Soniat & Deblieu Climax - 2 truck No. Unknown
Romayor, Texas, United States
Location: The Retreat at Artesian Lakes
Status: Display
Related Notes
Photo Copyright © Dusty Garison
Here are the notes for Soniat & Deblieu No. Unknown, a Climax - 2 truck located in Romayor, TX. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.

Posted: Apr 20, 2021 @ 13:04:28 by Lynda DeBlieux Hlywiak
My grandfather, John Dodd Deblieux Sr., was Vice President of Soniat & Deblieux Co in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish 1917-1924. In 1918 Soniat & Deblieux purchased land in Opelousas and moved the shingle mill from Krotz Springs. They built a sawmill with about 30,000 feet capacity. The mill purchased the Climax on July 22, 1919 from Southern Iron & Equipment Company in Atlanta, Georgia, Order 1028. Soniat & Deblieux owned about 70 million feet of hardwood stumpage-enough to keep both mills running for 10 years-and had plans to acquire other hardwood stumpage holdings. In 1924 my grandfather purchased all shares and holdings of Soniat & Deblieux Co., dissolved Soniat & Deblieux, and formed Deblieux Lumber Co; Inc. The Climax was sold in 1928. I have a photo of the Climax in front of the mill. If you will email me with your email address, I will send it to you. Lynda
Posted: Apr 20, 2021 @ 10:04:14 by Lynda DeBlieux Hlywiak
My grandfather, John Dodd Deblieux Sr., was Vice President of Soniat & Deblieux Co in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish 1917-1924. In 1918 Soniat & Deblieux purchased land in Opelousas and moved the shingle mill from Krotz Springs. They built a sawmill with about 30,000 feet capacity. The mill purchased the Climax on July 22, 1919 from Southern Iron & Equipment Company in Atlanta, Georgia, Order 1028. Soniat & Deblieux owned about 70 million feet of hardwood stumpage-enough to keep both mills running for 10 years-and had plans to acquire other hardwood stumpage holdings. In 1924 my grandfather purchased all shares and holdings of Soniat & Deblieux Co., dissolved Soniat & Deblieux, and formed Deblieux Lumber Co; Inc. The Climax was sold in 1928. I have a photo of the Climax in front of the mill. If you will email me with your email address, I will send it to you. Lynda
Posted: Feb 12, 2020 @ 18:02:59 by Larry Paul
Builder: Climax Manufacturing Co., Built For: Lac La Bell & Calument Railroad Co. as narrow gauge Number unknown, at Lac La Belle, MI. Build Date: 1893, Construction No.: Unknown, Wheel Arrangement: Climax - 2 truck, Empty Weight: 50,000, Weight on Drivers: 50,000, Driver Diameter: 29, Tractive Effort: Unknown, Boiler Pressure: Unknown Cylinders: 10 X 12, Fuel: Coal, Gauge: Standard. Corp. name change in 1905 to Keweenaw Central Railroad Co. number unknown Sale: 1908 to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. (dealer) #653? Converted to standard gauge by SI&E. Sale: 01/1909 to Hilgard Lumber Co. number unknown at Laurelia, TX. Sale: 05/1913 to W.H. Gerhart Lumber Co. number unknown at Derry, LA. Sale: Date unknown to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. (dealer) #1028. Sale: 07/1919 to Soniat & Debliux Number unknown at Opelousas, LA. Sale date unknown to Gilmer & Tanner Sand & Gravel Co. number unknown at Romayor TX. Corp sale c, 1930 to Texas Construction Materials Co. Sale of Corp. assets c. 1950 to Jack Biggs. Location: The Retreat at Artesian Lakes 235 Chain O Lakes Resort, Cleveland, TX 77327 Status: Display (in very bad condition) Information from The Steam Locomotive Directory of North America Volume 2-Western United States and Mexico by J. David Conrad.
Posted: Jul 23, 2019 @ 18:07:01 by Dusty Garison
I visited this site on July 27, 2019. Here is some additional information - Built by Climax Manufacturing Co. as narrow gauge, 1893. Sold to W.H. Gerhart, 1913. Converted to standard gauge by Southern Iron & Equipment. Sold to Soniat & DeBlieu (lumber operation), Opelousas, LA, 1919. Sold to Gemmar & Tanner (lumber operation), Romayor, TX, 1928. Sold to Texas Construction Materials (gravel operation), Romayor, TX, 1930. There was a significant accident that derailed the locomotive in the 1930s. Later the land around was excavated for the gravel deposits and it was left stranded on an island. Rescued from Train Island by Wyatt Smith & crew, 2014.
Posted: May 10, 2017 @ 18:05:10 by ILFORD
My records are Soniat & De Bliux, No B 3937.