New Orleans Great Northern Railroad
| Company type | Railroad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Founder | Great Southern Lumber Company |
| Fate | Acquired by Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Louisiana, Mississippi |
| Products | Lumber transportation |
The New Orleans Great Northern Railroad (NOGN) was established in 1905 in Louisiana and Mississippi by the Great Southern Lumber Company to support the Bogalusa mill and community, enabling lumber shipments to northern destinations. In the same year, NOGN merged with the Great Southern Lumber Company and took ownership of the East Louisiana Railroad.
History
The Great Southern Lumber Company, founded by Frank and Charles Goodyear, began its operations in 1908. To facilitate lumber transportation for their Bogalusa mill and town project, they created the New Orleans Great Northern Railroad in 1905 to guarantee effective distribution.
East Louisiana Railway
In June 1905, NOGN purchased the East Louisiana Railway, which stretched along the shore from Pearl River westward through towns such as Mandeville and Covington up to North Slidell. Numerous small stops on this line eventually developed into communities including Hygeia, Oaklawn, Lacombe, Abita Springs, and Clairborne.
Louisiana
Track rights between Bogalusa and Slidell were granted by the Southern Railroad. This route initially belonged to the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad, which later became part of subsidiaries like the Alabama Great Southern Railroad.
Prominent stations along the NOGN route included New Orleans (Terminal Station), Slidell, North Slidell (Shoreline Junction), Florenville Junction, Talisheek, Sun (Gravelpit), Rio, Lees Creek, Bogalusa, Varnado, Acme, and Angie—many of which grew into established communities along this corridor.
Mississippi
The Mississippi segment, completed in 1910, ran from Twin through Sandy Hook, Hickman, Cheraw, Jamestown, West Columbia, Claude, Lenoir, Tilton, Folwell, Monticello, Wanilla, Oma, Rockport, Georgetown, Hopwell, Gatesville, Rosemary, Byram, Elton, Nogan before terminating in Jackson.
Bogue Chitto branch
Spanning 105.6 miles from New Orleans to Tylertown, the Bogue Chitto branch included stops at Floronville, Rio, Isabel, Zona, Pinecliff, Jenkins, Franklinton, Clifton, Warnerton, Lexie, and Tylertown.
Later history
By 1929 financial difficulties beset the New Orleans Great Northern (NOGN). That year saw its acquisition by the Gulf, Mobile & Northern (GMN). After GMN was absorbed by the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad, NOGN’s operations ended around 1933.
Train depots
Constructed in 1913 at Slidell was a station shared by both the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad (NONE) and NOGN. Additionally, NOGN leased depot facilities in New Orleans from NONE.