During WWII the U.S. Government built an aircraft assembly plant along Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans and the Southern Railway constructed a 1-mile spur to serve it. Here, Consolidated Vultee (later known as Convair) built about 220 PBY-5 CATALINA amphibious patrol planes. Unlike most aircraft plants, this one had no runways; so each finished plane was moved down a ramp into the lake where it took off! After the war the plant was sold to American Standard and was used to manufacture plumbing fixtures. Up into the 1980’s the plant was served by the northbound local out of New Orleans, but later it was switched by a yard job. In this undated view the local was pulling out of the plant, crossing Leon C. Simon Dr. and about to cross Franklin Ave. The spur was removed after the plant closed. (date of photo unknown) |
Date:
6/1/1975 |
Location:
New Orleans, LA |
Views:
1086 |
Collection Of:
Michael Palmieri |
Locomotives: |
Author: JAMES H. SELZER, JR. photo
|
|
Picture Categories: Scenic |
This picture is part of album: JAMES SELZER |