Welcome to Trackside, The Newsletter, a monthly piece covering the railroad industry. I had thought long and hard about creating a newsletter to go along with the website since American Rails first began but I could never decide what exactly to include in it. After much consideration, though, I finally decided that perhaps the best approach was to fill the newsletter with, well, news! More specifically, however, current news and events which will be broken down into categories keeping you up-to-date on the latest on-goings around the country.

Now in every issue Trackside features a "Photo of the Month" and just as a general note these photos used are the property of individual photographers and as such should not be redistributed or used without their permission. In any event, I hope you like the new layout!

This month's photo comes courtesy of Rob Kitchen and depicts a wintry scene of two burly Chicago & North Western Alco C628s hauling a cut of loaded ore jimmies at Ishpeming, Michigan in February of 1976.

Rails ready to rumble again in Coonskin Park

Berks commissioner wants to revive historic Colebrookdale rail short line

Berkshire buying BNSF Railway

Hopedale leaders upbeat about Grafton & Upton Railroad prospects

Railroad shipping: AAR says volumes for week ending November 21 are year's best

Out beyond Chino Valley, planners say they've found a future economy

Stimulus dollars to help fund rail spur rehab on Long Island

Loan will rehab track between Mansfield, Willard

Watco launches Idaho railroad, Adrian & Blissfield plans HQ relocation

Cape-based Massachusetts Coastal Railroad to expand freight service

Ohio rail commission OKs grants for freight-rail projects

County balks at railroad remedy

CSX to create double-stack corridor in Philadelphia

Axion Signs Milestone $957,000 Contract for Construction of Railroad Bridges Made from Recycled Plastic

Sound Transit to help Seattle port preserve Eastside rail corridor

Rail transport sign for economic health

Men of Steel

Repairs to Cimarron Valley Railroad to begin

J.B. Hunt, NS agree on plan to bolster intermodal

Pinsly to acquire two Arkansas short lines

California port pursues rail-related project for Honda traffic

NS to upgrade Philadelphia intermodal terminal as part of Crescent Corridor initiative

Ready to haul freight again

Northern Virginia entities coalesce for streetcar growth

Florida governor “optimistic” on SunRail service

Trio of streetcars finally bound for nation’s capital

Passenger rail ideas for Santa Cruz County track run from dinner trains to commuter rail

Government spending millions on yet another San Antonio railroad plan

Amtrak unveils new long-term strategic, financial plans

New book fuels a passion for train history

Where Ghost Passengers Await Very Late Trains

Railroad History on Display

Fairview history, Early days of rail

Hop a ride through the region's past as 'Railroad Town'

You ask Youker: What became of the gravity railroad that once ran up Mount Penn?

Southern Regional student digs up railroad history in Barnegat, NJ

Where The West Begins

Idaho History: Railroads brought steel bridges to Idaho

Backstory: Fact or fable, locomotive story rolls on

Changing Skyline: Powering down

Clement Railroad Hotel Museum program brings history to life

Panel shares personal train tales

MILW #261 returning to Railroad Museum

West Allis company that refurbishes rail cars wins a major contract

Historic locomotive back in Jamestown, CA

Developer plans to move antique Fairhaven rail cars to Pennsylvania

Portland's locomotives will get new $3.5 million home

All aboard! Kansas City Rail Experience offers insight into train transportation at Union Station

Easton, MA Historical Society recognizes 40th anniversary of gift of railroad station

Where We Stand: Florence, SC's first depot

Historic Poughkeepsie Railroad Station gets $9.5M makeover

Will the bells toll on King Street Station?

New Jersey Town property targeted as site for train museum

Some Assembly Required will show vintage toys at Railroad Museum

RTD proposes to donate stretch of rail line to historical society

Tracking the train

Truckee railroad museum rolls into town

Railroad Museum Seeks Donations

Española, NM Unveils Plans for Railroad Museum

As Trackside moves forward I will look to include more topics and information within it. In any event, if you have any opinions, ideas, and/or general comments/suggestions for the newsletter please feel free to pass them my way. As with American-Rails.com I am always looking for ways to improve the newsletter to better benefit you, the reader. Lastly, with December upon us let me take a moment to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Season's Greetings!

Best regards,

Adam Burns