Articles by Todd DeFeo

About Todd DeFeo

Todd DeFeo loves to travel anywhere, anytime, taking pictures and notes. An award-winning reporter, Todd revels in the experience and the fact that every place has a story to tell. He is owner of The DeFeo Groupe and also edits Express Telegraph and The Travel Trolley.

Railfanning: ‘You’re going to do what?’

December 1, 2009 Todd DeFeo

ATLANTA — I was going to start my treatise on railfanning with a whimsical anecdote, but they all pretty much sound the same. Case in point: I was driving down [insert road name here] when I caught a glimpse of [insert train description here]. I pulled out my camera and high-tailed — make that drove judiciously and within all traffic laws — it to a suitable vantage point and let the shutter rip. I am what you would call a railfan. I go railfanning. Most people offer up a confused look when I mention this. “You’re a what?” I am

Historic trestle a landmark in its own right

November 19, 2009 Todd DeFeo

The Gateway to the New South may no longer be the bustling railroad hub it once was, but the city is home to an impressive railroad structure.

Railroad depots: The ‘center’ of town

November 4, 2009 Todd DeFeo

A few years ago, when the city of Pendergrass’ train depot needed to be refurbished, the city wasted no time getting to work.

‘America’s Most Amazing Mile’

October 31, 2009 Todd DeFeo

When the Incline Railway was built in 1895, the idea was to complete a cheap means for traveling to the top of Lookout Mountain.

Take the ‘Last Train to Clarksville’: Clarksville or not?

October 28, 2009 Todd DeFeo

Clarksville’s name will forever be linked with railroads, thanks to The Monkees, who recorded “Last Train to Clarksville” in 1966.

Take the ‘Last Train to Clarksville’

October 27, 2009 Todd DeFeo

Standing on 10th Street in downtown Clarksville, it’s hard to imagine this area was once a bustling transportation hub around the turn of the 20th century.

Decapod pays homage to Winder’s railroad roots

October 22, 2009 Todd DeFeo

The small town of about 10,000 owes a lot to the railroad. Its name, for starters.

Small locomotive highlights area’s railroad roots

October 19, 2009 Todd DeFeo

The little locomotive sitting in a fenced in area under a canopy is dwarfed by the locomotives that pass by no more than 50 feet away.

Train vs. Motorists or Pedestrians — The Train Will Win

September 24, 2009 Todd DeFeo

MARIETTA, Ga. – A number of organizations – Operation Lifesaver, the U.S. Department of Transportation and major railroad companies – joined together to launch the Common Sense campaign. The initiative aims to reduce the number of pedestrians who are killed and injured when trespassing around tracks and trains. The campaign is targeted toward 18-34 year olds. “Young adults also may be distracted by cell phones, texting, or listening to MP3 players if they’re near the tracks. This new public awareness campaign has a simple message: staying away from the tracks is common sense, and it can save your life,” Cliff

The slow train to Atami

September 23, 2009 Todd DeFeo

The regular commuter train from Tokyo to Japan is slow, to say the least – especially compared to the high-speed bullet trains that speed across the countryside. The local train stops at town after town, and the crowd of people aboard the train as we pulled out of Tokyo thins out more and more with each stop.