The Louisiana & Delta RR Scrapbook

Most of the recent writes including thousands of pictures of the Louisiana and Delta Railroad have been distributed solely by email. I simply have not had the stamina to up load all those shots and the exciting stories which went with them. If you are in the Guest Book somewhere, you may have been getting them.
If not, you ain't.

To acknowledge the internationals who may visit, all of these action shots occured between Lafayette and Schriever, Louisiana in an area along US 90, commonly called Sugarcane Alley. This area is one of the most mysterious and awesomely beautiful places in the world. These are a few pictures of the little railroad engines that ply these fields, forest, swamps, lost lines and mainlines of Sugarcane Alley.

The L&D runs on the historic rails of the Southern Pacific,

Missouri Pacific, Iberia and Vermillion, and Franklin and

Abbeville RRs. This was the stretch to the Avery Island Salt

Mine and pepper sauce factory. Ever hear of Tabasco?

The is the Iberia and Vermillion Junction. The curved way

went to Eunice, the straight went to the salt mine. It

came from New Iberia.

Pipe gondolas are lined up on the Avery Island dead end.

Now the engines. This is my favorite place to view the

north yard in New Iberia. It is the only shade available

on the east side of Washington St.

This is at the salt mine near Breaux Bridge. Why? It was a good

comparison between a big semi and a small diesel.

Another shade tree shot taken at Breaux Bridge.

Coming into New Iberia from Abbeville and the Port of

Iberia which is located on the old Franklin and Abbeville RR.

West of Baldwin on the Weeks Island branch, the L&D

visits a carbon black plant. This shot could go on their

caledar.

I didn't know the L&D has the need for a robot, but there

she is.

Loading up at the Breaux Bridge salt mine.

Crossing La.94 at Breaux Bridge.

Why I call it Sugarcane Alley.

This is how most motorist wish it was. 

At the same BB crossing.

Again in BB. Working with reduced mobility (lost rail length across the road),

dealing with Enterprise Petroleum  is a hassle.

The parking lot in BB.

The rails once crossed the road and then crossed the Atchafalaya

Basin before they crossed the Mississippi River on a Missouri Pacific ferry.

Just cause I like it. Mz Utah at the New Iberia Washington St. yard.

Wading through the swamp near BB.

There is a troubling spot on the rails I've heard them mention.

It is the hump behind the engine.

I think a roller coaster effect is the troubling part.

The Washington St. yard can get confusing.

Work Work, Working on the Railroad. The old MP rails

in New Iberia. The MP route does some very strange

gyrations going east.

New Iberia: Gassing up for the afternoon's game.

Ready, set......

Lined up at the pump.

Hauling carbon black.

Baby needs new shoes.

Ahhhhh Eeeeeeee!!

It's Al, don't ask.

Coming off the old Weeks Island route at Baldwin.

On the main in New Iberia.

Backing through New Iberia.

Going to work.

Yes, it's a L&D engine, the first I ever shot. I had no idea

it was local. I figured it was just lost. ML originated in

Pennsylvania. A fella, after seeing my shot contacted me.

His father had been a life long employee of the railroad.

"

The L&D bought red jumpsuits at one time.

They may rethink that decision.

Green works. Your next thought is that this guy isn't.

You should have seen the rest of his afternoon. He

deserved a moment's break.

It wasn't this intense, but close.

The tail engine headed to the Lafayette yard.

You do the caption.

The University St. underpass, Lafayette, La.

The ladies at tea in the Lafayette yard.

The fixum guys on the Breaux Bridge branch.

Picnic time?

A favorite. The Delcambe Canal drawbridge. Headed

to Abbeville on the old Iberia and Vermillion.

That's it. How did this get on History Hunts? Because the

railroad's presence has helped preserve old lines that

would be plowed under if not for it. I think the L&D is a

prosperous business. Hope she stays that way.