| This was a view facing west from Southport Tower in suburban New Orleans. The empty right-of-way in the foreground and track A2 beyond that were originally on the alignment of the NEW ORLEANS & MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, then the LOUISVILLE, NEW ORLEANS & TEXAS, then the YAZOO & MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, and then the ILLINOIS CENTRAL. Between 1954 and 1969 this was also the inbound main line for IC, Missouri Pacific, Southern Pacific and Texas & Pacific passenger trains between EAST BRIDGE JUNCTION, at the east end of the Huey P. Long Bridge, and New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal. The Missouri Pacific train on the left was a transfer run between the MP's AVONDALE YARD at the west end of the Huey P. Long Bride, and the railroad's RACE STREET YARD in New Orleans. The train was was New Orleans Public Belt track constructed as a part of the Huey P. Long Bridge project in the early 1930's. |