Railfanning.org Digital Library

The Day the Meatballs Entered Service

May 9, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

Friday, May 9, 1980, was a watershed day in Amtrak history.

Surveying the Woods: Engineering, Labor, and the Reality of Building the MC&L

May 6, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

By the mid-1850s, the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad existed on paper — and little else.

People & Places of the Western & Atlantic: Episode 4: Changing the Gauge

May 3, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

Watch the newest episode today!

The Night the Railroad Moved: Changing the Western & Atlantic Railroad’s Gauge

April 30, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

The Western & Atlantic Railroad’s gauge did not change overnight by accident.

Three Inches That Changed Everything

April 22, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

Among the many changes to the Western & Atlantic Railroad since its inception, the change of the line’s gauge in 1886 ranks among the most significant — and also among the most misunderstood.

Three Inches, a Nation, and a Night of Change

April 15, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

In early May, Railfanning.org Publisher and Editor Todd DeFeo will explore a chapter of railroad history that is often mentioned, but seldom fully examined.

Gilmore, Georgia: A Railroad Community that Faded Into the Map

April 2, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

If you’re expecting a railfanning video to open with a locomotive in the background, this one may throw you off. There are no trains in the shot. No flashing signals. No horn echoing off the buildings.

A Deadly Night on the Rails: The 1933 Louisville & Nashville Derailment Near Bartow, Georgia

March 30, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

On the evening of April 17, 1933, a Louisville & Nashville passenger train derailed near Bartow, Georgia. Two railroad men and two trespassers lost their lives, and 11 others were hurt.

‘Fanning Around the World: A Railfan’s Guide to Walt Disney World

March 24, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

For railfans, Walt Disney World is full of opportunities to experience the magic of trains up close. From historic steam locomotives to futuristic ride systems, rail travel plays a starring role across the resort.

Come on, And Take a Free Ride on the Lawrenceville Branch

March 23, 2026 Railfanning.org Digital Library

When a locomotive engineer on the Lawrenceville Branch Railroad reported for duty on an April morning in 1881, he found quite a surprise.