Miracle Mindset

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey This past week I was granted special permission to photograph the Ouachita Railroad facilities in El Dorado, Arkansas . The Ouachita is a small railroad that switches cars from a chemical plant south of town and exchanges them with the Union Pacific . The railroad used to operate over former Rock Island Railroad trackage into northern Louisiana through the nearby town of Junction City. In fact, the facilities that the Ouachita now occupy once belonged to the Rock Island.

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey Last week, I posted a very popular article about the Dardanelle and Russellville Railroad 2-6-0 Steam Locomotive #10 at Ford Park in Shreveport. Thanks to Brad Driggers of the Abandoned Louisiana group on Facebook, I learned that old Number 10 isn't the only transportation-related relic residing there. Thanks to the directions provided by Brad, I was able to go on an expedition into the remote northwest section of the park where, deep in the tree line, sits the remains of an old Shreveport Railway Trolley Bus. At this time, the old trolley is barely visible, with only the tail end sticking out of the vines. Though I wanted to explore it more thoroughly, I could only manage to climb through the flora enough to access the rear window and stick my camera inside for a few photos. I also want to give a shout-out to Rick Lewis of Abandoned Louisiana for warning me that the area is home to several venomous snakes. Thanks to Rick's warning, I made a lot o...

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey I honestly should change my official title to 'Louisiana Railroad Archeologist' because I have the knack of finding all sorts of abandoned railroad equipment all over the Pelican State. Case in point, last week I was driving around Cross Lake in Shreveport looking for a place to view and photograph the water when I stumbled upon this old steam locomotive just off the road in a closed portion of Ford Park. Wanting to get a good set of photos of the locomotives I snuck in an open gate and weaved my way through twisting roads to the back of the park, dodging crews cutting down all the trees along the way. The old steam locomotive is in bad shape, as is the case with all such locomotives in the state, and it was obvious that the workers at the park had stopped taking care of it long ago.

 Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey I have a knack for finding all kinds of pieces of Louisiana railroad history. This past week, I was traveling down Highway 1 from Shreveport towards Natchitoches when I spied a structure off to my right that my keen eye immediately recognized as a railroad depot. My suspicion was soon confirmed as I pulled up in front of the old Texas & Pacific Railroad depot that once served the nearby town of Powhatan. The location also included an old railroad crossing signal, a replica railroad water tower, and an old gas station.

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey If you have ever driven on Interstate 20 through Shreveport, Louisiana, you may have noticed a building just north of the highway that looks very much like an old railroad station. I have literally driven past it over a dozen times and wondered just that. A week ago, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to go see if what I was seeing was indeed what I thought it was. (Writing can be hard at times, my friends.)

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey Like many towns in central Louisiana, Bunkie was once thriving; however, today it is merely a shadow of its former self. Prosperity in Bunkie appears to depend on which side of the Union Pacific Railroad one is on. If you're on the west side, you are still hanging on by a thread; if you are on the east side of the tracks, you find yourself in a literal ghost town. This area is marked by an endless row of failed businesses and abandoned buildings. Unfortunately, the business district is gone and will likely never return.

Photos & Story By Ken Hulsey Last night, I was talking to a couple of friends from New Mexico , trying to explain what life is like in a small farming town in Central Louisiana. I discussed in depth the poverty and decay that have come to define the area. I shared how the town of Lecompte  (pronounced "le-count") was once very prosperous—a railroad town that thrived on cotton, sugar cane, and lumber. I explained how the decline in demand for those goods, combined with the construction of an interstate highway nearby that diverted tourists away from the town, ultimately sealed its fate. My friends were genuinely shocked when I mentioned that I could see about a dozen abandoned houses and stores from my front yard.