Visiting The Rail Yards of Birmingham, AL

Birmingham is a busy junction for several railroads with major yards and industries scattered around. The biggest players are NS, CSX and BNSF. Also there are local lines like the Birmingham Southern, the Birmingham and Southeastern, the Birmingham Terminal plus the Alabama and Tennessee if I am not mistaken. The busiest junction is probably downtown a few blocks from the Amtrak station. CSX, NS and BNSF trains all meet here. The first yard in this video is the BNSF East Thomas Yard. The next spot is the ABC Coke plant. Next is CSX Boyles yard. Then the main junction downtown next to the old Sloss Furnace which is now a museum. And then finally a local working the small businesses next to the NS Norris Yard in Irondale, AL.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

This is so great!

[@MyBlueLantern]

What is the huge rusted structure, & what are the huge piles of black

[@HotspotsSoutheast]

There are still steel mills in Birmingham, so lots of coal on the ground. The rusted structure in town is an old steel mill that is now a museum. There is also an old Frisco steam engine parked there on the corner.

[@daniellebullman2577]

That would be sloss furnaces

[@jasonking2943]

Great video! After a long carear with ns. The last 13 working out of Norris yard this by far is one of the best videos I've seen around bham. Close your eyes for a moment and think back 50-70 years ago when Birmingham was steam, and the iron Mills were full swing. No class ones just everyone working like rented mules. In the last year Ive done alot of that while at the throttle and it amazes me to think how things were built, alot we are still using here today. October 15, 2019 will come to an end for me but with these great videos bham rails will live on.

[@highlymedicated2438]

Why is Avondale going into Birmingham so active all the time? It seems like I never miss a train if I'm not going over a bridge. I know nothing about the industry and I'm new to the city. I guess what I'm trying to ask is what is carried in and out from Birmingham

[@gmoore1985]

The yards are as follows: BNSF East Thomas; ERP Coke north Birmingham; NS 32nd Street Yard; next scenes are of the CSX, NS,BNSF Interlock and Diamond where the lines cross over each other, more of the NS 32nd Street Yard, then last is the NS Norris Yard.

[@J3scribe]

Thanks for the info!

[@mcnastytruckingusa2737]

The Name of N 32nd is Bowels yard. Grandfather was a signal maintainer there when it was under L&N operation thenSCL/L&N then became shop supervisor after CSX changeover.

[@pacificwarrior7679]

damn shame they tore down Terminal Station. Sat at 20:21 to the right of hwy 280.

[@rickjames302]

only memory i have of it are about a dozen granite pavers from it :(

[@barrykelly2722]

Ahh the tagging and graffiti on the rail cars. Remember working at some outfit on 1st Avenue. Cannot recall if it was north or south. Seems like a Morris Ave split the two sides. Recall a yard nearby and transients and some guy trying to sell me a quart bag of herb.

[@jamesmurray8558]

Puzzle Switch's,Sloss yards.Norris Yard,Irondale, Alabama. My worked there.The late Mr.James H.Murray, yard master.r.I.p. loved sitting in the tower with him

[@charlieharris5254]

Very nice footage, Hey anyone one got photos or footage from the 1940-1950s? The Ingalls 4-S was part built in Birmingham and tested on local tracks and on The Docks. Any photos film of the Birmingham Tank railroad access to Southern trackage ? Thanks Charles

[@KingSNAFU]

Amazing footage.

[@HotspotsSoutheast]

Thanks. Birmingham is a very busy place. I tried to stick to areas that looked safe. I was hoping to catch some Santa Fe's working the BNSF yard, there is a junction to the south I camped out for a couple hours, but never saw any trains so I headed elsewhere.

[@SantaFeAllTheWay]

Wonderful video. Great camerawork (and dronework) - great subject matter. Only wish that you had identified the yards and junctions by name.

[@HotspotsSoutheast]

Thanks. I don’t know the names of the yards. That was my first time in Birmingham.

[@walt1064]

Great shots . Sure do miss the Penny Pet dog on the old tail wagging sign.

[@MrSouthernman73]

Was this the former FRISCO yard before Burlington Northern bought them out?

[@daniellebullman2577]

Yep, East Thomas yard

[@madmikemadmike2175]

at 19;17 what is that factory in the background it looks abandoned?

[@rickjones6567]

Sloss Furnace. Old pig iron blast furnace. It's a national landmark now. You can tour it.

[@shawnpowell5876]

Awesome video of the BIRMINGHAM yard! What a facility to capture pics and videos especially w the DRONE! I have a question for you. The next time you're out doing videos and pics could you send me a pic to add to my railroad room I'm creating in our new home? The pics I've received have been framed and hung up and its added a unique touch to the room that'll also have an 8'x12' h.o. scale layout.

[@ritaalderson7526]

Is it possible to obtain a picture of any of the ones shown in this video? My Granddad, my Dad and my brother all worked for SOUTHERN RAILROAD. Our DAD worked at NORRIS YARDS

[@daniellebullman2577]

Ex Frisco and Illinois Central east Thomas yard

[@sergiochavez9577]

Thanks for the Ride great video

[@MojoFromMempho]

What kind of drone are you using?

[@MyBlueLantern]

Thanks for the info, great video

[@MyBlueLantern]

great video, thanks

[@blkstang83]

Great video!

[@HotspotsSoutheast]

DJI Phantom 4