I would like to introduce myself to the group. My name is Bryan Schaffer and I am the current BNSF Special Agent assigned to Birmingham. I cover Birmingham to Amory and Amory to Columbus - all former Frisco territory. I also cover our trains in/out of GA on another RR. I am interested in any information on my territory such as old track charts, sidings, spurs, etc that are no longer in existence. Any historical photos along the line, depots or in Yards. And any good stories about the area. I am also open to speaking/meeting with railfans and interested groups. I can be contacted at bryan.Schaffer@bnsf.com. Thank you and Stay Safe!
Bryan, by all means Welcome Aboard! Immediately I don't remember the level of material available on the site of direct interest to you, but take time to use the Search engine. Also ask questions; there are very many very knowledgeable people here just waiting for a challenge.
Welcome. I'm Howard and I live in Tuscaloosa. I haunt Norfolk Southern's AGS South in the area. I have explored what was once the branch line from Reform to Aliceville. Not much left. You can still see where the right of way once was in some places but for the most part mother nature and progress have taken over. The line pretty much parallels Highway 17 on the west side or your left if you're driving from Reform to Carrollton then crossed over or under somewhere south of Carrollton. In Carrollton you can still see a good portion of the right of way and I believe some ties and track may still be in place by the sawmill there. I have some pictures in one of my albums of a trip I took to Aliceville a couple of years ago.
Thanks for the info! I have never been out the R Line past Columbus as that's where my tracks end. Sometime soon I plan to take a trip and sight-see the entire thing (or what's left of it). I am planning for a presentation at the BNSF Yard in Birmingham sometime before the end of the year. If anyone is interested in coming out for the presentation and tour, I will post details later.
Hi Bryan, Are you the Bryan Schaffer that I have seen for a number of years on Alrails? Welcome welcome welcome!!
Bryan, my name is Brandon. I didn't discover this thread until today. I live in Sulligent. I'm a railfan and an HO scale modeler. I even built a 1:4 scale bbq grill/smoker, loosley modeled after the Frisco 4-8-2 #1529 in Amory's Frisco Park. I also share an interest in the Amory-Birmingham segment... even up to Tupelo to some degree. I teach at Brilliant. Although I barely remember crossing the tracks of the Brilliant Branch in Winfield before they were torn up, I have an interest in the former Brilliant Branch. I also got interested in the AT&N / SLSF Mobile Sub from Reform to Mobile on Dec. 9, 2010 (the day I found out about the former line). I'm so interested in the Reform-Mobile line that I chose a freelanced extension of the fictitiously rebuilt AT&N as the theme for my layout. My "extension" runs north from Reform to a connection with BNSF at Sulligent. I wish I had known about your tour offer in time. If you ever do that again, please let me know. In the meantime, here are some things you might find interesting. http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?forums/southern-division.35/
Bryan, welcome to the Frisco website!!! You will find a lot of information here so please ask questions about the Frisco or post any information you have. Joe
