Terminal Station
Southern Railway and subsidiary Alabama Great Southern had the largest presence in Birmingham, serving Terminal Station. Birmingham Terminal Co. operated Terminal Station. South of Terminal Station was 27th Street Tower. Between 27th Street Tower and Irondale to the east, the SR and AGS main lines paralleled each other. The SR line continued east to Atlanta, while the AGS line continued northeast to Chattanooga. And Central of Georgia had trackage rights via SR to Weems, where trains diverged and proceeded southeast to Columbus GA. Also, 27th Street was the junction of the Seaboard Air Line east to Atlanta. West of 27th Street was the AGS main line extending southwest to Meridian MS, and beyond to New Orleans. SR's Mobile Division had a direct line west from Birmingham. But passenger trains used the AGS line and joined the Mobile Division line at Burstall, 20 miles west of Birmingham. North of Terminal Station, a secondary SR line continued west to Columbus MS. While the St. Louis San Francisco main line extended northwest to Memphis, and beyond to St. Louis and Kansas City. Illinois Central had trackage rights over SLSF from Birmingham to Jasper. The IC line continued to Corinth MS, and beyond to Chicago.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
Weems (7 miles E) - junction of SR main line, CG with trackage rights.
27th Street Tower (1/2 mile S) - junction of SR main line, AGS, SAL.
2nd Avenue (S of Station) - south end BTC, connect with SR Atlanta line.
9th Avenue (N of Station) - north end BTC, connect with SR Columbus line, SLSF.
Jasper (42 miles NW) - junction of SLSF, IC with trackage rights.
Union Station
After Terminal Station opened in 1909, Louisville & Nashville was the main railroad remaining at Union Station. The L&N main line extended from Louisville to New Orleans. FY Tower, northeast of Birmingham was the junction with a L&N branch through Anniston. West of Union Station was 13th Street Tower, where a connection existed with the Atlanta Birmingham & Coast Railroad line south to Manchester and beyond to Waycross. During the 1930’s, a grade separation project at Union Station forced AB&C to relocate to 11th Street Station, west of 13th Street. In 1946, AB&C was acquired by Atlantic Coast Line. Between 27th Street and 13th Street, the Southern Railway/Alabama Great Southern line paralleled the L&N line. The old Union Station was replaced with a modest new station in 1960. And in 1979, when Amtrak assumed operation of the remaining Southern Railway service, that train began using the L&N trackage between 27th Street and 13th Street, serving the L&N station. Amtrak service using the L&N main line last operated in 1995.
Significant Locations and Distances from Station
FY Tower (3 miles NE) - junction of L&N main line with Anniston branch.
27th Street (E of Station) - junction of L&N main line with SR for Amtrak service.
13th Street (W of Station) - junction of L&N main line with SR, AB&C/ACL.