Railfanning.org Railfanning Review: Recent Episodes
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Athens, Georgia, once boasted a robust streetcar network, and streetcars operated in the college town of Athens, Georgia, for about 45 years.
For this first episode of “People and Places of the Western & Atlantic Railroad,” we’re in the historic Smyrna Memorial Cemetery in Smyrna, Georgia, not far from the Western & Atlantic Railroad.
In an earlier episode, I introduced my talk on “Death on the Rails,” a look at the many ways death might befall people on the rails, whether they were workers, passengers or innocent bystanders.
I had the opportunity to speak with author Edward Segal, whose new book highlights the history of campaign trains. Segal has compiled a fascinating narrative, giving insight into one of the most overlooked aspects of railroad and political history: how candidates traveled.
Recently, I gave a presentation titled “Death on the Rails.” It was an interesting look at railroad calamities across the years. It’s the kind of topic one could talk about for hours. I had 45 minutes.
Earlier this year, I spoke to the Georgia Archives about my book on the Atlanta Northern Railway. I took an opportunity to focus on some happenings that I researched at the state archives and the difficulty in determining the facts of history.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority plans to spend $176 to 215 million to extend Atlanta’s streetcar line eastward.
A while ago, I spoke to the Tri-State Railway Historical Society about my book on the Northeast Corridor. I titled my presentation “Pivotal Moments on the Northeast Corridor.” These presentations are fun to pull together and present, but the challenge is how to pack so much information about the Northeast Corridor’s history into a short presentation.
Railfanning.org Editor Todd DeFeo previously gave a talk about Indiana, Alabama & Texas Railroad at the Southern Museum in Kennesaw, Georgia. The talk was titled, “If you don’t succeed, try again: One community’s ‘success’ with the railroad.”
Today marks the anniversary of the 1869 disaster at Budds Creek on the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad. Montgomery County, Tennessee, declared July 28, 2019, the sesquicentennial of the wreck, as Budds Creek Disaster Day of Remembrance.
When we look at railroads today, it’s easy to focus on the large, Class I railroads. But they’re only one part of the story. A significant portion of the railroad story is the more than 600 short line and regional railroads.
New Jersey Transit’s completion of its Positive Train Control installation by the Dec. 31 deadline was one of the biggest railroad stories of 2020.
The January 18, 2021, edition of the podcast, I mentioned a recent conversation I had with Operation Lifesaver Executive Director Rachel Maleh. We talked about railroad safety and how railfans can help spread the message and keep people safe along the tracks.
In This Edition: Federal Transit Officials Finalize $766.5 Million Grant for Portal North Bridge Replacement; MARTA Undertaking Project to Replace Crossover at Canterbury Junction on the Red and Gold Lines; and A Preview of a Conversation with Operation Lifesaver Executive Director Rachel Maleh.
In this edition: COVID Relief Bill Includes Money for Amtrak, Transit Systems; FRA Certifies NJ Transit PTC Install; and FRA Issues Final Rule About How Long Equipment Can be Left Off Air.
In this edition: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Optimistic About Gateway Money; Delaware Project Will Increase Capacity, Officials Say; Metrolink Awards Amtrak Contract to Operate Commuter Trains; NJ Transit Board Approves Funding Agreement for Portal North Bridge Replacement; and Did You Know? Newark Penn Station.
In this edition: Blocked railroad crossings, a grant to reduce fatalities at grade crossings, Dunedin Railways returns, graffiti on New York City subways and a look back at the original Penn Station.