Red River & Gulf Railroad

05/29/2026

A clip from back in October 2021 📅. When Santee River Hardwood #3 🚂 arrived at Longleaf to begin its operational restoration. 🔧

The #3 is a standard gauge, "Heisler" geared steam locomotive. 🚂⚙️These engines excelled in their tasks which mostly included logging 🪵 because they could go many places other locomotives could not.

Progress is still moving forward on its completion. Here is to hoping that we will see operating steam back in the state of Louisiana 🇺🇸 someday soon! 🤞

Check out the full video 🔗⬇️ at the link in the comment section!

05/28/2026

Welcome back to ! 🚂💭

▶️ This Week: Tucker found this during the last work session. This one might be tricky! It is an early 20th century version of something you use everyday. It has a metal tank with brass piping and a float.

Let us know what you think in the comments below 👇
Remember to like 👍 , share 🔁, and follow ➕ for more!

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

This Date in History
May 26, 1920
RR&G freight service formally started between the sawmill town of Kurthwood, Louisiana and Long Leaf. Credit for original post in the comment section. Photo of the mill town of Alco 5 miles east of Kurthwood.

05/25/2026

Today we honor those who paid the price for our freedom. 🇺🇲

Thank you from the Red River & Gulf Railroad. 🛤

Camp Claiborne Birthplace of the 82d & 101st Airborne Division's

05/22/2026

A short clip from the Longleaf Historical Series on Youtube 📺🎞️. Hosted by Everett Lueck. This episode covers the two McGiffert Log Loaders at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum. 🪵🏛️

See the comment section for the link to the full video ⬇️🔗

05/22/2026

Lumbering was huge, but Naval Stores or turpentining was a significant part of the monetary equation that made lumbering in the South so profitable.

05/21/2026

This week on 🚂💭 we're talking about... nothing!

We wanted to put this post out to state that for the summer ☀, Think about it Thursday (TaiT for short), will be on a bi-weekly schedule. 🗓 The regular weekly schedule will return near the end of summer.

This is to give our small media team of volunteers a bit less work load 💪while still putting out the best we can. Tune in next week for the next edition of Think About it Thursday!

And since you've read all the way down here, I might as well tell ya'll last weeks item. It's the engineer side eccentric crank on RR&G #106!🚂😉

05/18/2026

Worksession Recap 5/16/26

Volunteers:
Everett Lueck
Joe Swan
Clint L.
Tucker Baker
David Hearne
Glen Armand

Accomplishments:
1. Tucker and David improved drainage around the planner mill and sawmill with David's mini excavator. 🪏

2. Glen Armand mocked up a future hand throttle for the M4.

3. M4 carburetor adjustments and other improvements.

4. Clint built a makeshift sand sifting box for railroad equipment. (Sand is used to improve traction on slick rails when needed)

5. New batteries🔋for the M8 and M22.

Added
6. Road opened up and numerous trees removed to the area near the church. Two more dumpsters loaded with scrap. Amusement park track pulled out from under the Planer mill and disassembled.

#7. Journal box covers built for the MOW former cane car flat cars.

Other:
1. More progress on the Santee River Hardwood #3 Heisler steam locomotive. 🚂

2. Thank you to the motorcycle group from Scott, LA that came for a tour and the many other visitors that came Saturday. Thank you Everett for showing them around.

05/16/2026