Hi,
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!
Tucked away in Maine this month's photo, courtesy of Doug Kroll, shows a Maine Central freight on the railroad's Mountain Division at Miles Pond, Vermont August 6, 1981. Today, this line is mostly abandoned although the section through Miles Pond is now operated by the Conway Scenic Railroad.
Notable News
Reading & Northern Railroad buys Towanda Monroeton Shippers Lifeline
California group looks to buy Siskiyou rail line
General Rail News
Alaska Railroad revamps its engines for more efficient transportation
U.S. rail traffic up slightly from last year
National Gateway's Ohio terminal will be high-tech, 'green' facility, CSX says
Riverport Railroad Seeks Rcycler
Class I rail jobs decline 14,464 in year
Americans Discover The Rail Way At National Train Day
NTSB blames engineer for 2008 Metrolink crash, urges railroads to install cameras to monitor train crews
EMD to build new traction motor rebuild facility
Danville, KY railroad jobs may move
KCSR to retrofit five locomotives
Ohio rail commission to help fund rail spur, bridge projects
Obama Administration Sets Rules For Train-Safety Technology
Intermodal Hits Lowest Level Since 2003
NCDOT selects interim operator for the P&N Railroad
Railroad industry to chug back at full speed through High Desert
STB blesses Alaska Railroad's plan to build North Pole line
BNSF eyes reuse for former shops
Local railroad improvements part of bigger picture
New railroad company to take over Union Pacific's county line
Freight trains make big comeback in nation's transportation network
Holmes: The rebirth of the G&U Railroad
Railroad lifts Sierra tunnels for taller trains
Tough Times Test the Bonds Between a Town and Its Railroad
Passenger Rail/LRT News
Amtrak to upgrade Michigan rails
President, Vice President announce $8 billion for high-speed rail projects
Once upon a time, we traveled the region by rail
Amtrak service will continue in North Dakota
Comprehensive rail plan for Minnesota unveiled during public hearing
Second Vancouver-Seattle Amtrak train draws riders
Amtrak Virginia adds Burke Centre stop on Northeast Regional route
High-speed rail project on fast track
Connecticut trains to receive big bucks
Amtrak Plans to Buy Hundreds of Locomotives, Passenger Railcars
Long Island Rail Road takes wraps off Brooklyn terminal
Rhode Island purchases property for 'South County' commuter-rail station
Connecticut commission to consider funds for double-tracking Amtrak line
In seven cities, light rail bucks the trend
Officials wait for maglev funding
R.I. buys land for Wickford railroad station
Railroad History
The link directly below offers perhaps the very best quality in historic photographs you will ever see. Enjoy!
Shorpy.com, High Quality Historic Photographs
New Santa Fe Depot nearly sidetracked
Rector's railroad history recognized
The railroad and Cypress: How the railroad defined a community
Waynoka calendar honors 100 years for Santa Fe Depot, Harvey House
Historic trolley salvaged from storage
River road reveals mysterious railroad tunnel
Care to Dance?
Storm of 1857 isolated Staunton, VA from the world
Tunnel vision
How the railroad came to Sonoma, CA
Lebanon blazes 5-mile trail
Railroad passenger takes a dip in the bay
Rave reviews for meals served in dining cars
Preservation
Oregon steam locomotive passes inspection
PHOTOS: Former railroad station now on track for late February, but with benefits
Station/Depot News
South Side Depot could become visitor contact station for NPS
SCAD Museum of Art Breaks Ground for Historic Museum Expansion
Greenville, MS train depot donated historic preservation group
Reno's railroad depot's fiery beginning
Novato train depot, subject of preservation effort, gets a new roof
Depot moves to west, village receives grant
Century-old Indiana train depot to get new look
Canaan Depot Restoration Now in Design Phase
Missouri City Depot staying put in Henrietta
On the Road: A Gem of the Railroad Era
Train Excursions/Museums
Dunsmuir railroad museum nears completion
Rail board seeks to outsource excursion trains
Sumpter Valley Railroad gets donation to upgrade steam engine
Strasburg Rail Road gift preserves farmland
Railroad engine donated to county museum
Railroad opens reservation center
The distant echo of train whistles
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 wishes to you in 2010, may it be quite prosperous and filled with many good things.
Best regards,
Adam Burns
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