06/04/2026
Throwback Thursday brought to you by the 2026 Bank of St. Francisville Collector's Calendar. A look back at the West Feliciana Railroad, a vital part of our parish's history and growth. Chartered on March 25, 1831, the West Feliciana Railroad was Louisiana’s first interstate and America’s first standard-gauge railroad. Stretching 26 miles from Bayou Sara to Woodville, Mississippi, it was built to move cotton efficiently to one of the busiest river ports. Construction faced many challenges - difficult terrain, labor strikes, financial setbacks, and the Panic of 1837, however, the first full trip ran on October 13, 1842. Though costs soared, the railroad successfully carried cotton to market, fueling local commerce. Nearly destroyed during the Civil War, the line was rebuilt by 1875 under steam power, later operated by J. Burrus McGehee, and eventually became part of the Illinois Central System, running until 1978. Today it stands as a testament to the vision and perseverance of West Feliciana’s early citizens. thursday
