Big Cut and the C&P p.3

At this point I'll explain to those who don't follow along that I was in the middle of taking my readers across Camp Claiborne, La. following the military RR to where it met the main line on US 165 above Forest Hill, La. Before we go any further, I want you to understand that I know that there is a finite number of people that can look at a little bald place in the woods and see multi-ton steam engines driven by soldiers learning how to build and blow up railroads. Not to worry, this report has none of that, well, some.

As this report has evolved, and Lord it has, several people, some of whom have been mentioned numerous times and some that are new, offered and delivered multiple maps, pictures, observations and information. I now realize that I was portraying my interest in excess of reality and beyond the technical possibilities of this this little blog to display, as far as I know.

I have a few revealing pictures from the rest of the ride and Mark has a few. We both agree, as I said before, that they are for the connoisseur and are probably uninteresting to others not committed to knowing all the nooks and crannies of Camp Claiborne.

So here goes. I'll tell it like it happened. I was back in the back of Claiborne [a generic description of where I was]. I followed the bed that had come from Big Cut on to the east and the main line. My GPS was helping put it together and the right of way was easy to see.



If you click on the map it will enlarge and you can see the red line which was the location of the railroad coming from US165, swinging below the camp to where the shops were and then on to Big Cut and points west, all the way to Camp Polk, now, Fort Polk. [all right, now take a breath]

This is my GPS tracks map. The hot pink line is the rail bed, the white one is me. The pointed irregular section in the tracks line was a GPS hiccup caused by who knows what. The cause of this anomaly might be linked to what I saw later.



One of my reporters, Orville Bloominghouse, seems to be quite interested in the sewer plants at Claiborne. Near the railroad, where it goes due north, you see that hiccup. I saw this and thought it had been part of the RR. Not so. It was identified by OB as a sewage lift station. Not just anyone would know that. He said there are many around the camp, all of which he has documented and registered.



At this point, I'm going to insert one of Orville's pictures. The truth is, I already paid him for it and I don't pay for stuff I don't use. This one is called, "Spur to Sewer Plant". Yes, Julia, it is for sale in the Site Store.



I came to FS 264 that took me to present day La.497, which crosses Claiborne in a zigzag route on into Forest Hill. I know it looks like a road patch and that's what it is, over the bed. I think it is just about where you see the first "ROW" on the left of the route map. If not, it doesn't matter.



I looked at the patch and lined myself up exactly with it. I saw this road next to the assumed trajectory and followed.



I could see the bed through the thick undergrowth. I came to a blockade and had to backtrack, going to the last cross street. I then went down a block and continued east. That detour resulted in quite a find. Orville got giddy when I showed him, exclaming, "I knew there was one there, I just knew it!"
Of course, it's what's left of a huge sewer plant.



You can see the large tank to the right that has been broken out. Whew, glad I wasn't there for the breaking out.

I looked closer.



I wondered if I should go in. What the heck.



I continued.



It got dark and I could not make my way any further. The place had a musty odor. I heard noises and decided it was time to leave.

Later, I showed these pictures to Randolf Bloom, our intergalactic specialist here at History Hunts. With a shocked face, he responded, "Have you ever heard of the Alien Incarceration being carried on at Claiborne? The place is riddled with tunnels and secret chambers. I think they took the famous Roswell space craft and crew from Area 51 in 1951 because the media was getting close to unraveling the government's story. They couldn't fly the thing in, it was too large. It had to be shipped by rail. The incarceration took place at a sewer plant, which by the way, has had the stairways cemented up. It was the one by the rail head. I have the pictures to prove it".

He fumbled around in his desk looking for the pictures but couldn't find them while I got back up off the floor. If he does find them, I'll post them. Check back often.

Back to the ride, I retraced my way up the stairs, jumped on the bike and left.

Collecting myself, I realized that I still had a block to go. Along the way I could see the bed as it was well above ground level.



Being parked, I decided to take a look.



I had hoped to get a good right of way shot, but there was just brush. Most mortals can't see past the undergrowth and imagine a railroad like I can. This is what I saw.



Most normal people see this.



Don't let that bother you, you'll get the hang of it.
Now for some extas. The ride, as such, is over. I emerged from the ghost camp of Claiborne into the light of US 165.

Here's one of the engines that rode the rails here on the Claiborne and Polk, No.4. (Thanks Everett)



And this little honey was sold after the war. She can now be seen pulling trains at the Texas State Railroad. I've been in the cab. If ever there was an animated link to our local past, it is this gem.



EL sent that picture.

A history of the engine for all those that like genealogy can be read from This Site.



Ok, so you are stoked up a little with pictures and a whole bunch of text. It's time to set the C&PMRR aside for a while. Soon we'll move on to the latest ride where Dave, aka, Couyan, and I explore the peninsula between Simmesport and the Morganza Spillway Levee. If ever there was fertile soil for historic RR action, this is it. I spoke of camping out and waiting for the ghost train at Big Cut. The chugging and whistle blowing at Big Cut would be small time compared to the noise heard out on the peninsula we are going to next.

Until then, you can revisit my visit to Big Cut. CLICK HERE.

Credits:

During this presentation:
Mark played Orville and Randolf
Everett played himself.
Mark also contributed the 2 step pictures
and the picture of the patch on the road at the sewer plant.

Further: "EL" is Everett.
As mentioned earlier, there were several contributors that donated so much of their time and energy to what could have been a serious article on Camp Claiborne, a very serious place. I want to especially thank them and apologize for coming up short in that endeavor.

The remaining pictures were taken as I left on 165 and then on the ride down Turkey Creek road from Glenmora.



Turkey Creek/Glenmora Road



Lake Cocodrie