Birmingham Rails
Yesterday and Today
Welcome to Birmingham Rails, a web site about
railroads and industries in and around Birmingham, Alabama. This page is
intended to share my interests in railroads, history of technology, and my
perception that there is a lot of great railroad history and activity in
Birmingham, Alabama.
I have gathered information and learned a lot about Birmingham since moving here in 1992. I enjoy telling the story, as I have learned and interpreted it. In sharing this information on this web page, I will approach this as though you are visiting my personal library and files, which are meager. Thus, I will share freely information that I have obtained in pursuing my personal interest.
I will treat this like a research paper, and intend to give credit to the source of information, both written and graphic. Photos and other graphics are borrowed freely from other sources, and I will attempt to footnote these. The intention is not to "steal" other's information, but to share what I have in the interest of learning about a subject that I enjoy. If you were here, we would look at materials prepared by others. With the internet, there is a new opportunity to share published information on the Web. It is not my intention to abuse this privilege, only to share this for the enjoyment of others.
Send email to the author: John Stewart
The Steel City Division of the Southeastern Region of the National Model Railroad Association will host the 2010 annual convention in Birmingham May 21-23, 2010.
Home layout tours will be available.
The convention host location is the Hampton Inn Bessemer, conveniently located near the Bessemer Civic Center and exit #108, Academy Drive on I-20/59.
For more information see http://www.ser-nmra.org/convention.htm
Good news -- the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society (R&LHS) [ http://www.rlhs.org/ ] granted Birmingham a charter as the new Mid-South Chapter. This chapter will be the society's first presence in the central South and will compliment the existing Southeast Chapter in Jacksonville, Florida, according to Marv Clemons. Based in Birmingham the Mid-South Chapter will draw members primarily from Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, as well as western Georgia and Northwest Florida.
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Birmingham industrial and rail history folks lost a great friend (8/30/08) in the passing of Alex Nuckols. A resident of Hoover, Alex was a gentleman who loved industrial history, railroads and was an avid collector and historian. He will be missed. One of Alex dreams and passions was to see a railroad built for the Red Mountain Park in Birmingham. It is hoped that this project will continue to move forward which would make Alex very happy indeed. Among many talents and interests, Alex was a gifted artist. This image shows his vision for a Red Mountain Railroad which could operate in part on the former TCI roadbed along the north face of Red Mountain. Alex wanted everyone to be able to share his deep interest in Red Mountain's history and its many resources.
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A
new book is available that is very much worthwhile, not only for its quality
content but also to support the Birmingham Jefferson History Museum.
Commissioned by the Birmingham-Jefferson Historical Society, the book is
authored by local historian and resident James R. (Jim) Bennett. Jim is
well suited to write this book with a long and distinguished career including
journalism, elected office and cabinet positions in state government.
Jim is a patron of local history, and quite willing to get out in the field to see historical sites first hand. He encourages and promotes local history and local projects such as the Red Mountain Park and the local chapter of the Society for Industrial Archaeology.
Historic Birmingham & Jefferson County (ISBN 9781 8936 1983 8) is an excellent new source of information on our local history, and contains not only well written text but many illustrations and photographs.
You are encouraged to contact the Society offices and obtain this book -- you will enjoy it!
And follow progress of the Birmingham Jefferson History Museum, http://www.bjhm.org/
The Society for Industrial Archaeology is active in the Birmingham area. The Southern Chapter, which has been somewhat inactive had a meeting in November, 2009 at the historic Redding Mine Hoist House which is now part of Red Mountain Park. Get involved in this local activity and join the national organization.
Next outing is planned for March 6, 2010, at Ruffner Mountain -- email to get the details
Announcing a new Birmingham Rails -- not this website, but a new book by Marv Clemons and Lyle Key. These gentlemen have addressed an important part of the Birmingham districts rail history, and who better to tell it than two natives who have both worked in the railroad industry?
Visit the "other" Birmingham Rails site at www.birminghamrails.com
This will be a great book to add to the growing body of work about the railroads and industry of the Magic City -- Birmingham, Alabama.
Mystery solved! The "intriguing RR device" has been definitely identified by Joe Christian. See what these children found on a family exploration trip in the summer of 1969 along Birmingham rails. Click Here
Thanks to Joe for sharing his family photos, as well as his local history knowledge on the area around the Mary Lee and the Cane Creek Branch.
It is hoped that Joe is going to share some more history about his work as a tower man at Birmingham's Terminal Station.
Stay tuned!
Oxmoor Furnace and the Eureka TramwayBirmingham Rails led the initial investigation of the Eureka Mines and their tramway. The Eureka Company was the moving force that led to the "discovery" that Birmingham District coal could be coked and used to produce iron. This was a significant move forward that led to the development of coke fueled iron making rather than charcoal fuel. But the development of the Oxmoor Furnaces is rooted in the Civil War and the making of iron for arms for the Confederacy. In the post war period, the Oxmoor property was idle until it was revived by "new" south capital and initiative. One of the "modern" additions to the Oxmoor property under the Eureka Company ownership was a tramway from the Eureka Mines to the Oxmoor Furnace. Does the tramway still exist? Can it be found? Check out the Oxmoor Furnace menu at the left and see what has been happening in this investigation and how this new resource may be added to the good things at the proposed Red Mountain Park.
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The Spring 2006 issue of Classic Trains Magazine has a wonderful view of Birmingham industrial railroad activity, Final Fires of Birmingham by Birmingham rail historian Thomas Lawson, Jr.
The November, 2003 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman Magazine contained a great article on a Birmingham theme model Railroad, Birmingham, 1950. Additional pictures of Ken's Layout.
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Newfound Creek Trestle on the Cane Creek Branch burned 5/23/06. This is a great loss in Jefferson County -- one of the highest RR trestles in the southeast at about 115 feet tall and about 650 feet long. Originally built between 1901 and 1903, the trestle was rebuilt at least once to reach its most recent configuration. The fire photo is by Paul Kennedy, courtesy of Marshall Farmer. Reports indicate that fireworks may have caused the fire. The photo of the aftermath is by Eric McFerrin.
Take a look at Red Mountain Park -- site of former mines.
For current information on the Park's progress, see visit the Friends of Red Mountain Park website.
Support the Bessemer Hall of History membership drive. Download a Membership Form and send in by mail. It is a great value and a worthy historical resource.
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