Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern No. 300 is a preserved 2-8-2 "Mikado" steam locomotive. It was built in February 1925 and was based on the Baldwin Class 12-32 ¼ E design. In the same year it was one of three locomotives that was purchased new from the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the newly incorporated Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern Railroad.
The locomotive was used to haul freight trains between Hattiesburg and Beaumont, Mississippi, for most of its working life until it was retired in October 1961. It was considered to be one of the last steam locomotives to run a regular common carrier service in the United States. Instead of scrapping the locomotive, the company had decided to donate it to the City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Today No. 300 can be seen on static display next to the Hattiesburg train station along with a former passenger coach and another steam locomotive, Hercules Powder Co. No. 21.
Trivia[]
- No. 300 is one of two preserved steam locomotives from the Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern Railroad. The other is No. 250 which is currently on static display at the Edaville Railroad in Carver, Massachusetts.
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