Page 46 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2018

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY workin’ on the railroad
MISSISSIPPI
EXPORT
RAILROAD
Transporting products to the world
KATE LUCE
President and CEO MS Export Railroad
story by
Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
photos courtesy of
Mississippi Export Railroad
It was the turn of the 19th century and the banks of the Singing River Basin were whirling with activity. From the growing timber trade to oil
rig manufacturing, pulp and paper and chemical
industries, the city of Moss Point was quickly transforming into a bustling port of world renown.
During that time, the seas were filled with tall ship masts and sails as one of the area’s key assets, the coastline, served as a primary driver of industry and trade. With that growth came a need for more affordable and reliable transportation options, spurring the growth of the railroad in South Mississippi.
In 1922, local visionary and businessman Gregory M. Luce formed the Mississippi Export Railroad from the remains of the former Alabama and Mississippi (A&M) railroad, which was bankrupt and discontinued in 1920. With Luce’s purchase of the former A&M Railroad, the Mississippi Export Railroad (MSE) was born, as was a family legacy. Today, Mississippi Export Railroad is run by Kate C. Luce, the great-great-granddaughter of Gregory Luce.
Since its origination, the Mississippi Export Railroad has been a driver of development and conduit of industrial expansion on and around its 42-mile mainline. MSE reaches from Pascagoula to Evanston, MS, with commercial agreements that expand its reach north to Jackson and southeast
to Mobile, providing customers reliable and cost
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