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7/1/2024
 
 
 
 
 
By:Michael Palmieri
Dates:1/1/1973 - 12/31/1999
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Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  This is a view looking north on the Southern Pacific's Alexandria Branch at Cameron Street (U.S. 90). The track crossing the branch on the other side of the street is a remnant of the line that once went to Baton Rouge; while the main line to Texas and California curves off to the left, out of sight. This end of the Alexandria Branch was abandoned in 1993.
Photo Date:  2/29/1984  Upload Date: 4/4/2010 10:29:06 AM
Location:  Lafayette, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  684   Comments: 0
Opelousas Turn
Title:  Opelousas Turn
Description:  Cotton Belt GP35 6501 heads out of Lafayette with two tank cars for the LouAna Foods vegetable oil processing plant at Opelousas. The train originated at Lafayette Yard, about a mile away, and had just entered the Alexandria Branch at Alex Jct. (milepost 145.3). The main line to New Orleans is on the left of the photo.
Photo Date:  3/13/1987  Upload Date: 6/30/2007 12:13:24 AM
Location:  Lafayette, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SSW 6501(GP35)
Views:  1199   Comments: 0
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  Here was a view looking north on the Southern Pacific's now-abandoned ALEXANDRIA BRANCH at Opelousas, Louisiana. On the left was the railroad's "depot" and a customer with a covered hopper. A few blocks further north was a crossing with the Missouri Pacific's former Gulf Coast Line main line between southeast Louisiana and southeast Texas, and on the other side of that was the Lou-Ana vegetable oil processing plant. Opelousas is the Seat of St. Landry Parish, and Lou-Ana was a significant railroad customer here.
Photo Date:  4/23/1979  Upload Date: 7/2/2007 8:26:46 AM
Location:  Opelousas, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Yard,Station,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  676   Comments: 0
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  Looking north along the Southern Pacific's now-abandoned ALEXANDRIA BRANCH at Opelousas, Louisiana. In the foreground was the crossing with the UP Houston-New Orleans main line, previously the Missouri Pacific, before that the New Orleans, Texas & Mexico, and originally the Colorado Southern, New Orleans & Pacific, which was a part of the Frisco. The Lou-Ana Foods vegetable oil processing plant was on both sides of the Espee.
Photo Date:  4/11/1990  Upload Date: 7/2/2007 9:38:21 AM
Location:  Opelousas, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  611   Comments: 1
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  Southern Pacific GP35 6566 - still wearing SPSF colors - was switching the Lou-Ana Foods vegetable oil processing plant in Opelousas, Louisiana. This train had originated in Lafayette, which was just 20 miles south of here via the railroad's ALEXANDRIA BRANCH; but because of a partially-collapsed trestle on that line, it had to make a 61-mile detour. It headed west from Lafayette over the SUNSET ROUTE 19 miles to Crowley, then north on the Union Pacific's CROWLEY SUBDIVISION 22 miles to Eunice, and then east over the UP's BEAUMONT SUBDIVISION main line 20 miles. Espee officially abandoned its line between Lafayette and Opelousas three years after this photo was taken.
Photo Date:  4/11/1990  Upload Date: 7/1/2007 4:49:08 PM
Location:  Opelousas, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SP 6566(GP35)
Views:  932   Comments: 1
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  This was a view facing south along the Southern Pacific's ALEXANDRIA BRANCH at Opelousas, Louisiana. The cars on the left were on the Union Pacific interchange, and the crossing with the UP’s main line from southeast Louisiana to southeast Texas was just past those tank cars parked on the SP main line straight ahead. SP GP35 6566 was switching the Lou-Ana Foods vegetable oil processing plant, which was on both sides of the SP track. The ALEXANDRIA BRANCH between here and Alexandria – which included trackage rights over the T&P/MP/UP between Cheneyville and Alexandria – was abandoned in 1984, while the line between here and Lafayette was abandoned in 1993; but the Acadiana Railway owns some former SP track in here in Opelousas.
Photo Date:  4/11/1990  Upload Date: 7/2/2007 9:00:37 AM
Location:  Opelousas, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  SP 6566(GP35)
Views:  819   Comments: 1
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  Looking north on the Southern Pacific ALEXANDRIA BRANCH in Opelousas, Louisiana. The Lou-Ana Foods vegetable oil processing plant and the crossing with the Union Pacific's former MP/GCL main line were behind the photographer. After the SP abandoned almost all of the branch, this trackage here was acquired by the Acadiana Railway.
Photo Date:  4/11/1990  Upload Date: 7/2/2007 9:46:41 AM
Location:  Opelousas, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  498   Comments: 0
Northbound
Title:  Northbound
Description:  Cotton Belt 4201 was on the northbound SP Alexandria Branch train as it approached the Union Pacific (former Texas & Pacific) connection in Cheneyville, for the continuation of its trip from Lafayette to Alexandria.. The first ten cars would be delivered to the Missouri Pacific and the other six went to the Kansas City Southern. The two carbon black cars were picked up at Carboco, two miles north of Eola.
Photo Date:  6/9/1983  Upload Date: 6/25/2007 12:11:34 AM
Location:  Cheneyville, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SSW 4201(GP35R)
Views:  877   Comments: 1
Northbound
Title:  Northbound
Description:  The brakeman on this SP Alexandria Branch train was preparing to get off of Cotton Belt 4201 so he could throw the switch at Soupac Jct. and let his train onto the UP (former T&P) main line. The Espee's Alexandria Branch utilized the UP between Cheneyville and Alexandria.
Photo Date:  6/9/1983  Upload Date: 6/25/2007 8:48:56 AM
Location:  Cheneyville, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Signal,Track,Action
Locomotives:  SSW 4201(GP35R)
Views:  842   Comments: 0
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  Looking south along the UP main line. Even though the SP track had been removed, the signal guarding the SP line was still in place!
Photo Date:  9/5/1985  Upload Date: 6/25/2007 9:00:32 AM
Location:  Cheneyville, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  607   Comments: 0
Northbound
Title:  Northbound
Description:  Cotton Belt de-turbocharged GP35m 4201 powers the northbound Espee Alexandria Branch train over the Union Pacific (former Texas & Pacific) at Lecompte. Louisiana
Photo Date:  6/9/1983  Upload Date: 6/30/2007 6:11:06 PM
Location:  Lecompte, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SSW 4201(GP35R)
Views:  1110   Comments: 0
Northbound
Title:  Northbound
Description:  De-turbocharged Cotton Belt GP35 4201 was leading the northbound Espee Alexandria Branch train over the UP (former T&P) main line into Alexandria.
Photo Date:  6/9/1983  Upload Date: 4/15/2007 11:10:08 PM
Location:  Alexandria, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SSW 4201(GP35R)
Views:  1035   Comments: 0
Northbound Local
Title:  Northbound Local
Description:  De-turbocharged Cotton Belt GP35 4201 was leading a northbound Southern Pacific train by the engine terminal at the MP's Alexandria Yard. The train's first ten cars had just been set out here, and the remaining six would be delivered to the KCS.
Photo Date:  6/9/1983  Upload Date: 5/7/2007 5:47:56 PM
Location:  Alexandria, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Yard
Locomotives:  SSW 4201(GP35R) MP 3087(SD40) MP 2242(GP38-2)
Views:  1890   Comments: 1
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  This was the site of the Southern Pacific's yard in Alexandria, Louisiana shortly after the rails had been removed. This line had been abandoned in November 1984.
Photo Date:  9/4/1985  Upload Date: 6/25/2007 12:27:32 AM
Location:  Alexandria, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  884   Comments: 0
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  This abandoned building was in the former Southern Pacific yard at Alexandria, Louisiana. This was at the end of a branch that was abandoned in November 1984.
Photo Date:  6/14/1988  Upload Date: 6/25/2007 12:35:19 AM
Location:  Alexandria, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Scenic
Locomotives: 
Views:  617   Comments: 0
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  The was the Southern Pacific yard office at the end of the Alexandria Branch in Alexandria. This branch was abandoned in November 1984. The highway bridge crosses the Red River, which is right on the other side of the levee.
Photo Date:  6/10/1983  Upload Date: 5/7/2007 5:45:51 PM
Location:  Alexandria, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Yard,Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  1095   Comments: 0
Alexandria Branch
Title:  Alexandria Branch
Description:  This was truly the End of the Line of the Southern Pacific's Alexandria Branch , after the rails had been removed. The line had been abandoned in November 1984.
Photo Date:  9/3/1985  Upload Date: 5/7/2007 6:09:47 PM
Location:  Alexandria, LA
Author:  Michael Palmieri
Categories:  Track
Locomotives: 
Views:  1199   Comments: 0


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