4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Steam Locomotives in the USA

Class 303 (Locobase 14343)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 53, pp. 344+. See also the Mississippi Rails account at [] . Works number was 43334 in May 1916.

Chartered on 6 July 1903 by its owner, the Mississippi Lumber Company, the ME was a short line common carrier based in Quitman, Miss. It reached Threadville by 1908 and opened the 10.8-mile Pine Ridge extension in December 1909 to cut the timber in that area. Once those stands were cut over, the extension was closed in March 1915.

Long-Bell bought the MLC's assets and timber holdings in July 1917. The ME's August 1920 timetable shows four local trains daily, the 1 and 3 heading toward Threadville on a 1 1/2 hour schedule and the 2 and 4 returning.

Once the region's timber was cut out in 1933, the ME withered. It had already abandoned the last 1.1 miles between Crandall and Threadville in 1931. Long-Bell sold the 303 to locomotive rebuilder/reseller Birmingham Rail & Locomotive in May 1934. BR&L sold it to South Carolina shortline Lancaster & Chester as their 32.

Back in Mississippi, permission abandon the ME's remaining 15.5 miles was granted in November 1942 and the line was closed on 26 December.

The Hampton & Branchville bought L&C's 32 in 1946 and operated it until 1963, sellling to Pennsylvania's York Southern. The YS renumbered the 32 as #1 and sold it in 1970 to Richard Jensen. Finally, William Latham bought the 1 in a 1986 court sale and stored it in Chicago, Ill.