The L & N, a financially sound railroad company, produced reliable earnings over the years. They weathered the storms of the Great Depression and previous downturns while accumulating railway from less fortunate railroad companies. As Birmingham industrialists began to overtake the cotton-based agricultural interests in state politics by the early 1900s, many iron, steel, and automotive companies built plants in Alabama not only due to local resources but also because of a transportation system like L & N. Agricultural products also continued to be produced in Alabama in large quantities during the early 1900s, and farmers benefitted from L & N. After World War II, passenger services would be added, as well as modernization of the railroad, furthering its benefit to the state. Railways played an important role in the industrial success of our country and Alabama alike.
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The L & N Railroad and connecting lines were strategic in their timing and locations in Alabama. They provided the transportation and jobs needed to transition Alabama from an agriculturally based economy to a more diverse industrialized state. In addition, the L & N hubs of Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Montgomery have continued to grow into the largest cities in Alabama. At its peak by around 1970, L & N covered thirteen states and nearly 7,000 miles of track. The workers of L & N were always part and parcel of their success. Yet, by the early 1980s, corporate maneuvering would eventually lead to the end of an era and the name of L & N Railroad. I personally am thankful for all the blood, sweat, and tears so many workers in Alabama poured into the L & N Railroad. My generation continues to benefit from the legacy of this once important Alabama railroad company.
Additional resources
- Encyclopedia of Alabama entry: Alabama Railroads – https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/alabama-railroads/
- http://www.lnrr.org/History.aspx
- Oral Interviews with my grandmother, June Ellen Billingsley Travis
- Family photo of Edward Lee Billingsley
About the author
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