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Rail Blog

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.

Rail Blog

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.

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

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.
Rail Blog

‘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.

Rail Blog

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.

Rail Blog

Have Grade Crossings Always Been a Problem?

February 17, 2025 Todd DeFeo

The Federal Railroad Administration recently announced more than $1.1 billion in grants to help eliminate railroad crossings.

Rail Blog

Great Locomotive Chase participant Franklin Alexander Crawford later kept history alive at the Cyclorama

January 28, 2025 Todd DeFeo

Franklin Alexander “Van” Crawford is one of the lesser-known participants in the Great Locomotive Chase, even if his role was minor.

Rail Blog

People & Places of the Western & Atlantic Railroad: ‘Uncle Joe’ Renard

January 24, 2025 Todd DeFeo

Joseph F. “Uncle Joe” Renard was a “pioneer engineer” on the Western & Atlantic, and when he died in 1905 at 68 years old, he was said to be among the best-known railroad men in the state.

Rail Blog

Oddities on the Georgia Rails (Part I)

January 22, 2025 Todd DeFeo

In mid-December, Todd DeFeo, publisher and editor of Railfaning.org, presented “Oddities on the Georgia Rails” to the Georgia Archives.

Rail Blog

Sanford Bell, an unknown stalwart of the Western & Atlantic Railroad

January 21, 2025 Todd DeFeo

I’ve grown particularly fascinated by the people who worked on and shaped the Western & Atlantic Railroad.

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Top Stories

  • DeFeo to Present ‘An Angry Mob and a Hollow Tree’ at Customs House Museum on July 6
    June 25, 2025
  • New Jersey Officials Break Ground on Next Phase of New Raritan River Bridge
    June 25, 2025
  • First Section of California Bullet Train to Connect Two Small Cities
    June 25, 2025
  • Get Ready: Eating and Drinking the Western & Atlantic is Coming!
    June 18, 2025
  • A MARTA bus operates in Atlanta, Georgia.
    MARTA Board Approves NextGen Bus Network
    June 18, 2025

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Railfanning.org is published by The DeFeo Groupe, LLC. All original content (c) 2002-2025 The DeFeo Groupe, LLC, and may not be republished without express written consent.

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Before you copy and paste this information to your website, please keep in mind this research took a lot of effort. Appreciate it. Learn from it. But do not plagiarize it. Yes, if you think we might be talking to you, we are.

The Latest
  • DeFeo to Present ‘An Angry Mob and a Hollow Tree’ at Customs House Museum on July 6
    June 25, 2025
  • New Jersey Officials Break Ground on Next Phase of New Raritan River Bridge
    June 25, 2025
  • First Section of California Bullet Train to Connect Two Small Cities
    June 25, 2025
  • Get Ready: Eating and Drinking the Western & Atlantic is Coming!
    June 18, 2025
  • A MARTA bus operates in Atlanta, Georgia.
    MARTA Board Approves NextGen Bus Network
    June 18, 2025

(c) 2025 The DeFeo Groupe, LLC.