 New Orleans Oppelousas & Gr. Western R.R. ("Colton's Louisiana," 1856) | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Locale | Louisiana |
| Dates of operation | 1854–1869 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Previous gauge | originally 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) |
The New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad (NOO&GW) was chartered in 1852. Construction began at Algiers, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, in late 1852. By 1857, the track had reached Brashear (now Morgan City) on Berwick Bay, and this remained the end of the line for over 20 years.[1] The 83 miles (134 km) NOO&GW was built to the "Texas gauge" of 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm),[2] the only such railroad in the New Orleans area to use that gauge; the line was converted to 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge in 1872.
In 1869, steamship operator Charles Morgan bought the NOO&GW[3] and began operating it as owner. In 1878 he organized his railroad property as Morgan's Louisiana and Texas Railroad and Steamship Company,[4][5] and it eventually became part of the Southern Pacific Company's main line. The line is currently owned and operated by BNSF.
- ^ Jones, Charles William. "S. Rept. 46-407 - In the Senate of the United States. March 25, 1880. -- Ordered to be printed. Mr. Jones, of Florida, from the Committee on Public Lands, submitted the following report. (To accompany Bill S. 92.) The Senate Committee on Public Lands in the Forty-fifth Congress made the following report upon a bill similar to the present." GovInfo.gov. U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ Confederate Railroads - New Orleans, Opelousas & Great Western
- ^ D. E. Austin (2008), History of the offshore oil and gas industry in southern Louisiana, Volume III: Morgan City's history in the era of oil and gas – perspectives of those who were there (PDF), U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, LA. OCS Study MMS 2008-044, p. 7, retrieved October 28, 2018
- ^ Bartelt, p. 118, 143, and 148.[full citation needed]
- ^ Warren, p. xix, 30, 46, and 48.[full citation needed]