The Claiborne & Polk Military Railroad

Big Cut
Sunday Afternoon: Company had cleared out and I felt the need for a little ride. It would just be a relaxing meander through lovely Louisiana, no purpose, no plan. Somewhere along the way a place name came to mind, "Big Cut". I can't remember how I knew of this place. I think I was doing some research and happened on it. Then I asked the house railroad authority, Mr. Lueck, what the heck it was. He told me. Somewhere out on the Louisiana Plains, I decided I needed to be there. I had done a guess estimate of its location having wandered Camp Claiborne before the free range policy was terminated. I was familiar with what looked like a rail bed and this place was right there, though I'd never been to it, or if I had it had been in a blur of speed and flying mud. What the heck, I thought. It's only 2:00 PM and I'm not that far. I found it, I shot it, I went to its opposite side and shot it, I went down in it, I shot from there, and then I traced a rail bed all the way to US165. I then came home, terminating the ride in a white out rain storm in the dark. Being soaked didn't dampen my enthusiasm. The first thing I did was to write Mr.Lueck and tell him that I'd found BC. I really like sharing with people that get as excited or at least portray the same excitement I'm experiencing. Take my word, the number of such people is limited. Obviously, he was excited and almost immediately opened his vault of goodies and started laying them on me. I told him I needed a picture of the bridge and he sent me an article and more and more. Then when I passed that around, Mark, the map man, got into the act and offered up his collection. Seems Camp Claiborne is one of his hobbies.

My dilemma is now how to handle this wealth. My pictures and ride report are both brilliant and captivating. Nevertheless, The story and pictures of the men and machines responsible for the Big Cut Bridge, and so much more, do trump my offerings a little.

You will get the history first. It's around 1941. It is one of those getterdone war stories that should be captured as a movie. These guys were not, for the most part, green inductees. They were railroad men gone to war. Let's get started. Here's "World War II Railroaders by William T.Church. Some pics by John B.Allen. I like to mention the photographers. First this paragraph whose gist I'll credit as soon as I find the source. If you were wondering what the heck I was talking about, maybe this will help.

The Army's 711th Railway Operating Battalion arrived in Louisiana in August of 1941. It's mission was to begin laying tracks connecting Camp Polk to Camp Claiborne some fifty miles away. They trudged through miles of swamps to raise twenty-five bridges, with the help of a clanging steam powered pile driver. The workers designed and built the bridges. After finishing the rail line, the 711th was sent to Iran where their Louisiana experience helped them maintain the Trans-Iranian Railroad which carried vital military materials to Russia throughout World War II.

Now I'll try to explain the necessity of the Big Cut Bridge. Not to get into what I think was a little squabble between the Red River and Gulf and the Army, let's just leave it at "the Army's railroad needed to cross the RR&G line to get to Fort Polk". The Big Cut Bridge was the answer. See the map below.

The Red River and Gulf Right of Way through Big Cut before the C&P.

In Construction:

Ready:

Test:

Go:

There were other bridges:

Approaching Spring Creek on the way to Camp Polk.

The caption reads:

Why were there cars being pushed? The line was notorious for derailments. The speed limit was 15 mile per hour at first and I'll bet the cars were "track testers".

The crane would often follow at a distance.

They turned this:

And this:

Into this:

There was quite a celebration:

Dignitaries arriving.

And spike driven near LaCamp:

Here's the map on into Polk.

Now you have an idea of the historical weight of the place a whim had led me.

The NEXT PAGE will be my ride there and beyond. After leaving Big Cut, I made the mistake of following the rail bed of the Claiborne and Polk up the line to the east, then asking about what I suspected.
If you just came from the historically leveraged train article, you are no doubt radiating with the glow of pastly empowerment. That is one way of approaching the Big Cut and C&P Railroad story. I initially approached it like this:

I rode up to Glenmora which resides on US165 between McNary and Oakdale, but much closer to McNary and near Longleaf, home of the Southern Forest Historical Museum, featuring a working lumber mill and a bunch of Red River and Gulf engines and stuff that roamed these wood [howz that Everett?]. I knew that I could find Forest Service Road 259 on up Boy Scout somewhere. I turned west off of US 165 onto Boy Scout Road right after crossing Spring Creek on US 165. I'm trying to be clear. You go by the Dunes, which is a four wheeler, dune buggy mecca. I took the next road to the east following a pickup towing a horse trailer. It stopped and I asked if they knew of an old rail bed in the area that went to a place known as Big Cut. Bike riders and horse people don't mix well. There has always been an amount of animosity between the groups. It was the Forest Service's fault for mixing them in the first place. Bike riders go fast and are intent on the immediacy of the terrain. Horse riders feel they have equal rights on the trails, which they do, but don't always realize a blind corner can mean disaster for their animals, themselves, and the bike rider. The solution would be to have separate trails for each since the horse people take umbrage about getting off the trail when THEY CAN HEAR a herd of berserk riders coming. They think that galloping is fast and don't realize these trail bike guys can be doing 60 and if the riders do see them, so what, it's over. That ain't my war anymore but I knew I wasn't dealing with a friendly group when I moseyed up and asked for help. [I think the Forest Service has now rectified this problem, no doubt causing many more]

Bottom line, if you approach a group of horse people out on these back gravel roads looking for info and they look at you like they'd like to whip your butt, it isn't personal. Just turn off your bike a ways before getting to them, be friendly and ask if riding past their animals would be a problem. Your concern usually melts what are normally good people. Oh, the guy I asked said, "the tram is at the second corner, take a hard right and go to the end, and be careful". That was pretty nice as he could have said, "turn right, gun it and go as fast as you can". Soon we'll see why, for horse people, they were all right.

I was going slow and looking from side to side as the grade lifted. I knew I was on the railroad.

The trail was getting dark as I wondered how much further it would be.

I came to a pile of dirt in the trail which usually means "End of Maintenance". I rode over the bump and parked. The rest of the way would be on foot. I gave the bike a parting shot.

What I saw next seemed to fit the description.

I leaned over and there were cement works. They were way to steep to chance.

I walked down a path to the right and the Cut got shallower. I found an eroded area bikes had made and slid down it.

I was now down on the Red River and Gulf Railroad level.

I just shot and shot as I looked around.

Looking up on the opposite north wall.

Back to the south side.

Looking west down the RR&GRR.

The crazies ride here.

Those are not routes down, they are routes up for motorcycles.

Another perspective.

I climbed back up and shot some more down into the Cut.

I'm sitting here loading these pictures and it just hit me so I want it to hit you. I had been in a canyon where steam engines had hauled logs and passengers to and from the mills and mill towns. Above, steam engines belonging to the Army were used to train soldiers in the art of maintaining and building a military railroad. If ever there was a place to stay and wait for ghost trains, this is it. Want to join me? WoooooooWooooooooooooooooo.

I looked around one more time. I love this forest and I cannot absorb enough of these woodsy scenes. It was time to back track. I had not had enough. I needed to find the other side of Big Cut and the Claiborne side of the rails. I had an idea where it might be. My GPS does not have FSR numbers so I guessed.

I was headed west on the Claiborne & Polk Military RR.

Or known to us mortals as FS 259.

I rode up Boy Scout until I got to Melder Road and took it east to spectacular La.112.

I took 112 to where it makes a hard left on to the boulevard of old Camp Claiborne. There I took a hard right onto FSR 200 that goes back into the rear section of old the camp.

I had to ride to where our old campsite was. Such good memories.

I reversed and went back to pick up FSR 264 to get back to the "subdivision" where cement roads of old Claiborne were set up as "blocks". By the way, that cement is still mostly perfect. I'm thinking this was a warehouse area from looking at Mark's maps.

I headed to the back and picked up 259. It looks like a rail bed raised high on an embankment. I have taken my RV down this road. I was more crazy than I am now. This place is one of the cooler places in all of Kisatchie. Yes, Everett, you can drive your school bus back here.

When the road turns left, stop and park. You are 30 feet from the precipice.

Anticipation

One more down the shoot which is set on the side of the timber support "steps".

I headed back up the C&P bed to the bike.

You have to take it easy along here. There are holes. This stretch was used by an oil company at one time which kept the road deep in this green stuff that really worked. Erosion is starting to take its toll.

Back at the subdivision, the tracks curve around alongside the back street and then cure toward the front toward 264.

Here, my bike is looking at the bed headed back up to FSR 264.

Before I got back to 264, the front road of the subdivision, I saw this little building which should have been along the tracks. Had it been a part of the railroad?

Sure it was. Believing is more fun than shunning. Let your imagination go.

This place is unbelievable, speaking of believing. Where else can you follow 2 historical railroads within a few square mile area? I'm sure there are many, but not as pretty as this place. On the next page we visit the sewage disposal plant that serviced Camp Claiborne.
At this point I'll explain to those who don't follow along that I was in the middle of taking my readers across Camp Claiborne, La. following the military RR to where it met the main line on US 165 above Forest Hill, La. Before we go any further, I want you to understand that I know that there is a finite number of people that can look at a little bald place in the woods and see multi-ton steam engines driven by soldiers learning how to build and blow up railroads. Not to worry, this report has none of that, well, some.

As this report has evolved, and Lord it has, several people, some of whom have been mentioned numerous times and some that are new, offered and delivered multiple maps, pictures, observations and information. I now realize that I was portraying my interest in excess of reality and beyond the technical possibilities of this this little blog to display, as far as I know.

I have a few revealing pictures from the rest of the ride and Mark has a few. We both agree, as I said before, that they are for the connoisseur and are probably uninteresting to others not committed to knowing all the nooks and crannies of Camp Claiborne.

So here goes. I'll tell it like it happened. I was back in the back of Claiborne [a generic description of where I was]. I followed the bed that had come from Big Cut on to the east and the main line. My GPS was helping put it together and the right of way was easy to see.

If you click on the map it will enlarge and you can see the red line which was the location of the railroad coming from US165, swinging below the camp to where the shops were and then on to Big Cut and points west, all the way to Camp Polk, now, Fort Polk. [all right, now take a breath]

This is my GPS tracks map. The hot pink line is the rail bed, the white one is me. The pointed irregular section in the tracks line was a GPS hiccup caused by who knows what. The cause of this anomaly might be linked to what I saw later.

One of my reporters, Orville Bloominghouse, seems to be quite interested in the sewer plants at Claiborne. Near the railroad, where it goes due north, you see that hiccup. I saw this and thought it had been part of the RR. Not so. It was identified by OB as a sewage lift station. Not just anyone would know that. He said there are many around the camp, all of which he has documented and registered.

At this point, I'm going to insert one of Orville's pictures. The truth is, I already paid him for it and I don't pay for stuff I don't use. This one is called, "Spur to Sewer Plant". Yes, Julia, it is for sale in the Site Store.

I came to FS 264 that took me to present day La.497, which crosses Claiborne in a zigzag route on into Forest Hill. I know it looks like a road patch and that's what it is, over the bed. I think it is just about where you see the first "ROW" on the left of the route map. If not, it doesn't matter.

I looked at the patch and lined myself up exactly with it. I saw this road next to the assumed trajectory and followed.

I could see the bed through the thick undergrowth. I came to a blockade and had to backtrack, going to the last cross street. I then went down a block and continued east. That detour resulted in quite a find. Orville got giddy when I showed him, exclaming, "I knew there was one there, I just knew it!"

Of course, it's what's left of a huge sewer plant.

You can see the large tank to the right that has been broken out. Whew, glad I wasn't there for the breaking out.

I looked closer.

I wondered if I should go in. What the heck.

I continued.

It got dark and I could not make my way any further. The place had a musty odor. I heard noises and decided it was time to leave.

Later, I showed these pictures to Randolf Bloom, our intergalactic specialist here at History Hunts. With a shocked face, he responded, "Have you ever heard of the Alien Incarceration being carried on at Claiborne? The place is riddled with tunnels and secret chambers. I think they took the famous Roswell space craft and crew from Area 51 in 1951 because the media was getting close to unraveling the government's story. They couldn't fly the thing in, it was too large. It had to be shipped by rail. The incarceration took place at a sewer plant, which by the way, has had the stairways cemented up. It was the one by the rail head. I have the pictures to prove it".

He fumbled around in his desk looking for the pictures but couldn't find them while I got back up off the floor. If he does find them, I'll post them. Check back often.

Back to the ride, I retraced my way up the stairs, jumped on the bike and left.

Collecting myself, I realized that I still had a block to go. Along the way I could see the bed as it was well above ground level.

Being parked, I decided to take a look.

I had hoped to get a good right of way shot, but there was just brush. Most mortals can't see past the undergrowth and imagine a railroad like I can. This is what I saw.

Most normal people see this.

Don't let that bother you, you'll get the hang of it.

Now for some extas. The ride, as such, is over. I emerged from the ghost camp of Claiborne into the light of US 165.

Here's one of the engines that rode the rails here on the Claiborne and Polk, No.4. (Thanks Everett)

And this little honey was sold after the war. She can now be seen pulling trains at the Texas State Railroad. I've been in the cab. If ever there was an animated link to our local past, it is this gem.

EL sent that picture.

A history of the engine for all those that like genealogy can be read from This Site.

Ok, so you are stoked up a little with pictures and a whole bunch of text. It's time to set the C&PMRR aside for a while. Soon we'll move on to the latest ride where Dave, aka, Couyan, and I explore the peninsula between Simmesport and the Morganza Spillway Levee. If ever there was fertile soil for historic RR action, this is it. I spoke of camping out and waiting for the ghost train at Big Cut. The chugging and whistle blowing at Big Cut would be small time compared to the noise heard out on the peninsula we are going to next.

Until then, you can revisit my visit to Big Cut. CLICK HERE.

Credits:

During this presentation:

Mark played Orville and Randolf

Everett played himself.

Mark also contributed the 2 step pictures

and the picture of the patch on the road at the sewer plant.

Further: "EL" is Everett.

As mentioned earlier, there were several contributors that donated so much of their time and energy to what could have been a serious article on Camp Claiborne, a very serious place. I want to especially thank them and apologize for coming up short in that endeavor.

The remaining pictures were taken as I left on 165 and then on the ride down Turkey Creek road from Glenmora.

Turkey Creek/Glenmora Road

Lake Cocodrie

Trying to Follow the Route

In lieu of an exercise program, I've talked myself into believing that riding my bike will keep me tuned up. I've even let that slide recently, so..... yesterday I decided to do a full workout, impending body and soul frying heat or not.

I've become more invigorated with the old trains that ran the woods between the US 165 and US 171. That has been possible due to the voluminous amounts of information Everett (Southern Forest Heritage Museum, Long Leaf, La.) has given me, Mark's contributions and enthusiasm, and the fact that part of Louisiana is about as prime as it gets for motorcycle riding whether your interest lies in the history, scenery, the road or somewhere in between.

And, I'm not talking just paved roads. The area is webbed with great gravel roads, courtesy of the National Forest Service. A sweet spot lies bordered by those 2 major US highways, La.10 to the south and La.28 to the north. There are others in the state for sure. That's my self-imposed limits for this area. If you bite off too much, you choke. (Yes, I realize that the J&E fell bellow La.10, and others are widely spread, so please don't write, Jethro)

This is going to be a general description of the ride which will not include the in depth shots of believed Claiborne and Polk Military Railroad right of ways though some will be shown which capture more than that facet of the shot. I told Al I was cutting his previously slandered "woodsy" shots and he fired back that he now wanted them, so, well, you pick your fights with Al and that will not be one of them.

First, some old business. I found this shot in my camera. I'd either taken it on purpose or the camera auto fired. I find it poignant, but I don't know why. The spike was in my pocket as I sat down to review the Cottonport Depot Ride shots. It is from the Mansura KCS/L&A/LN&R depot property. I also find its presence self-reflective and questioning. How could I be walking around with a spike in my pocket? I guess you adjust. I did feel a bit lighter and more comfortable with its absence.

All righty. I was pretty efficient in getting to west Opelousas. Exiting town on US 190 I saw this fairly mundane old building on the north side. What got my attention was its old timey facade. I think I've seen a similar one over on Bayou LaFourche, on the east side of the Basin. I asked a local contributor if he remembered the place. He mentioned meeting his first wife there. I further quizzed him on the names of the band that played there and evidently that was not his focus of the times as he remembered none. He just wrote back that he remembered Johnny Allen. I think one of his bands was band was "Johnny Allen and the Memories", a great Swamp Pop artist. Record List Click Here Biography Click Here

You may be able to see the remaining fluorescent lights, "Southern Club". South Louisiana and East Texas, especially Beaumont, were dotted with such Swamp Pop venues. Often these places doubled as cock fighting arenas, a truly fowl addiction. Jay's Lounge in Cankton was one that doubled up. Bless Jay's, but it had a dark side.

He did add these notes for posterity with a time frame (his bar hopping era) . It follows:

"Bea's [a bar he'd mentioned] was catty- corner from that boudin place [old Southern Pacific crossing on what is now La.182, just south of Opelousas], and what is now Teche electric supply.

There was also a who-- house across from the airport, it was hidden in the trees, maybe that was the 2 story brick one?" [I had mentioned a two story building I thought was a big restaurant or bar or......]

I had to dash that word, who--. In doing so I presented a question. I'm sure we'd be surprised, or not, at the answers to "who" among our notables who frequented who-- houses here in Southwest Louisiana.

[Cat Doucet, the long ago sheriff of St.Landry parish was linked to a house of ill repute, if my memory serves me. The mention of a who-- house should not link the mentioner to actually being associated with the mentioned establishment, he or I. So, take us off your who list.]

The mentioner goes on:

"There was also Raphaels across from Soileau's Restaurant on the Washington Road. I really didn't barhop much in those days".

[Maybe late 80's to mid 90's which seems late in the century for those places to still be open, but I guess they were? Tradition dies slowly here in SWLA.]

Back to me: So you thought this was going to be about choo choos and wandering the woods? Well, it is, but I like to get your attention first. By the way, the hook for reading all of this is a pretty intense look at Leesville at the end of the ride, but you'll need to completely ingest the first pages to find the key to opening that one. That's just my way of sharing the suspense and or drudgery that accompanies these things.

Page 2

Can't you see it? I didn't think so. If you can see it, tell me in the guest book and I'll send you all the shots only the illusioner can appreciate. I won't stress you again in this one. Everett, it's the one that crosses 113 west of Glenmora.

In the next one, you can see the same railroad heading off to the right. The following shots will be only to display the countryside....... and there will be a few mentions of the hidden history most possess.

I'm going to throw in a little map of my immediate wanderings in the forest west of 165. The green area is the Kisatchie National Forest. The little dash lines are old railroad routes, some call them trams, but there were many true "through" railroads there, also. The lumber company holdings got so widespread they needed railroads to bring in the harvest and in some cases, the finished and semi-finished products. So you see these little lines running everywhere. The key to finding the through lines is finding longer dash line continuations that may go somewhere today, but, did go somewhere in the past.

In these woods, back during WWII, the army built a railroad, some of it on the bed of a previous lumber company route. It was the Claiborne and Polk MilitaryRR, named for the two camps (Polk was not a fort at the time) at either end of its route. It was built for training and transportation purposes. The weighpoints on the map, marked with S's and a number and P's with a number, as well as "Big Cut", mark the C&P's route, or so I believe. I have not completelely varified that with Everett's maps, though it does girate in the same manner in what I've seen. I can only guess that the rest is true. These disclaimers really wear me out. Lieing or making unsubstantuated statements seem an easier alternative. The pay scale grants me that option.

The story goes like this, the green dashes, those depicting the probable route of the Glenmoara and Western (yes, I could have just made that up. They are the "d" weighpoints) come from the south, seen in the previous two pictures. I'll tighten this up later or EL will come screaming. The Army used some of their route, as I said, or rather Everett said, to go west. The yellow dotted line is the C&P. The white dotted line is me. Sometimes we are the same. The red dashes are the Red River and Gulf, the bar band at the SFHMuseum at Long Leaf as it heads off to the west on tour. The weighpoints that are just numbers mark the roads where it crossed. BTW, click the map to enlarge. The map, Fred.

I was just zooming in a little and found "Germany Creek". Had there been war games here involving the railroad trainees who were, in many cases, seasoned railroad men?

Near D9 is the Sunset Fire tower. I could have climbed it. The gate was open, there was no one around and the steps were to the ground. What kept me? FEAR.

I can hear a little voice in the back of the room, "Well, was there any sign of the railroad at D9"?

Yes, Theresa, there was. This is just to illustrate the thick woods and to placate Al. I have to keep reminding him he asked for these.

This one's for the biker crowd at the Barn. Here I am at D9. In the absence of any further evidence, I tried to be as economical as I could and got the required bike shot.

At S21, near the base of Potato Shed Rd, the C&P had joined the whatever RR and both headed west through here. I know I said I wouldn't, but this is too exciting. I am a weak person.

At this point in the ride I needed to go east and start from Big Cut, where the C&P and RR&G crossed (on the map) That is all documented in another write to be linked to at the end of this one. I don't want you scurrying off to read it and leave me here with no one to lie to.

Oh, man, I was on a roll. Next was the Spring Creek crossing. This was the route to the river.

The next few are river shots. I couldn't swear that I actually saw the opposite bank receiving the rails. I keep forgetting that 1945 was a long time ago and Lord knows, I have enough reminders.

There was the sound of a small rapid and gurgling water. If you are into small rapids and gurgling, this place would be your Nurvana.

Wow, I just got a little zap. There were stairs down to the water. Had this been the location of an old Baptist church? I've seen this same scene, it seems, in East Louisiana.

The current had straightened out the river plants.

I've got chores to do or I'm going to be "straightened out".

Page 3

We are now going to hunker down and getter done.

Spring Creek crossing is off of Richmond Road. Richmond road runs east into Richmond Cutoff Rd. I feel sure that Richmond Cutoff Rd is the C&P. Look at this road and imagine it as rails. I know I'm dead on with this one. Don't fuss about the road sign, I could have named it "Steve Road". I obviously have the power.

At the end of Richmond Cutoff is Boy Scout Rd. Right across BS is 259.

Great memories of the Claiborne Multipurpose Trails came crashing back.

The operative word there is "crashing".

The old C&P runs directly into National Forest Road 259. The tracks crossed Boy Scout Rd and continue on 259 until it arcs south. There is a 2 rut road that continues. Take it and you'll be at Big Cut. The route continues after the C&P jumps the Red River and Gulf at Big Cut. That fill on the east side is extremely interesting. It is high above the surroundings. I have taken my Rv through there. That is not suggested as the fill is eroding. From there the line proceeds into the bowels of Camp Claiborne. I turned north on Boy Scout and made a loop north and then west back to Richmond Rd, ready to continue west on the C&P.

"50" and "49" are RR&G crossings. I headed back to S 21 on East River Road. I went north. I turned west off East River onto Glass, which had been named Clarence Edwards. I had a chance to intersect the right of way.

I found it. But, there was a gate. I would have traveled on but you never know how reactive people can be. The guy that lives down there might have been robbed recently. He may have shinny mean dogs. The possibilities can have an end. Yours.

BTW. I found the other end of this section. The gate was down on the other end and I could have ridden it. I might one day. It would offer a woo woo opportunity. That's when you can ride a right of way and pretend you are a train and go woo woo. Don't knock it until you try it.

Glass Road was gorgeous. Look, I use these various rabbits, old railroads, bayous, and road numbers as a way to explore places I'd never think to go. It works. Choose your rabbits.

I returned to E. River and pulled into the settlement of Calcasieu.

The old store marks the crossroads.

Next, I left down Strothers Crossing Rd.

The crossing location is a neighborhood beach. Local women with their kids showed up while I was shooting. They were neutral and ignored me. I not having Al with me to handle social amenities, remained neutral, also.

Could this have been left from 1945?

This is an arm of the Calcacieu River. There are many.

I also like bridges, another rabbit. Could it have been the C&P crossing?

If not a rail bridge, then I bet it was built by those guys.

I rode back up the road to take a picture of the other end of the road with the gate. This one had a gate also, no signs. I'll be back as this stretch crosses another arm of the Calcasieu.

I next tuned northwest on La.112, turning southwest o Padgette Road and then northwest on Farmer Cutoff Rd. Then Merchant Rd. This was a vague passage. Nevertheless, the railroad's path was still evident. S18, 17, 16, 15, 14 gave it up.

I reached La.121. Ahead was Army Stuff.

It looks the right era? I'd seen another one on the J&E route. Could the Army had a garage sale?

Next was LaCamp. I saw the historical maker and thought it might commemorate the old railroad. The "Golden Spike" finishing the line was struck here.

But, this was about another historical happening.

It's for sale at the church. Ask for Darren.

I was off onto La. 489, north of LaCamp to try to find where this happened.

That's confusing?

Page 4

I've gotten to the point in the write where I tuck in behind the wind screen and twist it. This is also the point in the ride where I did the same. La.489 is a great little road. I found nothing but pine trees where I thought the last spike had been driven.

I did find a log cabin.

I was starting to get worn out with the C&P. The road had supplanted the mission. I fell into what motorcyclist call rhythm. That doesn't mean fast or slow, I guess it's where everything is in sync and flowing along. Or, I was dehydrated nearing sun stroke status. I don't remember it being hot, but what does that mean?

I reached La.465 south of La.28, the Alex to Leesville road.

I saw a farmhouse with a box car behind it.

It had no markings, was it stolen?

I reached La. 28. I sat there pondering the situation. I usually turn a ride around at 3pm. Being that it was daylight savings time, wasn't it was really 2pm sun time, I rationalized. I turned toward Leesville. La. 28 is being 4 laned. The state police are heavy along that route, so be cool. My next S mark would be the C&P's crossing as it went north of 28. I would not pursue it as I wanted to use my time in Leesville. The final C&P picture would be stunning and a great way to end this stretch of research.

S10 marks the spot. You can see how it turns west after crossing the main highway. The Calcasieu Basin is a tangle of riveretts. I'm sure crossing it was well planned to be the most efficient. Or maybe not? I know a lot of post had to be driven for those trestles. I sure would like to find one. The remainder of the C&P would have to wait. I was going to Leesville.

I saw this shortcut. I missed it, but found a way to it. I rode for 5 miles and came to a "Road Closed" sign.

Where I wanted to go was in sight.

I threw a tantrum in the middle of the road. I cursed Louisiana, Vernon Parish, the DOTD guys and my mother in law since I've been so restrained lately. Never let a good tantrum go unstoked. After I'd blown my wistle and the pressure was down, I calmly reversed course and returned to La.28 for another try at getting to the tracks in Leesville. My GPS wanted to take me back to the out bridge, I cursed her too. She's long known her name rhymes with "itch".

Nevertheless, I did find a neat way into Leesville. By the way, Leesville takes a bad rap. It is a very nice little town. I sensed I was near a historic lumber mill. I have that ability.

What did I tell you.

I just reviewed the Leesville pictures. There's no way I can add them

to this page.

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I parked the bike at the crossing. I think I was getting a little woozy as my give a dam' was gone. I'd just parked in the middle of the road. What were they going to do, run over me? This was a great place for me to cop an attitude since there was no traffic. I think I was still hot over the "Road Out" experience. I'm getting one of those orange cones and put "Road Closed" on it and park anywhere. No traffic will be allowed to pass me. I know, that's brilliant. Glad to share.

Good shot, huh?

Thank you, but this one is better. That's where I was headed.

Well?

Here's looking down 3rd Street which looks like the old main drag.

Oops, maybe this one is a little better.

The next one is looking north. If you are going to do it, do it all.

A map would make things easier for me, so I'll put one. Click it, it gets bigger.

A brief explanation. The yellow line is an old railroad coming into Leesville. I think it's a branch of the C&P, though it shouldn't be. I would think the C&P ended at Camp Polk, but the yellow line hooks up to the dashes I followed from Claiborne with a brief break in the line. So, who knows? It ain't going to make me crazy. That's been done. The weighpoints marked Y1 and Y2 represent where a wye met the main line. The following businesses were on that wye. It also marks where the mystery railroad connected.

Then I saw this building. I didn't know if I could uncover it enough for a shot. Then I wanted to go inside, but it had "signs" and I decided not to.

It was the real deal railroad building, maybe an old depot or railroad warehouse. I think it was connected to the railroad that left Leesville going east. I know it was. That may make me mo crazy.

This is the tank that was next to it. Was it for water???

I don't think it was high enough for what I wanted it for.

But it might have been for oil.

I returned to the main line and surveyed the depot and nearby buildings from the east side.

Was that a dog trot?

Yes, it's all a part of the museum that is the depot property now.

The next building is another old depot. I didn't see it as such then, being delierious.

Then the Leesville Depot:

As I rode south, I saw this huge old warehouse.

I can't quite figure the rail set up here. There is this very large open space which says "yard" or "business" or something to me. I think you can say for sure the green building had a siding next to those doors.

Past it was this little building, still moving south, paralleling the tracks. It had great roof vents. Everyone and everything needs a compliment from time to time.

"That pipe is connected to the haunting mystery which may push me over the edge", Edgar Allen Poe.

Then a real surprise, engines with KCS on their sides. I thought the Kansas City Southern had been eaten. With them were CN engines, urg. I got a thing about Canada. I had some Canadian jerk come up to me in a campground and start wailing in on President Bush. I almost hit him. I guess I could have taught him a lesson about being a guest in a foreign country, and now I wish I had. "Never pass up an opportunity to achieve a little justice", my new motto. Maybe I should stay away from train yards?

I was now on the west side of the tracks. Here's the south end of the Leesville Depot.

Backing off a bit:

And, at the north end of the station was this cracked bell surely a copy of the Liberty Bell, but I couldn't be sure. There's the museum's sign and you can barely see "Leesville" on the station sign. My framing was getting sloppy. I'm sure that's not all.

Here's the other side of the "little station":

The Dogtrot:

And adjoining facilities:

Some other little house. I'll call it a crew house. I know there's a RR name for it, but I forgot.

Then there was the China Grove Church and School:

China Grove seems to be a common name in the woods. Why?

Across the street was Fertitta Brothers, 1915.

Oops, got too many pictures on this page, a sign I'm wearing out.

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I went west to the old main drag and got the obligatory Vernon Parish Courthouse, 1910, picture.

Leesville is not a recent happening.

The Police Jury building was down the way. Do we still have Police Juries? Google "Napoleonic Code".

I was and am so proud of myself. I was headed out of town and I was really tired. Then I remembered seeing an old railroad structure on the north side of town on one of my trips. I needed to investigate. I u-turned and headed back through town. Leesville is not so bad when you get use to the 15 lights on 171.

I went under the train overpass and blew off that shot since I have one.

I was right.

I had to stop, pull out the water and Dr. Pepper and stoke my box before pushing on. After I'd replaced my helmet I crammed 2 granola bars in past the front bar into my mouth. Feeling physically rejuvenated, I went on down to the station across the grass on the bike. Was I getting wild and crazy!!! The heat will set you free. The station was from Benson, DeSoto Parish, La.

This was evidently going to be a little tourist area. It's all for sale.

I had to pull the vine away from the name to make it out.

Here's the little store. I don't know if it's old or a replica?

I got gas at the adjoining Shell station, then headed south on 171 back through town. Seeing the old house, I had to get a picture. It was huge and, it was being restored.

I cleared town and was on the south 4 lane when I saw the old store. Not yet having enough "old", I u-turned at New Llano. I was overcome by stuff and had to leave.

I turned east on La.10 which runs on the side of For Polk. The traffic was heavy as it was 5 pm, but it was all coming at me and I had an open road ahead. It got cold and the sky darkened. It stayed that way until Ville Platte and never rained. I threaded the needle the whole way enjoying all the benefits of the weather but none of the rock and roll which is associated with severe temperature changes. Not a drop. It never got over 75 degrees. The bank clock in VP registered 75, and VP felt warm to me. I'm still shaking my head over that one. That's it. Bye.

A Mr.Clark left a nice note in the Guest Book. He remarked that he liked the history aspect of my rides. That reminded me to put a link to the old C&P ride to Camp Claiborne. Those places I mentioned in this one are in that write. CLICK HERE to go there.