Substack – Railfanning.org

Let’s start by defining what constitutes a railroad oddity

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

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.

A look at the Western & Atlantic built locomotives

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

‘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

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

Have Grade Crossings Always Been a Problem?

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

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

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

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

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.

Oddities on the Georgia Rails (Part I)

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

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

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