Mobile and Birmingham Railway Company - Alabama 1887

Beautifully engraved SCARCE certificate from the Mobile and Birmingham Railway Company issued in 1887. This historic document was printed by Homer Lee Bank Note and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of a train passing two boats. This item is hand signed by the Company's Vice President and Secretary and is over 117 years old.






Certificate Vignette

The Mobile & Alabama Grand Trunk Railroad Company built a railroad from Mobile to the Tombigbee River which was completed by September 9, 1873. In 1874, the company was declared bankrupt and the line of railroad was abandoned. In 1887, the Mobile & Birmingham Railway Company (originally chartered as the Mobile & West Alabama Railroad Company) received its charter.

The railroad was reopened from Mobile to the Tombigbee in 1887. The Mobile & Birmingham Railway experienced financial difficulties which led to its reorganization in 1895 as the Mobile & Birmingham Railroad. Finally, in 1899, all properties of the Mobile & Birmingham Railroad were leased to the Southern Railway Company for a term of 99 years with a renewal clause permitting extensions of the lease at the option of the lessee. This railroad has been operating as a part of the Southern Railway Company ever since.