Collection:LPB

Genre: Documentary

Place Covered: DeQuincy, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, Long Leaf, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, Jefferson, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Jackson, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2009-12-9

Duration: 00:45:21

Subjects: Railroads | Railroad stations | DeQuincy Railroad Museum | HISTORIC PRESERVATION | Southern Forest Heritage Museum (Long Leaf, La.) | Railroad passenger cars | Company towns | Steam locomotives | Louisiana Steam Train Association | Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders | Republic of West Florida Museum | Model trains

Contributors:

• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Clifton, Albert Interviewee
• Fluitt, Fred Interviewee
• Mitchell, Lola Interviewee
• Cooper, Gary Interviewee
• Fluitt, Lauretta Interviewee
• Henagan, Lawrence Interviewee
• Carroll, Bob Interviewee
• Troll, Claudia Interviewee
• Morris, Bill Interviewee
• Jacobs, Richard Interviewee
• Keegan, Barry Interviewee
• Brown, Roger Interviewee
• Dodd, Greg Interviewee
• Talbot, Al Interviewee
• Duplechin, Ray Interviewee
• Martin, Andy Interviewee

This program from December 9, 2009, features host Charlie Whinham exploring the history of the railway in Louisiana and its role in shaping the people and places in the state. He first visits the DeQuincy Railroad Museum, a restored Mission Revival train depot built in 1923. He interviews: Albert Clifton, Fred Fluitt, and Lola Mitchell, retired railroad workers; Gary Cooper, the museum curator; Lauretta Fluitt, a museum board member; and DeQuincy Mayor Lawrence Henagan. Next, Whinham visits the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf. He tours the 57-acre complex, a former mill town operated by the Crowell Lumber Company, on a newly restored M4 passenger rail car from the 1930s. He interviews Bob Carroll, the executive director, and Claudia Troll, the museum’s education director. Then, Whinham visits the Southern Pacific 745, the last surviving steam engine made in Louisiana, at the Louisiana Steam Train Association (LASTA) rail yard in Jefferson. He interviews LASTA members Bill Morris, Richard Jacobs, Barry Keegan, and Roger Brown. He also looks back at a 2003 story on the efforts to restore the SP745. He interviewed: Bruce Brown, former LASTA president; Greg Dodd, a historic locomotive restorer; Al Talbot, volunteer; and Ray Duplechin, a former Southern Pacific conductor. Lastly, Whinham visits the Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders clubhouse at the Republic of West Florida Museum in Jackson, Louisiana. Whinham meets with club member Andy Martin, who demonstrates his two outdoor model trains, or garden trains, that run on steam engines. Whinham and Martin also tour the Old Hickory Railroad steam train that runs through Jackson.