the next link eastward was the new orleans, texas and mexico railway, construction of which began in 1905 from anchorage, louisiana (opposite baton rouge), to dequincy, louisiana, with trackage rights purchased from kansas city southern railway from dequincy to beaumont. not&m trains were ferried across the mississippi river at baton rouge until 1947, several years after the huey p. long bridge (carrying a highway and a railroad track) was built in 1940. this segment opened for service on september 1, 1909, with trackage rights via the louisiana railway and navigation company (later acquired by the louisiana and arkansas railway) from baton rouge to new orleans; after 1916, gcl trains used trackage rights on the parallel illinois central route instead.