Archives: Episode

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.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority plans to spend $176 to 215 million to extend Atlanta’s streetcar line eastward.