Railroad maps

[shern_0711]

A friend of mine lives in Grand Bay, AL near mobile and has 900 acres of property. On the back of his land is what's left of a mound where a railroad use to run. Where can I find maps or info on this? Grand Bay wasn't founded until like 1919 or something, but I'm pretty sure the tracks predate this to 1800's.

 

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[Sandpiper]

I don't know of any maps that shows thetracks which are far North of the now L&N. I have tried to locateinformation on it before. There are maps dating back to the 1800's- non showing tracks at that location. Yes, dates back to the 1800's as I understand.

 

[austin]

More than likely :Special Collections, the University of Alabama. The research librarian can point the way if they don't have them.

 

[Haggis]

Universities in the US are definitely the right place to go. Maybe you can also find online archives.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/rrhtml/rrintro.html

 

[Herb Boyd]

Check with the Register of Deeds for the County...often the Railroads purchased rights of way or were granted property by the State, there might be something in the Public record. Also check to see if there is a local or state railroad historical society with some info, also web search the nearest town for a railroad station... good luck, Herb

 

[Davidail]

Google USGS Topo's Map Locator find your area by zooming in on the locator map click on point of interest and all available maps will show up some areas have 1880 -1900 maps which are free to Download. USGS site is down right now due to Gov. shutdown

 

[Mackaydon]

Is your friend's property close to Routes 16/90 (Spanish Trail/Government Blvd)?

Naming the railroad may be an interesting challenge. For example, consider that in the northern part of Alabama, the Cahaba Coal Mining Company had a line (maybe as early as 1884) to service their mines. That line may have become part of the Brierfield, Blocton and Birmingham Railway, incorporated in 1889. By 1891, the BB&B came under the control of the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway, which itself merged with the Richmond and Danville Railroad in 1894 to become the Southern Railway.

Don....

 

[cw0909]

if your still looking
Encyclopedia of Alabama: Alabama Railroads

The L&N system in 1901, substantially complete with only the Knoxville-Atlanta link yet unbuilt
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/1901_Poor's_Louisville_and_Nashville_Railroad.jpg
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville_and_Nashville_Railroad