railway
Meridian Southern Railway , in east Mississippi, USA, is a short line freight railroad linking Meridian, and Waynesboro, Mississippi and intermediate stations. The railroad is connected to the national rail network by its connection to the Kansas City Southern Railway at Meridian...
or Mississippi Tennessee
Mississippi Tennessee Railroad
The Mississippi Tennessee Railroad is a 27 mile long shortline railroad that runs from New Albany to Falkner, MS, and previously extended from Houston, Mississippi to Middleton, Tennessee along former Gulf, Mobile and Ohio trackage....
.