A few historic concrete mile posts are still in place beside railroad tracks (BMRR and other railroad companies). The number on a mile post was the distance the BEGINNING of that railroad (beginning of a mainline or beginning of a branch) was from the headquarters of that railroad company (for example, the various BMRR branches in Alabama began the numbering of the mile posts for that branch based on how far the beginning of that branch was from the L&N headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky).
The BMRR Signs Project is adding Mile Post interpretive signs near historic mile posts (no matter what railroad company the post belonged to) in locations where people will see them and will learn about the purpose of the mile posts. This web page lists the locations of the Mile Post interpretive signs that have been installed thus far (see below). A map of the locations of the installed Mile Post interpretive signs (AND other known Mile Posts that do not have interpretive signage) is at this link. Contact us if you know of other Mile Posts where we can consider putting interpretive signs.
The wording of the interpretive signs is as follows:
Mile Post
The concrete post nearby was a mile post (mile marker) that historically had a number on it that let the train engineer know where he was along the tracks. Also, the time it took to travel between two posts enabled the engineer to calculate the speed his train was traveling.
1 mile between each post
1 mile in 1 minute = 60 mph
1 mile in 2 minutes = 30 mph
Locations of installed Mile Post interpretive signs (Alabama unless otherwise noted):
1. Birmingham — Vulcan Trail (Kiwanis Vulcan Trail) (near mid-point of paved portion; east of big concrete mine tipple foundation beside trail). L&N Railroad (BMRR) Mile Number 400. Latitude/Longitude: N 33 29 23.6 W 86 48 2.7
2. Trafford — Warrior-Trafford Road — North side of Trafford Memorial Park (near street crossing of active railroad tracks). L&N Railroad Mainline Mile Number 368. Latitude/Longitude: N 33 49 12.24 W 86 44 35.21
3. Fultondale — Walking/Bicycling Cain Creek Trail (often currently referred to as “Cane Creek”) part of Fivemile Creek Greenway of the Red Rock Trail System — Beside trail east of entrance at Stouts Road. L&N Railroad (BMRR) Mile Number 365. Latitude/Longitude: N 33 37 17 W 86 48 7
4. Fultondale — Walking/Bicycling Cain Creek Trail (often currently referred to as “Cane Creek”) part of Fivemile Creek Greenway of the Red Rock Trail System — Beside trail one-fourth mile east of trail entrance at Shady Grove Road. L&N Railroad (BMRR) Mile Number (number no longer on post). Latitude/Longitude: N 33 37 43.36 W 86 50 56.47
5. Gardendale — Walking/Bicycling Cain Creek Trail (often currently referred to as “Cane Creek”) part of Fivemile Creek Greenway of the Red Rock Trail System — Beside trail one-fourth mile east of trail entrance at Fieldstown Road. L&N Railroad (BMRR) Mile Number 389. Latitude/Longitude: N 33 37 50.33 W 86 51 53.78
6. Bessemer — 21st Street North. The currently active CSX railroad tracks near this sign are on the original BMRR roadbed. L&N Railroad (BMRR) Mile Number 403. Latitude/Longitude: N 33 24 15.93 W 86 57 3.947
7. Pelham — County Road 52 (Highway 52) across the road from the “tank farm” entrance. This triangular mile post is different from square posts generally found in Alabama. This mile post number 959 indicates the distance from Richmond, Virginia, and was used at this location by the following railroad companies: Atlanta Birmingham & Atlantic; Atlanta Birmingham & Coast; Atlantic Coast Line; Seaboard Coast Line; Seaboard System; and CSX. Also on one side of the post is D 427. Latitude/Longitude: N 33 16 54.35 W 86 48 17.7
8. Tarrant — Springdale Road at the active railroad tracks that originally were the BMRR tracks. L&N Railroad (BMRR) Mile Number 391. Latitude/Longitude: N 33 35 42.9972 W 86 46 11.92
9. Hartselle — US Highway 31 at intersection of Cedar Creek Church Road (aka Cedar Creek Road) beside the active CSX railroad tracks that originally were L&N tracks. L&N Railroad Mile Number 323. Latitude/Longitude: N 34 24 4.78 W 86 54 47.66
10. Falkville — US Highway 31 seven tenths of a mile south of intersection of West Piney Grove Road beside the active CSX railroad tracks that originally were L&N tracks. L&N Railroad Mile Number 327. Latitude/Longitude: N 34 20 41.9 W 86 54 19.8
11. Garden City — Railroad Avenue N just north of intersection of 3rd Street SE beside the active CSX railroad tracks that originally were L&N tracks. L&N Railroad Mile Number 353. Latitude/Longitude: N 34 0 47.22 W 86 4 59.4
12. Lipscomb — Avenue H in downtown Lipscomb in the linear park that runs beside the active CSX tracks which are on the BMRR North Branch. L&N Railroad (BMRR) Mile Number 401. Latitude/Longitude: N 33 25 38.64 W 86 55 20.02