not being able to go anywhere on the new to me DR650
because it seems monsoon season is upon us again, I decided,
in lieu of a deserved nap, I'd fill in the blanks on the last trip
Al and I took in search of the Louisiana and Western between
Port Arthur and Mallard Junction, the namesake of this outing.
Last seen (Page 7) our heroes (yes, I count myself) were seen
emerging from the Bayou Lacassine swamp at Lorraine. From
there we dove straight south to Hayes on La.101 and 14, crossing a
bit more of that swamp. Remember, we were not far from
terminal Louisiana, a place where our webbed feet do indeed
come in handy.
Arriving in Hayes, the railroad right of way was clearly seen.
.jpg)
You let me get away with telling you stuff like that? Yes
it is, but a poor example.
I started to believe that evidence of the old rails would be
slim in Hayes. We circled a block and sure enough there it
was.
.jpg)
Yes, yet another dryer and maybe a small mill. The outstanding
bit of architecture was the water tower. Al noticed the ladder
going up one leg. There were dares exchanged, me daring
him not to go up. He returned the dare not to go up
and I accepted. He said he did not accept dares and headed
for the the rungs. Feeling guilty, I told him I would not
take his picture anymore if he went up that ladder.
Vanity won over and he reversed course back to his bike.
.jpg)
On the opposite side of the mill was the siding. We talked
to a gent that was in his front yard. He verified the location
of the depot. It was near the mill. Below is looking down the
siding to the mill. I have exact coordinates of the depot.
For prices, check the site store.
.jpg)
Bell City
Continuing west, now on La.14 we neared Bell City. We
crossed the rails, the right of way was clearly seen, really.
.jpg)
We were in the groove in Bell City.
.jpg)
I would bet that the old store served as the depot.
We should have asked.
.jpg)
We left 14 and followed Rossignol Road out of town going
west because it followed the rails.
.jpg)
A picture of the Bell City Drainage Canal could not be missed.
.jpg)
Al said it went to the Intracoastal Canal, down there a
few miles, another reminder we were in lower Louisiana.
Next was the first hard hit on the railroad since Niblett and
the ties in the dirt road. There's the remainder of a small
trestle over the BCDC. It was a moment.
.jpg)
At Homewood I had to check out this dryer and warehouses
that were on the line. Homewood is at the corner of La.14
and La.27. The rail loading doors sealed the deal.
.jpg)
Al knew the guy that owned the store so we went in to visit.
While in there we met a gentleman who had helped pull up
the rails in the late 80's and build the new rails to the natural
gas dock later on. He knew it all. What a great character.
He described, for us, the dismantling of the Laccasine Bayou
railroad swing bridge. You don't run into those stories every day.
He said that you could get to the spot but you'd have to jump a
ditch and walk a mile or so. Reluctantly, we passed..... though
Al was urging me to give it a go.
.jpg)
Next we turned up La.27 heading to Lake Charles and the
hopes of find the illusive Mallard Junction. I also had a
yearning to be in Hippie, Louisiana. I think this Hippie
was there far before that San Francisco thing.
Wait, he demanded his picture.
.jpg)
OK....CLICK HERE to go to 9 But, wait, it must be music night.
Seeing Lt. Al sitting there made me think of the song below
Don't forget to come back up here and go to page 9.
Reading further might make you dizzy bringing on a
desperate need to drive to Burger King and eat 5 Whoppers.
One Toke Over The Line by Brewer & Shipley
(I only like it cuz it mentions a railroad station)
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Awaitin' for the train that goes home, sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Whoooo do you love, I hope it's me
I've bin a changin', as you can plainly see
Now I'm one toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I'm waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I bin away a country mile,
Now I'm returnin' showin' off a smile
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I want to be
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over line
One toke, one toke over the line
Man, that song is so repetitious.
I never did like it. I can't believe you
read the whole thing. Wow, man, I'm
really really really sorry.
Here, you can CLICK HERE to
go to No.9, No.9, No.9. That reminds
me, the Beatles are coming out with
yet another run through their barrage
of goldie oldies, remastered, digitalized
in living color. Check Ronco.