Batesville Southwestern Railroad
1915 map of the railroad | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Batesville, MS |
| Reporting mark | BSW |
| Locale | Mississippi |
| Dates of operation | 1910–1931 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 17 miles (27 km) |
The Batesville Southwestern Railroad was a shortline railroad established in 1910[1][2] and built jointly by Illinois Central Railroad and R. J. Darnell, a local lumber mill owner.[3] Construction of the line started in 1911 and was completed in 1914.[4] The line extended from Batesville to Crowder and primarily hauled lumber to Darnell's mill. In 1931, the lumber mill closed down and both parties agreed to abandon the line.[3][5]
A small section of BSW track survives as a siding for Grenada Railway to serve some customers in Batesville. The original right of way can still be made out in places along MS Highway 6.
References
- ^ "Batesville Southwestern Railroad". Moody's Steam Railroads. New York, NY: Moody's Investors Service. 1925. p. 547 – via Google Books.
- ^ "New Railroad Chartered". The Luka Vidette. Vol. 25. Luka, MS. August 18, 1910. p. 7.
- ^ a b Howe, Tony; Price, David S. "Batesville Southwestern Railroad". Mississippi Rails. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ^ Darnell v. Edwards, FindLaw (U.S. Supreme Court June 11, 1917).
- ^ "Railroad Allowed to Abandon Line". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, LA. February 13, 1931. p. 3.
Over the opposition of the state of Mississippi, the Interstate Commerce Commission today authorized the Batesville Southwestern Railroad to abandon operation of its 17-mile line.