SELF-GUIDED DRIVING & WALKING TOURS

Most of the former roadbeds of the various Birmingham Mineral Railroad branches are no longer connected (contiguous), so it is not a “walkable” trail; the signs project designates various locations.  But the BMRR today can be thought of as a drivable “urban trail.”  In some places, it connects to existing urban walking trails which use the roadbed of the original BMRR such as Vulcan Trail, the Trinity Hospital trail, and several trail segments in Red Mountain Park.  Because the roadbed is not contiguous and is not walkable from one end to the other, “driving and walking tours” are being created that will enable a person to drive to locations to see the remains of the former BMRR roadbed and to walk segments of it that have been made into walking trails.  The following such driving and walking tours have been created thus far and are available by clicking on the respective link:

Eastern and Southern Areas (Ruffner Mountain/Irondale to West Homewood) — Red Gap Branch

Eastern and Northern Areas (Ruffner Mountain/Irondale to Boyles Yard/North Birmingham) — Gate City Branch — PART A

Eastern Areas (Ruffner Mountain/Irondale to Trussville) — Gate City Branch PART B and Trussville Branch

Western and Northern Areas (Bessemer, Hueytown area, Fairfield, Ensley, Pratt City, ACIPCO, and North Birmingham) — Huntsville Branch No. 1

Southwest Areas (Southwest Birmingham, Lipscomb, to Bessemer) — North Branch

Helena Area — Helena and Blocton Branch