Class 53 (Locobase 12456)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 23, p. 158. See also "William Edenborn, Winn Parish, LA", Gregory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane Winnfield, LA 71483, [] (originally published in Legacies & Legends" Vol 1, # 2 July, 1997). Works numbers were 18453 in December 1900 and 18532 in January 1901.

German-born William Edenborn had made his fortune as the inventor of "the machine that fenced the west" when it simplified the manufacture of barbed wire and reduced its price more than five-fold. His more humane "short-barb" wire eventually captured 75% of the US market. Edenborn sold out to JP Morgan for $50 million and an additional $40 million for patent rights.

He settled in Winn Parish and explored experimental farming, acted as one of the pioneers in reforesting cut-over timber stands, and founded the Shreveport & Red River Valley in 1896. The railway soon grew into a line running from Shreveport, via Alexandria including the bridge over the Red River at that point, to Mansura, about 152 miles.

These two Eight-wheelers duplicated a design supplied to the Detroit & Lima Northern in 1897 (Locobase 16233). Soon after they came onto the Red River Valley, that road was sold to the Louisiana Railway & Navigation Company on 22 June 1903. At that time, the road beyond Mansura was only partly completed on its way to New Orleans, about 71 miles distant.

The 54 was delivered with 62" drivers.

Both locomotives served the LR&N and the Louisiana & Arkansas, which took control of the LR & N in May 1929. The 53 was scrapped soon after the latter transaction in September 1929. 54 was scrapped in September 1934.

Class 76 (Locobase 12852)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 29, p. 187. Works numbers were 29254, 29286 in October 1906, 33506 in June 1909, and 35004-35005 in October 1910.

Ideal for the relatively slow, local passenger traffic, these engines gave the LR&N, and after 1928, when Harvey Crouch bought the LR&N, the Louisiana & Arkansas, 25 years of service before they were scrapped in 1934-1935. 84 and 86 were transferred to the Texas-based Louisiana, Arkansas & Texas in 1930 for five years.