Update, 10, 2015
This is the most screwed up attempt I've ever done.
Even the html has a ghost in it.
You'd swear I was drunk or stoned during its writing.
And, I do neither.
I will now attempt to fix it as there is some worth buried in it.
Indeed, the rewrite is going well.
It started while I contemplated how I was going to ride the
This is the most screwed up attempt I've ever done.
Even the html has a ghost in it.
You'd swear I was drunk or stoned during its writing.
And, I do neither.
I will now attempt to fix it as there is some worth buried in it.
Indeed, the rewrite is going well.
It started while I contemplated how I was going to ride the
Sunset Limited or maybe chase it. It seems to me that on
Friday you can leave Lafayette at 10:15. Get off at Schriever
and wait until 1:25 where the west bound will pick you up
and bring you back to Lafayette for 1:45. Now, here's the
problem, the east bound is coming from Los Angeles. Given
the uncertainty that can occur, actually arriving at Schriever
in time to catch the fresh train coming from New Orleans, may
be a crap shoot with terrible odds. Sitting in Schiever with
nothing to do and nowhere to go, you might want to get sedated.
I know a bar there with a "floor show", a lovely place.
Not being Friday I decided to go to Lafayette anyway. This is the history that drew me there.
Lafayette was geographically and geologically in the right place at the right time. The Southern Pacific Railroad built an expensive speculative rail line across some very difficult terrain, the untamed Atchafalaya Basin, to connect Lafayette with the population centers along the Mississippi River, the next dependably high ground going east. Another line came from the New Orleans area through Lafayette to reach Opelousas and eventually Alexandria. Another linked Texas with Lafayette. Lafayette was a transportation center. Here are a few old schedules.
Southern Pacific, to the north, Lafayette to Alexandria 1915.
1926
M.L.&T. = Morgan's Louisiana and Texas RR. = the SP, later.
Lafayette to Baton Rouge, the mentioned Basin Route, the east route.
1926, one year before the demise of the Atchafalaya River
bridge at the settlement of Atchafalaya, site of the Welcome Center
on I-10.
To Morgan City 1935, the southeast route eventually to New Orleans.
And to the west (1935). Click to read.
I knew where all of these rails converged but was very confused on how it was done. That confusion is born from my 2 different maps, one old and one new. It was 96F and the humidity was riding the wave of a couple of weeks of rain, weather perfect for stop and go urban warfare in the carbon monoxide and killer traffic. Remember, I'm on a motorcycle, the only way to do this properly.
Note, the labels for the pictures / maps are above the shots.
My old map, below, depicts the early 1970's. (Garmin GPS)
Present day arrangement (Garmin GPS):
Combining the two, I came up with this.
And, from above.
I have drawn in what I see from ground evidence.
What seems pretty close are the rails coming in from the
west (red), and the rails going to Breaux Bridge (green)
though there have been tweaks. There once was a double
set of rails coming in from the west.
The connector between the west rails and the north rails
are strangely different when looking at the Garmin and
the present reality on the ground today. Sometimes
approximations are the best you can do.
The problem with all of this is that I didn't study the maps
until I tried to figure out where I took the pictures. This
approach always requires a second trip to fill in the blanks
and to verify assumptions. Further, you can't trust Garmin.
Exact railroad interpretations are not their business.
I ventured into Lafayette to the living rail museum which
is the Cameron / Mud Street, Washington St/ N.Pierce St,
and Buchanan St. area. My first set of pictures were taken
from Cameron Street where you see the red arrow.
Some may say this is the arm pit of Lafayette. I may agree on
Some may say this is the arm pit of Lafayette. I may agree on
some levels, but for investigating rail history, it is a gold mine.
The Legend: (no not me this time, the map's)
Green: The Baton Rouge Branch, aka the Basin Branch.
These rails now end at Breaux Bridge.
Orange: BR (Baton Rouge Junction)
Blue: N.Pierce and the existing UP/BNSF crossing.
Yellow: The historic cross track of the BR rails and the
Alexandria Branch of the Southern Pacific.
Alexandria Branch of the Southern Pacific.
Yellow Line: The SP to Alexandria.
Yellow Arrow facing down points to the location of the
present depot.
Below are maps of the Cameron Street Crossing area.
The red arrows are the Baton Rouge Branch which still active,
and the green arrows point to Cameron / Mud Streets.
The street is named "Cameron on the west side of the tracks
and "Mud" on the east. It's Lafayette, go figure.
As a local teacher once told me, "The place was designed by cows".
As a local teacher once told me, "The place was designed by cows".
It was also diced up by the railroad and highways as
pronounced by some thesis done at USL/ UL.
1978
This is how it is now (2010).
The red arrow crosses N.Pierce which becomes Railroad St.
to the north as it parallels the abandoned Southern Pacific Alexandria Branch.
Here's an explanation. Use the top map, above.
I was standing at the point end of the red arrow on the top map.
I shot north across Mud Ave. (the east side of the tracks)
The disappearing rails are the Southern Pacific, Alexandria Branch
remains going to Alexandria (the "Alex Jct" we'll see it on a sign
later) and a connector, on the left, to a business.
The disappearing rails are the Southern Pacific, Alexandria Branch
remains going to Alexandria (the "Alex Jct" we'll see it on a sign
later) and a connector, on the left, to a business.
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Panning right (east), you can see the rails headed off to Breaux
Bridge on the old Baton Rouge Branch.
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Backing up and panning right, to the east, I got the historic and now
unneeded crossing sign for the ripped up Southern Pacific Alexandria Branch.
That's Bragg Street and Mud Ave.
That's Bragg Street and Mud Ave.
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Panning right again, or south, off in the distance you can see
the new depot. The old one was the the target of an arsonist.
The building houses equipment for the railroad.
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Panning right, west, a train would appear. I took a break from
the investigation which is shown later.
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From the Cameron and Bragg location, I crossed the tracks moving
west on Mudd Ave. I crossed the abandoned Alexandria Branch,
first, and then the live BNSF rails, making a north turn onto
N.Pierce where you see "H".
I came to the BNSF rails and took a right, angling southeast, along
the tracks on what I don't think was a road. I stopped directly
across the tracks from the switch to the Baton Rouge Branch. (now the Breaux Bridge Louisiana & Delta Branch)
Railroading seems to hang onto historic labeling. "BR" is for "Baton Rouge".
There it goes off through northeastern Lafayette to Breaux Bridge.
I often seen trains stopped here waiting to enter the main line,
usually headed to the Lafayette BNSF yard.
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This connector Baton Rouge conector has been changed up from the original.
I then went back to N.Pierce, took a right to the north and crossed the BNSF rails,
past where I had turned before and went to the second hump that had rails where
that north line ends.
past where I had turned before and went to the second hump that had rails where
that north line ends.
At the end of the north yellow line on the map I came to a double
set of rails. One was a side track. The other was the old approach
from the SP mainline rails to the north bound Alexandria Branch.
They were the connector rails from the west to the abandoned ones going to Alexandria.
They were the connector rails from the west to the abandoned ones going to Alexandria.
From there they bend north.
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I continued up N. Pierce and turned right onto Buchanan.
I stopped there and parked in a driveway to a field which
lay alongside the existing tracks. They end at Buchanan.
I shot the picture below looking south back to the point of the
picture above the map. I had to park where you see the
"L" in Lafayette (above) The bike is at the yellow turn arrow in
the corner in front of the truck. This is the "End of Rails" point seen in a
previous map. From this point north, only the bed is
evidence all the way to Cheneyville. There had been
two sets of rails from the N. Pierce crossing, making the curve
to this point.
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A man approached my bike on his tractor.
I ran back to the bike thinking he might need to get out of
his gate. He stopped and I asked him if he knew where the
roundhouse had been. He explained that he thought it was
off the Evangeline Thruway.
That's all I could think to say to him, at first.
Then I asked if rail traffic still came up this way.
That's all I could think to say to him, at first.
Then I asked if rail traffic still came up this way.
He said, "No, but could you help me fix my tractor"?
I agreed to and we spent the rest of the day and half the
next fixing his tractor. Then he asked me if I'd like to
sit on his front porch and rock a while. I told him thank you,
but I must be getting on with the rail hunt. He told me
to "take care" and for the rest of the ride, I did, making
sure to have no more personal contact.
Below, I went south on Buchanan (from where you see
"Lafayette"), crossing the Baton Rouge Branch, and turned
right (west) on Cameron, crossing the abandoned Southern Pacific
branch to Alexandria, the abandoned business spur and the present
"Lafayette"), crossing the Baton Rouge Branch, and turned
right (west) on Cameron, crossing the abandoned Southern Pacific
branch to Alexandria, the abandoned business spur and the present
BNSF rails to New Orleans and Lake Charles. I turned north off of
Cameron onto Hopkins and then turned north on Washington where
Cameron onto Hopkins and then turned north on Washington where
I recrossed the BNSF again and then came to the Southern Pacific
connector that I'd seen on Buchanan. I was starting to get an idea.
The idea would be monumental and very correct.
I turned right on this dead end street (now). and stopped, slack jawed.
connector that I'd seen on Buchanan. I was starting to get an idea.
The idea would be monumental and very correct.
I turned right on this dead end street (now). and stopped, slack jawed.
I was slack jawed because I saw this. It, like the old I&V
Junction sign down in Vermilion Parish, is a relic from the
past, just as the BR (Baton Rouge) sign is that you can see
at the end of the red arrow in the background. I had discovered
the Holly Landof Lafayette Railroading History.
Just as I was getting ready to start a new leg of the hunt, I heard the
horns blow. I flew back to Cameron Street facing west as 3 big engines pulled
around from the west to the south big bend and headed south.
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The abandoned rails of the Alexandria Branch are between
me and the train where you see the grass that can't be mowed easily.
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As mentioned, here are Alexandria Branch tracks crossing
Mudd on the way to parallel the siding for the depot. The
train would merge alongside the Alexandria Branch to continue
south, or, head into what was once the station siding.
After further review, I was standing on the business siding.
The Alex Branch would be to the left.
After further review, I was standing on the business siding.
The Alex Branch would be to the left.
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This sequence is moving south.
This is the 3rd Street crossing.
It is the crossing north of the station.
There was no Jefferson St. crossing.
There was no Jefferson St. crossing.
Now these rails are covered or gone.
From the Cameron St. Crossing to Simcoe St., the
Alex Branch rails are still there. You can trip on them
in the high grass and really hurt yourself.
From the Cameron St. Crossing to Simcoe St., the
Alex Branch rails are still there. You can trip on them
in the high grass and really hurt yourself.
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Approaching the depot and getting ready to cross the
Jefferson St. underpass.
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Below is my pursuit of the train. This is the modern map.
The modern map has street names.
See above where N.Buchanan meets N. Grant at the E.Simcoe crossing.
On this new map Buchanan does not cross the tracks
until it uses the Simcoe crossing, seen above.
On the old map, below, Buchanan dives across the two sets of
tracks. One is the Alex Branch, the other is the Sunset going west.
There was no east road next to the tracks past
There was no east road next to the tracks past
where it crossed until E. Simcoe where N. Grant started
at where you see "N.Grant St. below" shadowing the rails.
At its south end it turned at a right angle east.
I have added maps below this one with an epiphany.
at where you see "N.Grant St. below" shadowing the rails.
At its south end it turned at a right angle east.
I have added maps below this one with an epiphany.
The old map does not name the streets so I had to superimpose
the old route of N. Grant (red) onto the new map, then I drew in
present day N. Grant St (purple). The new route of N.Grant runs
where the rails were once. New buildings and open areas attest that
this part of town was changed drastically.
The turn to the northeast of Old N. Grant is now, or borders on, the
Jefferson St. underpass.
The Jefferson St. underpass was not yet a reality.
The station would be at the end of the siding on the left of then the main line.
On the new map, N.Buchanan (green) drops south but
does not cross the one set of rails until it uses
the E. Simcoe's crossing to do so, then it continues
south as S. Buchanan. On the west side of the tracks, W. Grant Street follows the
rails in an even drop with no waver since the
east siding is no longer there.
When the Alex Branch was removed and the rails realigned, the city used
some of that space to continue N. Buchanan south
and to straighten out W.Grant all the way to the
the Jefferson Street underpass.That was where I had to ended the train chase.
Now, the active rails, if the GPS is right, occupy
the old western siding which had dead ended at the depot,
just past Third Street on the old map. The crossing
north of the depot had been 3rd St. where there is still one
At this point I must have had a stroke.
Let's see if anything makes sense.
I removed the next map.
You're Welcome.
I hate to write stuff up when I don't have all the facts, but, if I don't write it up quickly after the ride, I will lose interest or I'll just send it off in an easy, got her done, email. I can save those as easily as I can save a web page so on my end it makes no difference. But, I'd rather share them with the world than with just the winos, prostitutes, organized crime members, crooked cops, and pimps on my mailing list. You're shocked?
Below you see the yellow lines. They are my trail on the 8th.
What I've added are points where I should take a second look. I want
to verify Garmin's 2 rail approach from the west.
That has proven true.
I know Bump 2 is there. 3, 4, 5, 6, will have to be checked. I also want to gps the
That has proven true.
I know Bump 2 is there. 3, 4, 5, 6, will have to be checked. I also want to gps the
existing rails which might mean riding them on the bike. I've looked
for a train schedule and can't find one so I guess I'll just wing it.
The angled roads above the tracks (Bump 5 &6) had a purpose. What was in
that space between the tracks and the next road up, Anne St.
Bump 5 and 6 are in the left portion of that area.
At Bump 3 was this, a beautiful building owned by some
"produce supply" company. I love corrugated steel.
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At bump 4, or near, there was a bump equally high with no rails on it.
Looking to the west this was the scene. That's the St. Anne
field. Look at the map and follow a line along St. Anne over to
the branch going to Breaux Bridge and once Baton Rouge.
Did the SP just skip all that Lafayette jazz and head east?
Yes. I had found something I don't believe was common knowledge in the railroad hobbyist community.
Yes. I had found something I don't believe was common knowledge in the railroad hobbyist community.
The streets seem to say so. One even jags to accommodate a 90 degree crossing.
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As time has passed, this crossover is clearly marked on the older maps.
But, I was a novice.
Nevertheless, a 4 foot high hump on a neighborhood street (Washington)
was not going to be ignored.
After checking out Anne's Field, I made the block back to the rails.
This area is not on the Cleanliest City Award tour route and I did
not stop until I reached Huval Street.
I guess everyone was amazed to see a blue bike on these streets.
From the looks, I guess they don't like blue.
At this edit I'll clarify what I was talking about above.
Insert "old white guy" wherever you see "blue bike" or "blue".
I guess everyone was amazed to see a blue bike on these streets.
From the looks, I guess they don't like blue.
At this edit I'll clarify what I was talking about above.
Insert "old white guy" wherever you see "blue bike" or "blue".
For some reason I made another block and came back to Walker Road,
Walker Road is the location of what is called West Yard on the old schedules I showed
you on at the beginning.
This is from outer space: It's large if you want to click it.
What it shows is the Walker Rd Lafayette Power Plant
across the road. There is a spur that at one time, not long
ago, appeared active. I'm not sure how far back it went.
I can only speculate what it delivered or hauled off.
Here's what I saw there:
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They did not cross the road, but had not long ago.
Here's the yard. I'm pressed for time so take the self-
guided tour.
Various pictures
Various pictures
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I proceeded on until I found the spur that went up into the
back of my favorite, Southwest Scrap and Salvage.
I actually sold something there.
This area is not what the dispatcher calls "The Scrapyard".
That is near the east end of the yard.
I actually sold something there.
This area is not what the dispatcher calls "The Scrapyard".
That is near the east end of the yard.
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The Railroad Museum area of Lafayette is not really the armpit
of town, Scott Road is. It is as "nasty industrial" as it gets.
It is layered in refuse from a number of oil booms and busts
plus the other industries such as the scrap yards and car
junk yards, you get the picture. It even had a roach infested
bakery where I once worked. The railroad fits well there.
The ugly keep the economy going, rose gardens don't.
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This gets interesting to me.
I have no recollection.
Lets see what's next.
I'm was west of Lafayette in Scott, La.
The rap continues.
I turned north at Scott to head to Opelousas where
I crossed the tracks and the write stops. Continue below.
It's a whole nuther ride report on the tracks in Lafayette with a lot of better pictures.
It's a whole nuther ride report on the tracks in Lafayette with a lot of better pictures.
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This is a weired as it gets.
Even the html is bouncing around.
Here I went:
I walked out of the house this afternoon about one o'clock expecting the heat and humidity to knock me down. Not so. It may have only been 80F. I knew there must be rain near but I didn't see any action aloft that might keep me home. For those that are questioning my first appearance outside at such a late hour, I was vacuuming. You got any problem with that?
This is where I went back to investigate stuff:
I decided that while I still had the boiler stoked on the Lafayette Hunt, I better get it done, and why not on such a mild afternoon. I headed back to the great cross roads of Lafayette railroading, the Cameraon Street / Mudd Avenue juncture. The map below is pretty large. I suggest you click on it and open it in a new window, set it to the side and refer to it as I try to share my excitement.
I don't think you'll have to expand these after all.
The one below is the old map ware again. To
review, Southern Pacific came in from the west. The rails
are still alive with only one set now which bends
south to New Iberia and New Orleans. The line coming
from the north was also a SP Branch going to Alexandria
by way of Cheneyville. The rails to the east were the
Baton Rouge Branch going there by way of the Atchafalaya
swamp and the Missouri Pacific ferry at Anchorage. I'm
not getting into the present and who is doing what with
what's left over from the past. This page will be only a few
pictures of what I found on the ground and had to explain
to a cop. By the way, the best way to make a cop lose interest
in you is to start talking old train history. He wanted to
leave so badly I felt sorry for him but did not let up until
I told him everything I knew about everything I knew.
Actually, that was a story. The cop stopped to check out
my bike since I was not around and it was parked where
normal people don't park. I told him I appreciated it
because it might be my bike that was stolen and he found
it. He asked what I meant by "it might be my bike".
I told him it was my bike and it wasn't stolen but it might be.
He asked why did I think it might be. I told him that it
might be because of where I parked it except that public
heroes such as himself were checking on it. We all grinned
knowing there wasn't much more to be said on the subject
and the BS was about hubcap height and rising. His next
step would be to book me for impersonating an owner
of a stolen motorcycle.
After that, he did leave. Have you left yet? I like to weed
out the less than serious.
Reference map below.
This one you may want to expand in a new window.
I continued the hunt at "2X", bottom of the blue line.. "B1" , below "2X", is where I parked
my bike and talked to the policeman. You can't find it, can
you? You have to right click it and choose open in a new window.
I'm so afraid this is getting tedious. To help liven up the
pictures, I've added arrows. I want this to be completely
clear when you go by to visit. BTW, there's a real nice
lady that runs an aluminum can salvage business right where
I parked. She also turned me in to the cop when he asked her
about the bike so don't start nothing or she'll bust ya.
Edit, she is now gone. (2015)
Edit, she is now gone. (2015)
This is where the bike was parked. (B1) next to her can recycling business.
That's Mudd Ave. behind it. I figured it was a good
place to park. Sure was a lot of limestone around and nothing else.
Yep, I was in the sweet spot of Lafayette Railroading.
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We'll go to the other side of Mudd to get you oriented.
I originally thought that I had found some very important
branch of the Southern Pacific, and it still may be, but I
don't think so. The arrow pointing straight across the
road marks the SP on its way to Alexandria. The arrow
pointing at the building is suppose to be pointing at the rails
veering off to the left to only businesses on N. Pierce, I think.
It is very hard to see purple line on the Earth Page. The
arrow pointing straight down is pointing at the screened
building. It will become very important in your orientation.
If you don't open that map you'll be lost.
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Below:
Crossing the road and looking back across the street, you
see this. Straight down line is the Alex Branch SP going south.
Slanted line is the business spur. Not seen is the screened building.
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Below
Turning back around and looking north you see this.
This is where the Alexandria Branch gets ready to cross
The Baton Rouge Branch going north. The screened building
to the left separates the SP from the spur. The other arrow
points to a boxcar. It is at Mike Baker Brick on N.Buchanan.
We'll go by there when we clear this area. Remember it.
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Emerging from the grass are the SP rails. I'd hoped to
find the actual cross track in the grass but it was gone.
Unfortunately, this is the less spectacular of the two crossings,
but still spectacular to me. Rails not only offered
but still spectacular to me. Rails not only offered
to the regular person a connection with far off exotic places,
like Opelousas, but a place to walk. I'd do some of that
today. You do see the box car? It's on a siding. I'm still
uneasy about it "only being a siding".
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Here's looking from the north side.
That's a good shot of the screened building.
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This is the west side of the screened building. It is what
I think is only a spur. Here we see where a major route is
crossed by a spur. It really seemed like a dangerous
practice, but it is done twice in a matter of blocks. This
is the spur, screened building and aluminum can business
on the left. I bravely walked right through those weeds.
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I came upon this. The rails continue, but stop a ways up past these BR rails.
Green arrow goes to the main line at BR Junction. Red
arrow points to Baton Rouge. Yellow arrow point to the
business it goes to.
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Here's a closer look.
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Looking to the west (left) from the busines crossing on the BR, you see the BR
approaching the main line. The arrow points to the junction.
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Turning to the east (right), this is the picture. You can see
the spur rails crossing the BR and the back of the screened building.
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If not clear on this, the red line is the spur crossing the BR.
The purple line is the SP. The red arrow pointing right is an
arrow pointing at the screened building. The arrow pointing
left is pointing north where the Alexandria Branch of the
Southern Pacific Railroad went.
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I walked north on the SP Alex Branch. I was not happy with what I've
been calling the BR. I think this is a realignment.
Edit: I was right.
I thought the actual bend occurred farther north.
I was wrong, it was farther south.
The new alignment points to the west so going to the yard is easy.
The old alignment pointed south to enter main line.
Edit: I was right.
I thought the actual bend occurred farther north.
I was wrong, it was farther south.
The new alignment points to the west so going to the yard is easy.
The old alignment pointed south to enter main line.
I know there was something else further north but I'm
not getting into it on this page.
Edit:
I was so right.
At this point I want to brag.
I'm bragging now.
I was not sure so I let it slide until I got home and compared where
I'd been to where the rails of the north Lafayette connection were.
I continued:
There is so much more
Edit:
I was so right.
At this point I want to brag.
I'm bragging now.
I was not sure so I let it slide until I got home and compared where
I'd been to where the rails of the north Lafayette connection were.
I continued:
There is so much more
real with which to deal. I only deal with the surreal when
I'm done with the real. Was a time I did it the other way
around. Maybe I still do? It's a requirement at times.
I was looking for humps coming in from the left and out
to the right or visa versa. Here's another chance to see
Mike Baker's boxcar just to keep it real.
Do you see how the hedge curves?
I may be on to something else.
Do you see how the hedge curves?
I may be on to something else.
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I don't know. I had marked the old cross track on my
gps, but it is so far off it can't be trusted. In the distance,
in front of the white house, are the present BR rails curving
toward BR to the left. This is looking east. I was standing
where the gps said the cross was, possibly.
Do you perceive a rise in the grass?
Do you perceive a rise in the grass?
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To the west was this. If old, it kind of blows my theory.
I should have brought my chain saw, machete, and lawn
mower, plus some bags to pick up all the refuse. But then
the place would lose its charm.
Edit, don't let that fool you.
OO-L and I nailed the passage.
Edit, don't let that fool you.
OO-L and I nailed the passage.
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All right, we are going back on the south side of Mudd Ave, joining the last bit of the Alex Branch
There's stuff there.
First point of interest is a switch (plant). It
owes its existence to its ability to camouflage
itself. Leave it alone. It is in its original home
and happy living out its day daydreaming
of good times gone by and laughing at the
tourist. The trains still go by, if not a little
different from the good old days.
My bet is that some lowlife has stolen it and is using it for his mailbox.
At least these pictures are lowlife proof.
LOLs. I know better.
My bet is that some lowlife has stolen it and is using it for his mailbox.
At least these pictures are lowlife proof.
LOLs. I know better.
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I walked toward the depot, south. I'm not
sure I did such a good job. I think the new
rails didn't at all follow the old. Either that,
or the new ones occupy the rails that originally
went to the depot and the through rails
were the Alexandria Branch's. These where
the original main line, the Alex Branch. There is
the signal light base, the depot and a side track, maybe.
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Backing up a bit, this is what you see. I' m standing on
sunken ties. Those are the Alex Branch rails.
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This is what you see past where the rails above end. This is where
I feel I slacked off. It's a neat area, I don't mind going back.
I carry an opened eight inch knife in my pocket.
I don't think the locals like blue.
I don't think the locals like blue.
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Turning around and looking north on the Alex.
Heading back toward Mudd Ave. I have some stuff to
point out. Arrow in front, pointing down...that's the bed
with the sunken ties. I think it joined the main line before
that beige building. Arrow pointing at the tree is pointing
in the direction of the SP Alex Branch. Arrow to the left
pointing down is at the Mudd Ave. crossing of the main line.
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A closer look and a pop quiz.
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This is a teaser for tomorrow.
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That's it for page 1 of "Icing the Cake".
Edit: So that is what I called the followup ride.
Edit: Annoucing the next day.
Tomorrow I haveanother layer to do. We go up to Buchanan St.
and back to the Alex as she heads further north. We'll check out Mike
Baker Brick and the field from the north end. We'll see
were another spur crossed a main line, mercy, I may have nightmares.
This is the legend:
Red line from the north is the SP coming from Alexandria
by way of Cheneyville, Washington, Opelousas, Sunset, and Carencro.
The leg going left is the main SP line going west to
Lake Charles and ultimately, Los Angeles.
The blue line is the SP going east to Baton Rouge.
The green line is the Mike Baker Brick spur off the Alex Main.
The purple line, near where the blue crossed the red, is
a spur to a beer company. It is the first instance of where
I found a spur crossing a main branch.
A revelation would occur.
A revelation would occur.
Green is the second instance. It comes off the main SP
line (yellow) and goes north across the Alexandria Branch
connector (red) and services yet another beer company.
How many wrecks were there at these crossings?
I rode from where I had parked and had the nice visit
with Officer Friendly. (By the way, there really was
an Officer Friendly on the Lafayette P.D. He was a
champ of a guy. Several of my co mechanics spoke of
him well. He would let you go, but demanded a signed
in blood agreement to behave.
The mechanics needed transfusions daily.
The mechanics needed transfusions daily.
My destination was the bend in N. Buchanan St. It is at the
top of the blue line (the SP going to Baton Rouge, now
Breaux Bridge). It is near the Walmart location.
The straight white line is my theory. One that I insist
is correct.
Yes, I brag, again.
Yes, I brag, again.
The Southern Pacific had a straight bypass from its
western route, across the top of Lafayette, to its eastern
route to Baton Rouge. There is no doubt.
Arriving there, I looked east toward the BR rails which
can be barely seen skirting the trees to the right and
straightening out going through that opening straight
ahead. That is where the cross over would connect.
I further don't believe that the present arrangement
connected to the rails coming in from the west, but
connected to the SP rails coming from the south.
That will be clearly seen in one of the hundred maps here.
This I may waver on. But it is possible. The present
configuration is so weird and seems like an after thought.
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Zoomed in you can see the now straight rails headed to
Breaux Bridge. At the edge of the wood, they curve right.
Grandmother's house is near.
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Turning around, this is the scene. The open area, location of the "connection", continues
west, crossing N. Pierce and Washington Sts where the mystery hump was.
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Above, you are looking at N. Buchanan going to N.Pierce St, which borders the Alex going north.
In the past, the BR connection to the Alex bent more to the south.
Below is the older map with N. Buchanan at a
greater angle. Was that angle to facilitate a connector
from the BR Branch to the Alexandria Branch going north?
I got money on it. The streets fit, the open fields fit. Your call.
I got money on it. The streets fit, the open fields fit. Your call.
This is the "ROW" continuing across Washington to the
SP main line headed to Lake Charles, hump and all. You
can't dispute the humps.
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Behind me, on Washington St, at the mystery hump, is this.
It is the beer dealership the green line on the map goes to.
It went to the cut across connector, possibly.
It went to the cut across connector, possibly.
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Now here's my theory on that. When the white line cut
across (below) was active, the green line (beer dealer)
connected to it and there was no need to cross the red
main connector to the Alexandria Branch.
A simple spur off the white cut across would do.
Further, you can see where the blue line once shot south instead of bending
A simple spur off the white cut across would do.
Further, you can see where the blue line once shot south instead of bending
across the old red Alex line and connecting with the yellow
rails to Lake Charles. That explains all the limestone
where I parked my bike on Mudd Ave at the can recycle place.
I was parked on the Baton Rouge Branch connector to the main
SP line to New Orleans, B1 on the map. "B" is for "bike".
I was parked on the Baton Rouge Branch connector to the main
SP line to New Orleans, B1 on the map. "B" is for "bike".
Below:
One more epiphany. The green arrows point to switch
positions in the old set up. Remember me saying that the
line to the left crossing Mudd Ave went only to a business?
I was wrong. Forget about the present rails. The railroad has replaced
both of the old sets going west. The rails to the left, starting at the
end of the long green arrow, were the main line through town
going south. The short arrow was to a dead end spur to the
depot. Depots got spurs, even small one. Now, the epiphany.
The switch with the pretty vine is, drum roll, the main line
switch. And, while your imagination is working draw in your
mind a line from the end of the long green arrow to the
BR branch that is bending east and you'll have the old setup.
I'll do a full theory map later.
That covers the bend of N. Buchanan.
Below are 2 maps of the same place. The first is the new
map The last pictures of the BR branch headed off to
Breaux Bridge and my theorized cut across headed to
Washington Street were taken from where you see the
"N" for North Buchanan St.
N. Buchanan now bends southward and aligns with Madeline Ave.
I know because I got hit there one time.
It didn't when my theorized connector went from the BR branch across
N. Buchanan now bends southward and aligns with Madeline Ave.
I know because I got hit there one time.
It didn't when my theorized connector went from the BR branch across
north Lafayette and hit the west bound SP near Helen St.
Old map.The green arrow, below, points to Madeline Ave.
The green arrow, above, points to where I parked the bike.
Remember, I'd been here before and talked to the farmer.
I can't stretch your imagination anymore. Here's the scene.
I'm parked approximately where the stub end of the blue
arrow is. (not the pointed end)
Remember the Madeline alignment.
Buchanan & Madeline were changed when the railroad was gone.
The proof is there.
Remember the Madeline alignment.
Buchanan & Madeline were changed when the railroad was gone.
The proof is there.
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Since the farmer and I were best of buddies, I figured he
wouldn't mind if I strolled his field a little. The roadway
is N.Buchanan aligning with Madeline, white car to the left.
Paralleling the rails is or was called Railroad St. I wantto ride it later.
Below is the switch at the pointed end of the blue arrow on the map.
Below is the switch at the pointed end of the blue arrow on the map.
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Turning around, this is what you see looking south. The rails going
straight are the SP Alexandria going into Lafayette.
The rails to the right are the connector rails of yesterday.
My theorized cut across would have cut across a little
north of where the connector starts turning west toward the Sunset SP mainline.
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Walking south. The old connector has become torn up
and only the sunken ties can be seen.
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Notice the spur and switch to Mike Baker Brick to the left.
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I was getting pretty far from my bike and getting nervous.
What they did, I think, was to grab the approach to
the straight line running from the west incoming rails to the
east, Baton Rouge Branch and bend them up so that traffic
from the west could enter the BR Branch when the cut
across was gone. I'm talking
about the yellow line to the right. I say it went straight
down and didn't hook to the left.
Mike Baker Brick's spur is to the left
a pair of rails bent to the right (west) to meet the mainline
at Alex Junction.
The BR connection of old ran across the top of Lafayette
and crossed these rails somewhere between the Baker switch and
from where I'm shooting.
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Getting thick? Here's a simple picture of the Mike Baker
switch which means I walked down that far.
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Below was taken from the other end of the field. The SP
would be to the left along that tree line.
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Here the cut and bent main line follows the deserted connector
around to N. Pierce St. and the Sunset mainline.
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I'm really lucky I didn't have my bike stolen. A car stopped
as I was walking back. He was trying to figure out how he
was going to drive the stolen car and a stolen bike home.
I had walked a ways. N. Pierce was just in sight. I turned at
exactly the right moment.
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This picture was taken earlier. It is looking west at the
converted connector approaches the mainline rails to Lake
Charles. Remember that red brick building. It is where
we see the sign "Alex Jct.", where these rails are headed.
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I turned around and felt a need to shoot the walk back.
That's the Mike Baker switch.
The bike is just to the right of it in the distance.
The bike is just to the right of it in the distance.
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A black car approached. The bike is at about 1:oo.
These are true pictures.
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It stopped. I sprinted holding my 8'' blade with a 8"
handle high waving it like a peyote deranged banshee having
a bad day. It was a cop in an unmarked car.
Now for a review
Remember the Washington Street mystery bump?
And the beer distributorship which sat next to it?
And the Alexandria Junction sign where the rails we were following
a minute ago ended up?
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And the red brick building I told you to remember?
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And the fact that there was a second place where a spur
crossed a main line? In the forefront are the active rails of the BNSF coming
from Lake Charles and headed to New Iberia. The curved
rails are the tweaked ones coming from the Alexandria Junction sign area
and curving around to cross N. Pierce and end up where
I just was, next to my bike explaining my knife. Oh, and
the spur that crosses the connector. I wonder what that
sign says? "Don't engineer drunk"?.
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I don't know why I felt a need for all these angles.
OK, it's because I need them. The spur seemed
to curve around to a loading dock. Did they fill
tank cars with beer? Wow, sounds like a great party.
How would you ice a tank car down?
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Remember the red building seen from the field when I
was theorizing on another connection alignment. Don't
even think about it. Down to the right of the pink building
is where the rails I thought was a business spur ran. They,
in reality, were the original main line rails, coming from Lake Charles, which were
slightly above the new main line curve into Lafayette.
This will blow some experts out of their boats but it works.
The red line coming from US 90 on the map is the original SP route.
Deal with it.
That building is new. It was not there whe the railroad took that route.
This will blow some experts out of their boats but it works.
The red line coming from US 90 on the map is the original SP route.
Deal with it.
That building is new. It was not there whe the railroad took that route.
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Green arrow points to the cut tracks, rails on each
side that we found by the screened building. Blue arrow
points to where the pink building is, approximately.
Back to the beer distributorship for the rest of the views. This
is looking north. At the top is Alex Junction. Crossing the
spur is the Alex connector. Straight ahead is BEER.
In the past, I don't thing that mainline in the forefront was there.
In the past, I don't thing that mainline in the forefront was there.
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As I have harped, the main line today is not the main line
of yesterday. I used my two maps to illustrate something
about the SP's old bend west that came by that pink building.
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There was never a cross track there. The old SP main line was
broken to allow the new alignment of the rails to Breaux
Bridge, probably by Louisiana Delta. The new curve is just that,
a new curve. My feelings on the mild hump in the field were
probably right. I'll have to apologize to my GPS for saying she
was sloppy. The picture below is of the cut Sunset main line looking
toward Breaux Bridge. 25 feet down the line, the Alexandria
rails were broken. The cross did not happen there.
The cut rails are the original curve going into Lafayette.
A review. Here is where the my proposed curve from Lake Charles
hits the Alexandria Branch, where this hunt all started,
it seems like weeks ago.
This is a holy place.
This is the new map.
I say the intersection is No.9.
No.5 is the switch to the depot.
No.4 is where the broken rails are.
Here's the old map. What difference does one more map
make? There you go. I think I get it now.
5 to 6 are very close to the existing rails though I don't
think that bed is used.
And, the pink building was not there when the old curve
was used. Now what they are calling BR Junction is not
really Baton Rouge Junction. It's been moved.
Now I'll try a trick if I can remember all that I've theorized.
The orange is what I found. The white is the old track alignment.
The white with red tracer is all speculative. The large version
is at the company store.
WTH, I had a map left over. What's one more map?
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