Class 4 (Locobase 13948)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 43, p. 247. See also Mississippi Rails at [] . Works number was 38696

in November 1912.

Although identical in almost all respects to the Consolidation delivered to the Peace River Phosphate Company in 1906 (Locobase 12910), this engine sported a 20-psi higher working pressure. Thus, the Clyde, Miss company could hope for more power. The boiler seems a bit small for the cylinder volume they supplied.

The LLC took over the railroad of the A G Little Lumber Company in October 1909. Operating on 30-40 lb/yard (15-20 kg/metre) rail, the 11-mile road presented some challenges. Baldwin guaranteed the 4 "to haul from rest at a point 200 feet from the beginning of 3.2% grade, 165 tons of cars and lading over such grades." Note that as worded, the starting point could be set either 200 feet before the start of the grade or 200 feet past the start. The difference in demand between those two starting points would seem to be considerable.

In 1921, Hugh L White bought the Lamar's assets for $1 million and named the new company the Helen White Lumber Company after his mother. As with many logging operations, harvestable timber in the nearby woods determined the lifetime of the road. By 1927 the woods were cut over and the Clyde sawmill closed.

A Works Progress Administration (WPA) history offered a critical review of lumber company history in Lamar County: "These mills were the beginning and end of real money making in Lamar County. Under their influence Lamar County was settled and towns were built. They gave work to hundreds of men, who spent their money as fast as they made it. When the timber was all cut the mills moved away leaving bare cut over land and people who had nothing to do . " (Sawmills and the Men Who Owned Them", WPA History of Lamar County, Mississippi , archived at [] .

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Class Ed Mac (Locobase 13069)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 30, p. 152. Works number was 29821 in December 1906.

Rails weighing 30 lb/yard (15 kg/metre) determined that this wood-burning Consolidation couldn't be too big. Indeed, it's one of the smallest North American standard-gauge 2-8-0s to be found in Locobase. Its fuel called for the grate bars to be laid across the firebox rather than longitudinally - if you think of how you would put a new length of firewood through a small hole, you can get the logic of the specification.

The Ed Mac had a busy career. After some time with the LLC, it was sold to Brewton Iron Works, who sold it in January 1920 to Kanfla Lumber. Three and half years later, KLC sold the engine to locomotive rebuilder/reseller Birmingham Rail & Locomotive. It was another 6 years before BR&L found a buyer in Sipsey Valley Lumber of Buhl, Alabama.