US Steel / Birmingham Terminal Railroad

[BigLebowski]

So I have been informed that I may be heading down to Hoover, AL for some extended training at some point this year. I would like to do some railfanning while I am down there, especially outside the USS Fairfield works since I have never been able to photograph any of the steel roads.

Looking at the Alabama railroads section I don't see any mention of the Birmingham Terminal Railway. In the FCC licenses I see a slew of frequencies licensed, both IG and railroad allocations:

152.285 - FB2/MO
152.345 - FB2/MO
152.435 - FB2/MO
157.545 - MO (input to?)
157.605 - MO (input to?)
157.695 - MO (input to?)
160.290 - FB/MO
160.335
160.425
160.515
160.560
160.575
160.605
160.755
160.815
160.890 - FB/MO
161.025
161.325
161.385
161.445

Anyone have any idea which of these are active and what they are used for, and also tones for the repeaters?

For US Steel I see the following licensed:

152.375 - FB2/MO (D023 according to Database - Fire/EMS?)
152.930 - FB/MO
153.320 - FB/MO
157.535 - MO
158.280 - FB/MO
160.080 - FB/MO
451.425/457.425 - FB2
451.950/456.950 - FB2 (D023 according to database)
452.125/457.125 - FB2
461.7375/466.7375 - FB2
462.250/467.250 - FB2
462.275/467.275 - FB2
462.400/467.400 - FB2
462.450 - FB
462.525 - FB
463.275/468.275 - FB2
463.450/468.450 - FB2
463.900/468.900 - FB2

462.350 is listed in the database as well but I don't see any license.

.... plus a slew of simplex channels.

Anyone have any idea of the tones and their uses? Especially interested in emergency services, security, and railroad ops.

Thanks in advance!

 

[medic9351301]

Us steel is not as busy as it used to be.
They are basically running a skeleton crew.
They are basically shut down .
152.375 dcs 203 is security/Ems.
Don't know if it's even active.
If it's good the switch over to a push to talk deal.
Nextel or southern Linc.
As for the railroad I don't have a clue.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.al.com/articles/16737201/us_steel_closing_blast_furnace.amp

 

[TomServo]

It looks like US Steel changed frequencies since I lived there. The only one you listed that I recognize is 462.350 and I don't remember what they used it for. Plant ops were on 462.475 and 461.450 back in the 90's, but those are obviously old frequencies.

As for BTRR, if they kept the same services after they bought the assets of Birmingham Southern, 160.290 is the Road freq and 160.890 is Maintenance. 160.335 is listed as one of the active frequencies, too, but "Unknown" in my old book.

I realize this is not a solution, but maybe it's a starting point.

 

[BigLebowski]

This is a great starting point guys, thanks for sharing!

That’s a shame about USS but I guess they are going the way of Bethlehem Steel. Maybe I can see some operations at the other metal facilities in town like US Pipe.

 

[BigLebowski]

I’m gonna bump this thread since I will soon be in the area.. still trying to nail this stuff down.