After seeing a covered hopper car go by, from “Cotton Belt”, I went to the “net” to see what I could learn about this line.
From what I can see it is under the Southern Pacific Railroad.
So is Cotton Belt a nic name of the SP, or am I missing something.
Or is Cotton Belt the actual name of a RR? If so, where does it run to/from?
Is it still active?
Up here in Ontario, I dont see it a lot of that name.
Any help?
Click on the Train.com logo at the top of this page…then click on the resources link on the left side…check the abc of railroading history for a pretty complete explaination…
Ed
The St. Louis Southwestern Railroad (SSW). was nicknamed the “Cotton Belt” I believe because its main route was through Texas Arkansas and the south where cotton is grown therefore the Cotton Belt. SP bought them out in 1992 and then UP. Cotton belt locomotives and rolling stock are still somewhate common out west, athough painted in colors similar to Southern Pacific.
The SSW was a wholely owned subsidiary of the SP for years (back into the steam era). It used SP designed engines and paint schemes.
Dave H.
also…original intention was to be narrow gauge…St. Louis to Houston which they were with a few key pieces missing…part of the ill fated Grand Narrow Gauge Trunk along with the T&CL (Clover Leaf, later part of NKP)
In “The Golden Empire Came Crashing Down” in the March 2005 issue of Trains Mark Hemphill wrote that SP acquired control of SSW in 1930 in order to get more favorable rail rates (pages 84-85). Search for the Santa Margarita Agreement.
It’s like a leather belt only it shrinks when washed.
The SP was required to favor shipping over the overland route. After they aquired the SSW (Cotton Belt) they opened up SSW offices out west in places like Klamath Falls,Or. to solicit traffic for the Sunset route where they made more $$$.
It is the nickname for the former SSW[:o)][:p][:I]
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Originally posted by bpepper
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Cotton Belt has indeed long been an SP subsidiary. It also managed to go into and out of bankruptcy without being re-organized. It went into Chapter 77 in 1935 (I think) and did well enough during WWII that it had enough ca***o pay off its debts and had the trusteeship withdrawn with all securities intact, allowing SP to retain its control.
Until the general renumbering of 1965, SP, T&NO (SP lines east of El Paso) and Cotton Belt all had separate numbering series for their power although they did share various paint schemes. For example, the PA’s were variously numbered SSW 300-301, T&NO 200-211 and SP in the 5900 and 6000 series, all painted in Daylight colors.
Ok , Thanks for all that so far.
And thanks Ed for the link on trains.com I have never tried that before.
But that brings me to a couple more questions.
So did S&SW locomotives or railcars have S&SW on them, or just the name Cotton Belt?
Are there any other examples in railroads where the nick name was used rather than the actual name on all the equipment? I find that truly amazing that a nickname actually made it on the equipment/rolling stock.
Bill
SOO and NKP come to mind…
The locos had Cotton Belt on the sides and SSW (not S&SW) on the nose.
Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville was known as the Monon and then I believe changed it’s name to Monon.
“After payment of the 6 per cent preferred dividend, 1949 earnings amounted to $30.55 per share of common-- a showing surpassed only by that of the Cotton Belt.” From John A. Rehor’s Nickel Plate Story p 358. Cotton Belt was a cash cow for the Southern Pacific.[8D]
Much of the Cotton Belt’s main line from Illmo, MO to Corsicana, TX is still intact to run southbound traffic for UP.
You can visit the Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff and visit with a great bunch of retired Cotton Belt employees. Admission is free, a donation is recommended. The museum is operated by volunteers and the Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society. Pine Bluff is the home of War Baby 819 the last built Cotton Belt steam locomotive.
Cotton Belt was merged into UP on September 30, 1997 surviving its parent by a little over a year. [8D]
Cotton Belt is what is left of my boxers when I eat at the local diner when I order the blue plate special when im the throttle jerk. !!![xx(][:0]