The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-01
HUGE RAILWAY
project READY
FOR OPERATION
Dedication To Mark Open
ing OF SO, 900, 900 South
ern Shops
OVER 400 COMMENCE
WORK IMMEDIATELY
Carriers Heads Gather
Here For Ceremonies
Today

Old Glory will be hoisted
skyward Wednesday morning
at Z o'clock by Henry w. Mil
Ter, vice president of the
Southern Railway and the
new shops of the line will be-
gin operations.
Formalities attending the
opening Of the newest and
most modern shops in the
country will be brief. Rails
ing of the flag will be a signal
for upwards Of 400 men to
commence work. Officials here
for the opening will make a
round of the buildings, over
40 in number, comprising the
plant. The official party,
headed by Mr.. Miller, will
start the electric motors in the
various buildings and this will
end the formalities attending
the opening Of the new yards
and shops.
Mr.. Miller and his staff of officials
met Tuesday III the Tutwiler hotel
where routine matters were discussed,
the meeting taking the place Of such
gatherings held in Washington. Tues
day afternoon many Of the visitors,
some Of whom have .sbcen residents OF
Birmingham IN, the past, were busy
calling on friends.
Following the early morning cere-
mony Wednesday the officials will leave
for thir headquarters.
New and up-to-date in every detail,
the erection of the shops at Finley
marks another milestone in the indus,
trial progress of Birmingham. Nothing
quite so modern in the way of rail.
way shops has ever been constructed in
the south, and each machine, designed
with view of expediting all work,
represents the latest refinement in con-
struction and operation.
Handle Locomotives
The new shops are equipped to ham
die the largest locomotives and the
heaviest steel cars and work will be
done there which formerly was found
impossible at the older shops of the
Southern in Birmingham.
Location of this modern facility at
Birmingham is declared to be of great
advantage to the mines and factories
of the district, as well as to the entire
southwestern territory served bye the
Southern
Ground was broken on February q
and the, erection of the shops was &C.
cOmplished in record time by the
Dwight. p. Robinson company, Inc, of
New York, engineers and contractors,
who finished the job within the time
limit fixed by the company.
The shops are situated between the
present round house and yard at Fin
ley and Finley avenue on property
which has been owned by the Southern
for several years. The plant is built
in two distinct units, one for the re-
pair Of locomotives and the other for
the repair of cars. The locomotive re-
pair shop is of the transverse types.
The principal buildings are of fireproof
construction, brick and steel being used
almost exclusively. Structural steel
used in the buildings was fabricated in
Birmingham by the Virginia Bridge and
Iron company.
Ten Miles Of Track
Some idea of the magnitude of the
shops may be gained from the fact that
more than ten miles of track has been
constructed to serve it and that the
shop layout covers an area of about
100 acres.
The foundations for the various shop
machines were laid concurrently with
the foundations of the buildings and the
machines were installed while the build
ings were being constructed, so that the
CONTINUED On PAGE TwO.)