Substack – Railfanning.org

What’s it like to ride through the modern Western & Atlantic tunnel?

October 1, 2025 Todd DeFeo

I filmed a quick video reflecting on passing through the 1928 tunnel on the Western & Atlantic Railroad during the “first-ever immersive reenactment of the Great Locomotive Chase” from Kennesaw, Georgia, to Ringgold, Georgia.

Running through the ‘new’ tunnel in Tunnel Hill, Georgia

September 30, 2025 Todd DeFeo

Read more This article was published by Tales from the Rails and is republished here with permission. Click here to view the original.

Let’s start by defining what constitutes a railroad oddity

April 14, 2025 Todd DeFeo

I’ve been thinking about what oddities happened on the rails — and how to define oddity. In all the talks that I’ve given, something interesting has emerged.

Remembering the Great Locomotive Chase 163 years later

April 12, 2025 Todd DeFeo

It was a rainy Saturday morning — April 12, 1862 — when a group of suspicious men boarded a northbound Western & Atlantic train at Marietta, Georgia. The men held tickets to varying points along the line, trying to make it seem as though they were not a part of one large group.

‘Fanning Friday: Airport people movers count as railfanning, right?

April 11, 2025 Todd DeFeo

When asked, here’s what Google AI said: “No…” We’re counting it as railfanning today!

A historic image showing the Western & Atlantic facilities in Atlanta, Georgia.

A look at the Western & Atlantic built locomotives

April 9, 2025 Todd DeFeo

On the eve of the Civil War, the Western & Atlantic Railroad had more than 45 locomotives on its active roster.

A video still of the Kingston Flyer in Kingston, New Zealand.

‘Fanning Friday: April 4, 2025: The Kingston Flyer

April 4, 2025 Todd DeFeo

‘Fanning Friday is a new feature where we share videos and photos new and old. Today’s video of The Kingston Flyer was filmed last month in Kingston, New Zealand.

People & Places of the Western & Atlantic: The intro remarks never given

April 2, 2025 Todd DeFeo

I’m excited to highlight the people and places that made the Western & Atlantic Railroad the truly historic road that it is.