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 Tom Granville and depicts a Norfolk Southern coal drag, train NS 563 rolling past a farm near Saltsburg, Pennsylvania on June 1, 2008 with GE C40-9W #9359 leading the way.

Health Care? The Government Can't Even Run a Railroad

Eastern States resumes payments

Jefferson residents fighting railroad development

Oregon enacts transportation funding bill

Mississippi Export Railroad to Expand

NB is site of world-class railroad hub

Congressional help for small railroads supported by industry, government officials

DM&E Railroad Keeps Options Open On Expansion Plan

Shortline railroads keep American towns humming

Railroads are a boon for economic development

Do railroads have a free ride?

Price for rail line too steep for counties

Analysts: Railroads “still our favorite”

Railroad seeks stimulus grant

Class I's earn 8.94% return for 12 months ended June 30

Stimulus aids in improving railroad

Trinity Industries to idle Texas rail car facility

Sell or keep city railroad? (Cincinnati Southern Railway)

New Jersey county, township reach short line accord

Norfolk Southern backs new Penn State rail program

Maine short line seeks ownership deal with state

Lawmakers pursue purchase of railroad tracks

NS selects Pennsylvania site for Crescent Corridor terminal

Workin' on the railroad: Rail workers blend old technology with new

CSX to break ground on Ohio intermodal facility

Old railroad bridge in Pine City to be repaired with stimulus dollars

New railroad line added to serve Warrior's Walter Coke foundry

Norfolk Southern officials answer questions over McCalla railroad hub

Railroad Authority Seeks Grant For Improvements

Growth of Mississippi Export Railroad coming

RailAmerica plans IPO up to $300 million

County still holding off on railroad decision

Railroad key to economic development

Please, never try to beat the train at a crossing. For more information at railroad crossing safety be sure and visit Operation Lifesaver's website.

Train accidents decline 29.4% through May

Burlington Northern Wants Automatic-Brakes Rule Eased

Wash. seeking $1B in federal stimulus for rail

Railroads could hold up high-speed trains

ARRA-funded Amtrak station work under way

Austin rail debut lags as safety issues linger

USDOT/FTA issue ARRA grants exceeding $1 billion

Google Transit adds five Amtrak routes for trip planning

Idaho Senator, Mayor Are Working On The Railroad

Maryland selects light rail as transit option for Purple, Red lines

Restoring Amtrak to Gulf Coast will be costly: 3 options, none cheap

Ohio DOT, rail commission seek to advance '3C Quick Start' system

Union Station plan aims to tap U.S. loans

AT THE CAPITOL ~ ‘Well, That’s No Way to Run a Railroad!’

Florida leaders form lobbying group to land federal dollars for Orlando-Tampa-Miami HSR line

CTA, NJ Transit advance major rail and station projects

Milano’s (Texas) roots start with the railroad

Ottumwa (Iowa) on track to Historic Railroad District

Haunted railroad tracks in San Antonio

Onley's railroad heritage runs deep

The railroads were largely responsible for developing this area

Marker shows site of railroad station in Oneida

Author revisits old Putnam railroad line

The History of the Pennsylvania Railroads

Preserving local railroad history

Loss of rail service a dual issue for Durango in '60s

Restoration of Lakeport Assn. railroad boxcar gets under way

Plans under way for Hub City railroad museum

Old RR bridge unused 5 years after library opening

Repairs urged for Red Bank railroad station

Texas State Railroad gets loan for operating expenses

A bit of history is added to The Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum

Morristown train station to get $443K in upgrades

North Elba board says railroad would be better used as recreation path

Restoring Railroad History

Sacramento Railyards Project ‘Almost a City in Itself’

Rebuilt locomotive rides again near Mineral Lake

After more than three decades railroad museum finds a home

CP sells Windsor Station to Cadillac Fairview

Dwindling revenues may delay construction of railroad museum

Is Snohomish rail project on the right track?

There are two railroad stations that are in danger of being destroyed. One, located in Detroit is of Michigan Central heritage and a mulit-story structure. A recent effort to keep the Detroit city council from razing the building has begun and you can sign a petition in their efforts if interested. To view their website please click here.

Another is the Kendrick, Idaho depot a Northern Pacific structure. The local city council is also attempting to raze the building. A preservation group has also been formed to save this building and to help their efforts you can write to the council by visiting the group's website here.

Parkton's hopes ride on the railroad

Take a ride on the nearest railroad

Railroad company discontinuing Hamburg-Leesport line

Railroad board members not concerned about lagging ridership

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.

Best regards,

Adam Burns