Ludlow and Southern Railroad
The Ludlow and Southern Railroad was a short-lived, privately-owned line built in the early 1900s to serve mining operations south of Ludlow, California.
Overview:
Built: Around 1903–1905Length: Roughly 17 miles
Terminus: Connected Ludlow (on the Santa Fe mainline) to the Bagdad-Chase Mine in the Rex Hills
Purpose: Transport ore—primarily copper and gold—from the Bagdad-Chase Mine to the Santa Fe Railroad at Ludlow
Key Details:
The Bagdad-Chase Mine, discovered in 1898 by John Suter, became one of the richest copper mines in San Bernardino County.The line was privately financed by mining interests and operated exclusively for ore haulage, not for passengers or general freight.
It is often overshadowed by the more famous Tonopah & Tidewater, but it played an important role in connecting isolated mines to national markets.
Relationship to T&T Railroad:
Sometimes confused with or mentioned alongside the Tonopah & Tidewater, since both were tied to mining and Ludlow.However, the Ludlow and Southern was separate, built earlier, and ran southeast rather than north.
Decline and Legacy:
Mining production declined by the 1920s, and the railroad was soon abandoned.Today, some of the old roadbed and mine structures can still be found near the Rex Hills, though few physical traces of the railroad remain.
