Here are a number of photographs of the Trolley (also called the Motor Car) that ran on tracks between Covington and Mandeville through Abita Springs.
It was built by Joseph Birg. In 1909, just as the trolley line was getting started, he was a guest at a Mandeville hotel.
1906 Charter of the Trolley Company (Click on to enlarge)
1916
A motor car society notice from July, 1909
Historian Dr. Karl Koenig quotes Philip Burns, a resident of Covington, as saying that the trolley ran from the Mandeville lakefront to Covington. He said, "Sometimes in the early 1900's a railroad line was built which went from Covington to Mandeville, going through Abita Springs. Called the "Doodlebug," the first one was gas, and then a later one was electric.
"This car ran several trips a day to meet the boats that landed in Mandeville to go to New Orleans. It was a very pleasant outing for young people because big excursions came from New Orleans to Mandeville on weekends. It was a good way to spend an hour and a half with your girl and enjoy the good music the people on the excursion had. We'd go to Mandeville, then ride the boat over to New Orleans and come right back. There was a big wooden walkway on the beach in Mandeville so people could walk right out on it into the boats."
When it reached Mandeville, the train track ran right onto a pier off the lakefront so passengers getting off a Lake Pontchartrain steamer could jump right on board the train without even going to land first.
Exhibit diorama at the Mandeville Trailhead Museum
Here is a map of the path taken by the Trolley Motor Car. As the map shows, the trolley tracks were different than the NOGN railroad tracks that Tammany Trace follows today. The trolley tracks crossed the Bogue Falaya River further upstream, travelled above La. 36 for a while, then crossed downward and entered Abita Springs south of the railroad tracks.
Heading southward, the tracks for a while paralleled Soell Drive and Helenbirg Road, then headed straight for Chinchuba, where the La. 22 and Hwy. 190 intersection is today. From there the tracks came into Mandeville, zig zagging through the street grid, and finally crossing Lakeshore Drive and going out onto the pier where the lake steamers docked.
It appears to have crossed Lakeshore in the area between Coffee and Carroll Streets. Click on the images below for a larger view.
Heading southward, the tracks for a while paralleled Soell Drive and Helenbirg Road, then headed straight for Chinchuba, where the La. 22 and Hwy. 190 intersection is today. From there the tracks came into Mandeville, zig zagging through the street grid, and finally crossing Lakeshore Drive and going out onto the pier where the lake steamers docked.
It appears to have crossed Lakeshore in the area between Coffee and Carroll Streets. Click on the images below for a larger view.
Liquidation Sale Notice: The Trolley is Gone 1918
Efforts were made to save the trolley line and even expand it to Madisonville. Unfortunately, it failed to continue operation and the assets were sold for scrap.
Joseph Birg, the man who built the trolley motor car line died shortly after it was sold for scrap.
JOSEPH BIRG DIES IN. NEW ORLEANS.
(From N. 0. Daily States)
Joseph Birg, 69 years of age, leading sugar and rice planter, director of a number of banks and builder of the electric railroad from Mandeville to Covington, died at 9 a. m., Monday. November 25, 1918, at his residence, 826 St. Charles avenue, New Orleans, after a few day's illness.
Mr. Birg was a native of Franklin, St. Mary parish, where he lived practically all of his life. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank at Franklin, which was St. Mary's first bank and later it was merged with the Commercial Bank & Trust Company and Mr. Birg was president from 1906 until the time of his death.He was the owner of Katie Sugar Plantation, a partner in the operation of the Camperdown refinery and a director of the Louisiana State Rice Milling Company, Inc. He served on the police jury of St. Mary parish for many years.
Mr. Birg's private philanthropies were numerous. He was modest, of a retiring disposition and enjoyed a
large acquaintance in New Orleans and throughout the state.
He was a son of Felix Birg and Mary Ann Birg. The death of his sister, Helen, five years ago, affected him deeply and later he named the township between Covington and Mandeville "Helenbirg."
He is survived by three nieces, Grace Richard Landry. Katheryn Richard, wife of Harry L. Lazarus, Jr., and Florida Richard, and one nephew, Birg Richard.
Farmer 11-30-1918
The visitor's center museum at the Mandeville Trailhead offered this information on the "boat train" trolley.
