Is the Atlanta - Birmingham (Al) NS line segment a busy route?
I would assume the Atlanta - SoCal intermodal trains run this route. What else is seen on this line.
What are the operational issues of this line? Is it single train CTC? etc.
ed
Moderately busy. As you surmise, lots of IM traffic, plus coal, Amtrak, and manifest. Austell, GA is where this line is joined by the line from Chattanooga, for the final few miles into ATL. There’s also a fairly big IM yard in Austell. To get a feel of the traffic, Search “NS Austell” on YouTube. What I can’t tell you is how much of this is from Chattanooga, and how much is from B’ham, although I suspect it’s about 50/50.
A pair of Amtrak trains, four Merchandise trains, 10 intermodal, 2 multilevels for a total of 18. A moderate amount for a single track line. Fewer than this on Monday and Tuesday. Plus, whatever locals work…
Traffic from Austell to Chattanooga is quite a bit heavier, about double. There is a good bit of double track on that route.
My son plays baseball at a park in Austell near the WYE. I keep hoping for a few trees to fall to improve the view 
The line is somewhat busy. List of trains on the line:
Intermodal:
219, 220, 225, 226, 23E, 24E, 22G, 290, 22Q
Manifest:
153, 154, 172, 173, 186, 187
Auto:
26A, 27A, 298
Amtrak:
19, 20
Plus locals and a cement train that runs from Calera, Al to Atlanta
Oops. Missed your other questions!
The Atlanta to UP, southern California trains do use this route. They are on and off at Meridian and then to UP at Shreveport.
It’s single track with CTC and known as the “East End” of the Alabama division. There are over a dozen controlled sidings between Austell and B’ham that range in size from 7500 to 11000 feet. It’s not highly improved. Lots of curves and up and down the hills and swales. Also, has to get over the most southern “bump” of the Appalachians. I’d say flow is “smooth” more than “fast”.
I just returned from the Anniston - Birmingham area. Didnt see many trains, but was working for the most part.
My customer has a facility at the location of the old Birmingham station and it is adjacent to NS line and what appeared to be CSX line to the south.
Eastern Alabama is very pretty country with quite a few “bumps”.
Thanks for replies
ed
Yes, CSX goes to Montgomery from Birmingham; the NS and CSX lines ae very close together near the station; Amtrk moves from the NS to the CSX to make its station stop, and then moves back to the NS at 14th Street.
As to the condition of the Austell-Birmingham line, great efforts are expended o keep the kudzu from interfering with the traffic. I do not think that flame throwers ae resorted to, though.[:)]
Johnny flame throwers should work except this year it has rained too much ! Don’t know if you have ever seen it but Kudzu roots go down as much as 4 feet into the ground making it almost impossible to eradicate and look like a rudabaker roots.
[quote user=“blue streak 1”
I grew up in South Carolina, lived in Mississippi for threw years and saw the kudzu that covered the gully just north of my house, and lived in Alabama for nine years. I aso have traveled from Atlana to Birmingham by day on the Southern. Yes, I have seen kudzu.[:)]
Deggesty
As to the condition of the Austell-Birmingham line, great efforts are expended o keep the kudzu from interfering with the traffic. I do not think that flame throwers ae resorted to, though.
Johnny flame throwers should work except this year it has rained too much ! Don’t know if you have ever seen it but Kudzu roots go down as much as 4 feet into the ground making it almost impossible to eradicate and look like a rudabaker roots.
[/quote]