Story and Photos by Ken Hulsey
Is it morally questionable for a person to develop an emotional attachment to an inanimate object, such as an old railroad locomotive?
Yesterday, I was traveling through McComb, Mississippi on my way to a job site. As I exited the highway, a sign for a "Railroad Museum" caught my eye, pointing to the left. Although my actual destination was to the right, as a railfan, I couldn't resist the opportunity to visit the museum.Not knowing the exact location, I pulled over and quickly looked up the museum's coordinates on Google Maps. Luckily, it wasn't far off my route. I didn't know what to expect, as most regional railroad museums tend to have a fairly basic setup - maybe a caboose or old boxcar on display.
However, as I approached the location, I was immediately struck by the sight of a large steam locomotive in the distance. Pulling into the parking lot, I was presented with an impressive display - not just the vintage locomotive, but also several trailing cars, including an old boxcar, two passenger cars, a caboose, and even a wrecking crane. This was clearly no ordinary railroad museum.
Seeing #2542, a 4-8-2 former Illinois Central Railroad locomotive, was love at first sight for me. I hadn't encountered such a large, remarkably well-preserved steam locomotive in years. Back when I lived in California, I was able to admire the fully restored and operational ex-Santa Fe 4-8-4 (Northern) #3751 at the annual San Bernardino Railroad Days. But since moving to Louisiana, there are no longer any preserved steam locomotives of this type for me to observe. Standing in the presence of this magnificent piece of machinery was a truly awe-inspiring experience.
A marker placed just in front of the locomotive provided some information about it's history:
Locomotive #2542 — a mountain type locomotive — was originally manufactured as locomotive #2906 in 1921 in Lima Ohio. In 1942 the wheel arrangement was reconfigured from a 2-10-2 to a 4-8-2 arrangement, and it was then designated as locomotive #2542. This locomotive is one of only two surviving 2500 class Paducah rebuilds (named for the square "Paducah" sand dome atop the boiler), and its sister locomotive, #2500, presently resides in Centralia, Illinois. These were the largest steam engines in the Illinois Central Railroad fleet with speeds topping out at 85 mph. This locomotive served as a work horse for the ICRR in both passenger and freight service.Despite the heavy rain, I thoroughly inspected the 2542 locomotive and its accompanying railcars. Undeterred by the weather, I took the time to closely examine the various railroad equipment and capture some photographs. As an added bonus, I was fortunate to witness the arrival of Amtrak's "City of New Orleans" at the adjacent station, where it dropped off passengers.
Owned by the City of McComb, locomotive #2542 was acquired in 1962 through the efforts of former Mississippi Governor Hugh White, the McComb Junior Auxiliary and other civic groups. Her home was Edgewood Park until relocation to this spot on June 21 2000.
In loving memory of Albert Elton "Bill" Andrews ICRR engineer, Mayor of McComb, Sheriff of Pike County. Given by Al E. Andrews. Jr. and Lynda Andrews Calcote.
When I arrived home last night, my experience in McComb was still on my mind. While surveying the area around the trains and the nearby depot, I spotted an old concrete coaling tower in the distance across the tracks. Although I was pressed for time, I made a note to investigate it further on my next visit.
Curious about McComb's railroad history, I turned to Google Maps and discovered the remains of a roundhouse and other railroad structures. Digging deeper, I learned that the town had once been home to the Illinois Central Railroad's shops, which had been relocated from New Orleans in 1872 (when the line was known as the Jackson and Great Northern Railroad) by Henry Simpson McComb. Apparently, McComb had moved the operation to a "purer" location, away from the bars that had attracted his workers in New Orleans.
Given McComb's significance to the Illinois Central Railroad, it made sense that an impressive locomotive like the #2542 would be put on display there.
During a recent visit to McComb, I noticed the old railroad depot that housed the museum's collection was closed for restoration. Researching further, I discovered the depot had been the victim of arson in 2021. An article revealed that a man named Markez Belmont Smith, angered after his mother kicked him out of the house, had set the historic 120-year-old structure ablaze. Fortunately, the fire department was able to save most of the building and many of the artifacts inside.
The museum has a GoFundMe page up to raise money to help the restoration. At this time it has only raised $315 of their $200K goal so I urge everyone to chip in as much as you can.
The railway post office car #95 is one of the seven of its class built in 1914 by the Pullman Company for the ICRR, and is thought to be the only survivor in its original state. Usually six postal employees, not railroad workers, were on board to retrieve, sort, and deliver the mail at scheduled stops. Mail was loaded and unloaded in sacks via sliding doors, but if not a scheduled stop, mail to be picked up was placed in a sack on a mail crane next to the tracks and retrieved on a mail hook. Mail to be delivered was simply kicked out the door as the train passed through. These RPO cars existed on express or through trains only.
Donated in memory of the three generations of the Decoux, Williams and Lee families privileged to work for the ICRR
From the historical marker:
For over 100 years the caboose was as much a part of the freight train as the locomotive. Placed at the end of the train, the caboose was home to the conductor brakeman and flagman providing a vantage point for trainmen to watch for signs of trouble and living quarters where men slept, cooked, ate and caught up on paperwork. Now the end of the train has seen the end of its era replaced by an EOT (End Of Train device) that is safer and cheaper to maintain.
Caboose #9384 was given to the city of McComb by the Mid South Railroad, after having acquired it from ICRR. She often saw service out of the McComb yards harboring men from McComb as well as other locations. Normally a crew that was assigned to a caboose stayed with that particular caboose. Although we think of the red caboose's exterior the interiors were often painted and decorated in a way to suit the tastes of the crew with such trappings as curtains, artwork, easy chairs, and an array of personalized touches. Some crews were legendary for their culinary skills preparing meals as simple as hot cakes or as varied and delicious as a holiday feast.
Despite the wide-angle view, I was unable to capture clear photos of the most captivating cars in this train consist, which are visible directly behind the locomotive.
The first being:
Dancing in the street accompanied the inauguration of this unique refrigerator car that was fabricated here in the McComb shop. Construction began on car #51000 on August 12, 1946 and was completed on September 25 1946, as a one-of-a-kind experimental car. Built according to specifications developed by the then United Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Association, it was unveiled during a lavish ceremony that included the current Governor of the State of Mississippi Thomas L. Bailey, the past governor, Dennis Murphree and ICRR executives: S. F. Lynch, general manager; T.J. Casey, Superintendent of the Louisiana Division; C.O. Young, Assistant Superintendent McComb car shop; and D.G. Travis, Superintendent McComb car shop. Ceremonies included a champagne christening, live music by a New Orleans orchestra, and a banquet on Main Street with dancing afterward.
The freight capacity of the car is 1989 cubic feet with an ice storage capacity of 306 cubic feet holding 750 pounds per bunker. The first load was bananas shipped from New Orleans, Louisiana to Chicago, Illinois. Car #51000 saw limited use and then quietly spent most of her life tucked away in the McComb shop where she was born. Her preservation is due to the efforts of Mr. Edwin Etheridge, the last Superintendent of the Illinois Central Railroad's McComb car shop.In honor of J.E. (Edwin) Etheridge, major museum contributor, by his family.
And secondly:
McComb's office car originally known as the "Club Car Dixie," was built in 1883 by the Jackson and Sharp Co. of Wilmington, DE for the Vicksburg and Meridian Railway which became the Alabama and Vicksburg Railway in 1889. After being renumbered numerous times, the car became ICRR #4 in 1940. In by gone days, railroad officials would travel first class in this car, having their own chef, steward, and secretary thus the need for a living area, bedrooms, bathrooms, a dining room, and kitchen, This car was designated as a general pool car and was sometimes used in the 50's and 60's by IC Vice President of traffic Ernest J. Carr, and was last used with the McComb wrecking derrick. It became a part of McComb's rolling stock display in November 2012.
In loving memory of Eddy G. May - Air Room Tester - McComb Car Shop and other members of the May family who dedicated many years of service to the ICRR.
Rest assured, I will be getting some images of both of those on my return visit.
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