Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Mineral Railroad Trestle
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 17, 2013
1. Mineral Railroad Trestle Marker
Inscription.
Mineral Railroad Trestle. . The railroad trestle support wall across the road is a remnant of L&N's 156-mile Mineral Railroad, the backbone of the local iron industry. This segment ran along the north edge of Vulcan Park on its route around the Birmingham District, linking mines and mills. The railroad not only transported raw materials locally; it also connected to the nationwide rail network to ship pig iron and finished iron and steel.
The railroad trestle support wall across the road is a remnant of L&N's 156-mile Mineral Railroad, the backbone of the local iron industry. This segment ran along the north edge of Vulcan Park on its route around the Birmingham District, linking mines and mills. The railroad not only transported raw materials locally; it also connected to the nationwide rail network to ship pig iron and finished iron and steel.
Location. 33° 29.524′ N, 86° 47.709′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. Marker can be reached from Valley View Drive west of Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard South. Located in Vulcan Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham AL 35209, United States of America. Touch for directions.
From the park, the only visible remnant of the Mineral Railroad is the stone trestle support across the street. The trestle was build in 1889 to support the tracks as the crossed the road and passed along what is now the Vulcan Trail. The view of the train trestle may be blocked seasonal plant growth. Illustration by Paul R. Olson
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 17, 2013
3. Mineral Railroad
The Mineral Railroad would wound its way along Red Mountain and through the Birmingham District. This ten-mile spur line, known as the Red Gap Branch, carried one mined from Red Mountain to furnaces in Jones Valley. Illustration by Paul R. Olson
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 17, 2013
4. Mineral Railroad Trestle Marker
The mineral railroad provided an efficient delivery system, sending mined minerals straight to local furnaces. This system helped give the local industry a competitive edge. Above, coal is being loaded into railroad carat the Risco Coal Mine, which was served by the system. Courtesy of Birmingham Public Library Archives, Catalog # 26.89
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, September 17, 2013
5. Mineral Railroad Trestle Marker
lower marker is Mineral Railroad
next marker Before Birmingham: Jones Valley
top marker: A new city
Credits. This page was last revised on December 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 889 times since then and 53 times this year. Last updated on May 29, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 5, 2013, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.