We are excited to have our Park Ranger, Eric McFerrin, speaking at the L&N Railroad convention in Harlan, Kentucky this week.
According to Ranger McFerrin, the L&N Railroad was predominantly the main railroad carrying red ore early on. He says industry in Birmingham and the railroad are inseparably intertwined.
Founded in 1850, this railroad system ultimately spanned 6000 miles and served 13 states. The L&N operated both freight and passenger trains. Its original purpose was to join Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN, its namesake cities.
The L&N helped to determine the fate of the city of Birmingham. A preexisting railroad had been constructed to be used solely to transport minerals from Birmingham to Chattanooga. However, due to a change in the railroad’s shares, the L&N purchased the rails and expanded them to Montgomery, nearly going bankrupt due to the acquisition. The industry thrived, though, and Milton Smith, the railroad’s president, chose to circle the railroad around Red Mountain.
Without this railroad, our city would not be what it is today, and Red Mountain Park could have never have been a vision.
Good luck to our Park Ranger at the convention!
