Todd DeFeo

That Time Georgia Almost Sold the Western & Atlantic Railroad

August 16, 2019 Todd DeFeo

While the state of Georgia owned the Western & Atlantic Railroad since the 1830s, by the 1960s, the state considered a sale of the line.

A Closer Look at Railroad Mishaps in Tunnel Hill

August 1, 2019 Todd DeFeo

The North Georgia hamlet of Tunnel Hill is known for its namesake railroad tunnel that opened to traffic in 1850. But since that time, it has been the scene of some railroad calamities, mishaps and newsworthy happenings. Here are a few that made headlines over the years.

Remembering the Budds Creek Disaster of 1869

July 28, 2019 Todd DeFeo

The 1869 disaster at Budds Creek in Tenessee left five people dead and more than two dozen injured. The tragedy garnered a considerable number of headlines in newspapers nationwide, but what happened is a mystery.

Five key moments in the history of the Western & Atlantic Railroad

July 1, 2019 Todd DeFeo

A look at the “State Road,” the Western & Atlantic running between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

How much do you know about Positive Train Control?

June 18, 2019 Todd DeFeo

Positive Train Control (PTC) is a hot-button issue in the railroad industry, but many may not be aware of its deep history. Here is a brief overview of PTC and a few interesting facts about its development.

Celebrating the sesquicentennial of the First Transcontinental Railroad

May 10, 2019 Todd DeFeo

Completing the First Transcontinental Railroad was among the most significant railroad accomplishments, if not the single greatest, in railroad history.

The Bizarre History of the Indiana, Alabama & Texas Railroad

February 1, 2019 Todd DeFeo

The Indiana, Alabama & Texas Railroad has a confusing corporate history. Despite its name, the railroad only built 58 miles of track in Tennessee and Kentucky.

A Robbery so Brazen, This Could Have Been the Wild West, Not Outside of Atlanta

January 16, 2019 Todd DeFeo

The southbound Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway train from Nashville, Tenn., pulled into Vinings on the evening of January 16, 1914. What happened next is remarkable.