Alabama Warrior Railway
Encyclopedia
The Alabama Warrior Railway is a terminal railroad
as reported by the AAR
. The ABWR is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama
within the confines of the Walter Industries/Sloss facility and is owned and operated by the Watco Companies
of Pittsburg, Kansas
. The railroad operates approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) of railroad in and around Birmingham, Alabama
. It began operations on August 7, 2009 after taking over operations of the Jefferson Warrior Railroad
. The railroad was originally founded 1895 as the Marylee Railroad from a combination of coal mining railroads dating back to the 1870s. In 1924 it became part of Sloss-Sheffied Steel and Iron and later merged into the U.S. Pipe and Foundry Company in 1952. The railroad was later purchased by Jim Walter Resources in 1969 and renamed Jefferson Warrior Railroad
in 1985. The ABWR connects with CSX Transportation
, Norfolk Southern, and BNSF Railway
all at Birmingham, Alabama
. The railroad serves six industries centered around Walter Industries and a company owned transload facility. They move approximately 9,000 carloads annually (2008 figures) of coal, coke, mineral fibers, aggregates, cement powder, and chemicals. The alter Industries/Sloss facility receives inbound shipments of coal and sends out shipments of coke, chemicals, and mineral fibers. The ABWR transload facility receives and sends out shipments of coke, aggregates and cement powder for CEMEX
, Lafarge North America, Harrison Gypsum and Performance Minerals. The railroad also use to serve the U.S. Pipe and Foundry mill until its closer in March 2010. The ABWR operates six EMD SW1500
switcher locomotives all of which belonged to the former Jefferson Warrior Railroad
Terminal Railroad
Terminal Railroad or Terminal Railway may refer to:*Terminal railroad, a railroad that operates a terminal facility*Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks*Terminal Railway of Buffalo, predecessor of the New York Central Railroad...
as reported by the AAR
Association of American Railroads
The Association of American Railroads is an industry trade group representing primarily the major freight railroads of North America . Amtrak and some regional commuter railroads are also members...
. The ABWR is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
within the confines of the Walter Industries/Sloss facility and is owned and operated by the Watco Companies
Watco Companies
Watco Companies, Inc. is a Pittsburg, Kansas-based transportation company that was formed in 1983 by Charles R. Webb. Watco is composed of three divisions: transportation, mechanical and transloading. WCI is the owner of Watco Transportation Services, Inc...
of Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg is a city in Crawford County, in southeastern Kansas, United States. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and in southeastern Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,233.-History:...
. The railroad operates approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) of railroad in and around Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. It began operations on August 7, 2009 after taking over operations of the Jefferson Warrior Railroad
Jefferson Warrior Railroad
The Jefferson Warrior Railroad was a terminal railroad as reported by the AAR. The JEFW began in 1895 as the Marylee Railroad took its current name in 1985. It operated about of railroad in and around Birmingham, Alabama. The railroad was taken over by Watco Companies and renamed the Alabama...
. The railroad was originally founded 1895 as the Marylee Railroad from a combination of coal mining railroads dating back to the 1870s. In 1924 it became part of Sloss-Sheffied Steel and Iron and later merged into the U.S. Pipe and Foundry Company in 1952. The railroad was later purchased by Jim Walter Resources in 1969 and renamed Jefferson Warrior Railroad
Jefferson Warrior Railroad
The Jefferson Warrior Railroad was a terminal railroad as reported by the AAR. The JEFW began in 1895 as the Marylee Railroad took its current name in 1985. It operated about of railroad in and around Birmingham, Alabama. The railroad was taken over by Watco Companies and renamed the Alabama...
in 1985. The ABWR connects with CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, Norfolk Southern, and BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
all at Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The railroad serves six industries centered around Walter Industries and a company owned transload facility. They move approximately 9,000 carloads annually (2008 figures) of coal, coke, mineral fibers, aggregates, cement powder, and chemicals. The alter Industries/Sloss facility receives inbound shipments of coal and sends out shipments of coke, chemicals, and mineral fibers. The ABWR transload facility receives and sends out shipments of coke, aggregates and cement powder for CEMEX
Cemex
CEMEX is the world's largest building materials supplier and third largest cement producer. Founded in Mexico in 1906, the company is based in Monterrey, Mexico...
, Lafarge North America, Harrison Gypsum and Performance Minerals. The railroad also use to serve the U.S. Pipe and Foundry mill until its closer in March 2010. The ABWR operates six EMD SW1500
EMD SW1500
The EMD SW1500 was a diesel locomotive intended for switching service and built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between June 1966 and January 1974. 808 examples were constructed. It was closely related to the less powerful EMD SW1000 model, forming a line of switchers powered by the new...
switcher locomotives all of which belonged to the former Jefferson Warrior Railroad
Jefferson Warrior Railroad
The Jefferson Warrior Railroad was a terminal railroad as reported by the AAR. The JEFW began in 1895 as the Marylee Railroad took its current name in 1985. It operated about of railroad in and around Birmingham, Alabama. The railroad was taken over by Watco Companies and renamed the Alabama...
Current Locomotive Roster
| Model | Railroad | Quantity | Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMD SW1500 EMD SW1500 The EMD SW1500 was a diesel locomotive intended for switching service and built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between June 1966 and January 1974. 808 examples were constructed. It was closely related to the less powerful EMD SW1000 model, forming a line of switchers powered by the new... |
WAMX Watco Companies Watco Companies, Inc. is a Pittsburg, Kansas-based transportation company that was formed in 1983 by Charles R. Webb. Watco is composed of three divisions: transportation, mechanical and transloading. WCI is the owner of Watco Transportation Services, Inc... |
4 | 1511–1514 | ex JEFW 51-54 |
| EMD NW2 EMD NW2 The EMD NW2 is a 1,000 hp , B-B switcher locomotive manufactured by General Motors Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois. The NW2 was manufactured from February, 1939 to December, 1949, and 1145 were produced – 1121 for the U.S., and 24 were exported to Canada. Starting in late 1948... |
JEFW Jefferson Warrior Railroad The Jefferson Warrior Railroad was a terminal railroad as reported by the AAR. The JEFW began in 1895 as the Marylee Railroad took its current name in 1985. It operated about of railroad in and around Birmingham, Alabama. The railroad was taken over by Watco Companies and renamed the Alabama... |
2 | 55, 56 | to become WAMX WAMX WAMX is an Active Rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Milton, West Virginia, serving Metro Huntington. WAMX is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.... 40xx |
Historical Locomotive Roster
| Model | Railroad | Quantity | Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin S-8 Baldwin S-8 The Baldwin S-8 was an 800-horsepower diesel-electric locomotive intended for use in yard switching. The Baldwin Locomotive Works produced a total of 54 units between 1951 and 1953. In addition, nine "calf" units were built for Oliver Iron Mining Company in Minnesota... |
JEFW Jefferson Warrior Railroad The Jefferson Warrior Railroad was a terminal railroad as reported by the AAR. The JEFW began in 1895 as the Marylee Railroad took its current name in 1985. It operated about of railroad in and around Birmingham, Alabama. The railroad was taken over by Watco Companies and renamed the Alabama... |
1 | 37 | to Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is the official state railroad museum of Alabama. Dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of historically significant railway equipment, the museum is located at 1919 Ninth Street, Calera, Alabama, on I-65 approximately south of Birmingham.The... |
| EMD SW8 EMD SW8 An EMD SW8 is a diesel shunting/switching locomotive manufactured by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and General Motors Diesel between September 1950 and February 1954. Power is supplied by an EMD 567B 8-cylinder engine, for a total of .... |
U.S. Pipe and Foundry | 1 | 1 | scrapped? |
| Whitcom 45-tonner | U.S. Pipe and Foundry | 1 | 29 | scrapped? |
| Baldwin DS-4-4-660 | U.S. Pipe and Foundry | 1 | 30 | to Sloss Furnaces Sloss Furnaces Sloss Furnaces is a National Historic Landmark in Birmingham, Alabama in the United States. It operated as a pig iron-producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971. After closing it became one of the first industrial sites in the U.S. to be preserved for public use... national landmark |
| Baldwin S-8 Baldwin S-8 The Baldwin S-8 was an 800-horsepower diesel-electric locomotive intended for use in yard switching. The Baldwin Locomotive Works produced a total of 54 units between 1951 and 1953. In addition, nine "calf" units were built for Oliver Iron Mining Company in Minnesota... |
U.S. Pipe and Foundry | 3 | 33, 35, 38 | |
| ALCO RSD-1 ALCO RSD-1 The ALCO RSD-1 was a diesel-electric locomotive built by American Locomotive Company . This model was a road switcher type rated at and rode on three-axle trucks, having a C-C wheel arrangement... |
U.S. Pipe and Foundry | 1 | 39 | |
| Baldwin AS-16 | U.S. Pipe and Foundry | 3 | 43-45 | to Peabody Coal 43-45 |
| EMD SW1 EMD SW1 The EMD SW1 was a diesel-electric switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December 1938 and November 1953. Final assembly was at EMD's plant at La Grange, Illinois. The SW1 was the second generation of 600 hp switcher from EMD, succeeding the SW and SC... |
U.S. Pipe and Foundry | 1 | 88 | to Georgia Marble 88 |