Gulf and Mississippi Railroad

For the railway with same abbreviation in China, see Guangzhou–Meizhou–Shantou Railway.

Gulf and Mississippi RailroadOverview

Headquarters| Columbus, Mississippi
Reporting mark| GMSR
Locale| Mississippi
Dates of operation| 1985-1988
Predecessor| Illinois Central Gulf
Successor| MidSouth
Technical
Track gauge| 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge)
Length| 713 miles (1,147 km)

The Gulf and Mississippi Railroad (reporting mark GMSR) was the first regional railroad in the United States upon its creation in 1985. With over 713 miles (1,147 km) of track in the states of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama it was among the largest spin-off railroads in the post-Staggers Act era. MidSouth Rail acquired the entire G&M railroad in 1988, operating it as a separate entity, SouthRail. Kansas City Southern purchased MidSouth Rail in 1994 and most of the former G&M lines are still in service under KCS.[1]

## History[edit]

Nearly all components of the Gulf & Mississippi were previously owned by the Gulf, Mobile, & Ohio before the 1972 acquisition of that railroad by the Illinois Central. The GM&O previously maintained two parallel routes through eastern Mississippi, and the easternmost route from Corinth, Mississippi, to Mobile, Alabama, 331 miles (533 km), formed the backbone of the G&M system. This route, as well as the Artesia, Mississippi through Tuscaloosa to Holt, Alabama line belonged to the Mobile & Ohio prior to merger with the GM&N in 1940.[2]

In addition to the Corinth–Mobile route, the G&M owned a route from Middleton, Tennessee, to Woodland, Mississippi, including a branch to Tupelo, Mississippi, through trackage rights with Burlington Northern. This allowed access between the main G&M system and the disconnected line from Middleton to Woodland. Initially the disconnected branch was reached through Corinth and Middleton via trackage rights with the Southern.[3] Further lines included Aberdeen to Laurel, Mississippi, and Union to Walnut Grove, Mississippi.[4]

Tracks between Ackerman and Laurel, Middleton and Woodland, as well as the branch from Union to Walnut Grove belonged to the Gulf, Mobile, & Northern prior to 1940. The Aberdeen to Ackerman route was an Illinois Central line and the only Gulf & Mississippi route without Mobile & Ohio or Gulf, Mobile, & Northern heritage.[2]

The Gulf & Mississippi purchased the lines and began service on July 10, 1985. A number of commodities including lumber, wood products, chemicals, and grain were hauled over the railroad, generated around 75,000 annual carloads. However, the railroad was short lived, and on April 14, 1988, the company was sold to MidSouth subsidiary SouthRail.[2]

Kansas City Southern purchased MidSouth in 1994, and SouthRail holdings were merged into KCS operations along with MidSouth.[5] Most of the former Gulf & Mississippi network survives under KCS, although some segments have been abandoned and others sold to other shortline operations such as the Meridian Southern or Mississippi Tennessee.

## References[edit]

* Railways portal

1. ^ "Kansas City Southern Family Tree". 2 June 2006. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
2. ^ a b c Lewis, Edward A. (1991). American Shortline Railway Guide (4 ed.). Kalmbach Publishing Company. p. 244\. ISBN 0-89024-109-0.
3. ^ Gulf & Mississippi Railroad: System Timetable #1. 8 June 1985. p. 3.
4. ^ Lewis, Edward A. (1986). American Shortline Railway Guide (3 ed.). Kalmbach Publishing Company. p. 95\. ISBN 0-89024-073-6.
5. ^ Lewis, Edward A. (1996). American Shortline Railway Guide (5 ed.). Kalmbach Publishing Company. pp. 359, 361. ISBN 0-89024-290-9.

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Railroads of Mississippi

Common carriers|

* Alabama Southern Railroad
* Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway
* Alabama Great Southern Railroad
* BNSF
* Columbus & Greenville Railway
* Canadian National Railway
* Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
* CPKC
* CSX
* Gloster Southern Railroad
* Great River Railroad
* Golden Triangle Railroad
* Grenada Railroad
* Illinois Central Railroad
* Kosciusko & Southwestern Railway
* Luxapalila Valley Railroad
* Mississippi Delta Railroad
* Meridian Southern Railway
* M&B Railroad
* Mississippi Central Railroad
* Mississippi Export Railroad
* Mississippi Southern Railroad
* Mississippian Railway
* Norfolk Southern Railway
* Natchez Railway
* Old Augusta Railroad
* Port Bienville Railroad
* Ripley & New Albany Railroad
* R.J. Corman Railroad/Tennessee Terminal
* Redmont Railway
* Tishomingo Railroad
* Vicksburg Southern Railroad
* West Tennessee Railroad

Passenger carriers|

* Amtrak

* See also: Former carriers in Mississippi
* List of United States railroads by political division

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Railroads of Alabama

Common carriers|

* Alabama Southern Railroad
* Alabama Warrior Railway
* Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway
* Alabama Great Southern Railroad
* Alabama Railroad
* Alabama & Tennessee River Railway
* Autauga Northern Railroad
* Bay Line Railroad
* Birmingham Terminal Railway
* BNSF
* Columbus & Chattahoochee Railroad
* CG Railway
* Chattahoochee & Gulf Railroad
* Canadian National
* Conecuh Valley Railroad
* CPKC
* CSX
* Eastern Alabama Railway
* Georgia Southwestern Railroad
* Huntsville & Madison County Railroad Authority
* Luxapalila Valley Railroad
* Meridian & Bigbee Railroad
* Norfolk Southern
* Redmont Railway
* Sequatchie Valley Railroad
* Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks
* Three Notch Railroad
* Tennessee Southern Railroad
* Wiregrass Central Railroad

Passenger carriers|

* Amtrak

Private carriers|

* Fairfield Southern Company
* Rapid Switching Services
* Southern Electric Railroad

Heritage railroads|

* Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
* North Alabama Railroad Museum

* See also: Former carriers in Alabama
* List of United States railroads by political division

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