Columbia and Silver Creek Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Columbia and Silver Creek Railroad was a shortline railroad formerly operating between a connection with the Illinois Central at Silver Creek
to Columbia
, 28.7 miles (46.2 km). Later the railroad shifted location from the Columbia line to a branch from Taylorsville
to Soso, Mississippi
and was owned by Richard Abernathy. Currently the original line exists as part of the Gloster Southern Railroad
, while the newer segment was abandoned.
between Columbia and Silver Creek around 1905, the railroad was later acquired by the Illinois Central. The newer segment was part of the G&SI mainline between Gulfport
and Memphis, Tennessee
.
The Illinois Central sold the Columbia - Silver Creek line to the Marion County Railroad Authority in March 1982. Traffic consisted of paper, forest products, chemicals, furniture. Service began shortly thereafter, and the line was sold November 1, 1988 to the Gloster Southern. However, operations ended on the line in December 1995.
A second segment ran from an Illinois Central connection at Taylorsville and ended at Soso, for a distance of 10.5 miles (6.1 km). This section was owned by Richard Abernathy, but ceased operations in 1992.
Silver Creek, Mississippi
Silver Creek is a town in Lawrence County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 209 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Silver Creek is located at ....
to Columbia
Columbia, Mississippi
Columbia is a city in Marion County, Mississippi, United States, which was formed six years before Mississippi was admitted to statehood. Columbia was named for Columbia, South Carolina, from which many of the early settlers had migrated. The population was 6,603 as of the 2000 census. It is the...
, 28.7 miles (46.2 km). Later the railroad shifted location from the Columbia line to a branch from Taylorsville
Taylorsville, Mississippi
Taylorsville is a town in Smith County, Mississippi, United States. It is the hometown of various professional athletes, including former Auburn Tigers and current Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell...
to Soso, Mississippi
Soso, Mississippi
Soso is a town in Jones County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 379 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Soso is located at ....
and was owned by Richard Abernathy. Currently the original line exists as part of the Gloster Southern Railroad
Gloster Southern Railroad
The Gloster Southern Railroad is a United States shortline railroad that operates in Mississippi and Louisiana. The GLSR began operation in 1986 and provides freight service from Gloster, Mississippi, to the Illinois Central Railroad interchange at Slaughter, Louisiana.The line was owned by...
, while the newer segment was abandoned.
History
Originally built by the Gulf and Ship Island RailroadGulf and Ship Island Railroad
The Gulf and Ship Island Railroad was constructed in the state of Mississippi, USA, at the turn of the 20th century to open a vast expanse of southern yellow pine forests for commercial harvest. In spite of economic uncertainty, entrepreneurs William H. Hardy and Joseph T. Jones successfully...
between Columbia and Silver Creek around 1905, the railroad was later acquired by the Illinois Central. The newer segment was part of the G&SI mainline between Gulfport
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
and Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.
The Illinois Central sold the Columbia - Silver Creek line to the Marion County Railroad Authority in March 1982. Traffic consisted of paper, forest products, chemicals, furniture. Service began shortly thereafter, and the line was sold November 1, 1988 to the Gloster Southern. However, operations ended on the line in December 1995.
A second segment ran from an Illinois Central connection at Taylorsville and ended at Soso, for a distance of 10.5 miles (6.1 km). This section was owned by Richard Abernathy, but ceased operations in 1992.