Mertz

New light has recently been shed on the significance of this community to railroading in Mobile County. As it now seems likely that much of the M&BS right-of-way was originally constructed and operated as the Mobile & Dauphin Island railroad, Mertz appears to have been that road's northern terminus. This makes a great deal of sense, as Mertz has long been the location of Mobile's Farmer's Market. Much of the southern half of the County was agricultural in the 19th century, and a railroad to transport produce, fruits, and even beef would have been seen as an important economic link with the Port of Mobile, and its growing railroad connections.

It is not clear what sort of buildings were present during the M&DI's tenure, but when it was active as the M&BS mainline, there was a large combination station for freight and passengers. This image (below right) shows Mertz Station as it appeared in 1915. The tracks are located on the opposite side of the station, mostly hidden in this view.

Through about 1975, this section of the route was still active; however the handwriting was already on the wall. A small spur was located just south of the Eslava Creek trestle, servicing a couple of smaller businesses. The Farmer's Market may still have received one or two shipments a week by this late date, but that is speculation. Most transport was being handled by tractor-trailer over the highway. The chrome extraction plant in Farnell was probably the largest customer remaining, though it, too, was breathing its last gasps. All rail activity stopped for good around 1983, when the GM&O merged with the Illinois Central to form ICG. The remaining rails were removed shortly thereafter.

The location of the present-day Tiny Diny is marked on the map. According to the owners, the property was purchased from the railroad. Their parking lot was originally the roadbed. Before moving to these 'larger quarters', the diner was located just south of the trestle, about where the end piers are marked. The tracks ran directly behind the building, and this allowed the engine crews to park the train and eat inside.

Very little remains in the way of evidence today. A slight dip in the road and along side the highway in front of the aluminum recycler is about all that is visible. Some pilings from the trestle are also still visible on either side of Eslava Creek.