Birmingham Subdivision - Birmingham to Atlanta - BNSF Haulage Rights 1996

Has BNSF built, bought, or acquired an extension from Birmingham, AL to Atlanta, GA? I saw a map online of BNSF routes that indicated an extension to Atlanta...not as a trackage rights segment but as a full blown exclusive BNSF extension from Birmingham. Just wondering if the map is correct?

 

My big rail map of the US shows a BNSF line from Birmingham to Atlanta and it's dated 1996

 

1996? Wasn't that the year BN merged with Santa Fe? Did BN own a line from Birmingham, AL to Atlanta, GA prior to the merger? I don't know why I haven't already realized this!

 

Or did Santa Fe own a line from Birmingham, AL to Atlanta, GA before the merger? Doubtful... but I wanted to ask.

 

I doubt this has anything to do with it, but here's an article about Birmingham, AL to Atlanta, GA traffic.

http://www.bnsf.com/media/news-releases/2006/october/2006-10-12a.html

 

Actually, it has everything to do with it. The BNSF does not own the track from Birmingham, AL to Atlanta, GA. That is CSX.

The service was started before I retired, and believe me when one of these trains was coming some of the dispatchers would go to great lengths to clear the path. They had a letter designation (F) which stood for flyer, and they were handled better than any of the Z trains that also ran.

The only problem was that sometimes the trains were too long for the sidings, and would be meeting trains also too long for the sidings. This would require the dispatcher to hold them for a meet at sidings that would allow both trains to pass.

I never could understand the logic of this, but I didn't "see the big picture" as management likes to tell the train crews. This was (is) guaranteed service which means the railroads pay a penalty if they don't deliver on time.

Hope this helps, Terry

 

This is part of a haulage agreement between the BNSF and CSXT that was part of the Southeast Intermodal expansion project. LA to Fairburn.
Several new sidings were built as well as siding extensions.