August 01, 2008
First, let me welcome you to Trackside, The Newsletter; a new part of the American-Rails.com website. 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 such as Class Is, shortlines, Regionals, preservation, etc. keeping you up-to-date on the latest on-goings around the country. And, since I usually add these news pieces to the American-Rails.com sister site, the American Rails Forums (ARF), much of the information in Trackside will be linked to topics at ARF.
Please note!: While still in the process of completing them all be sure and visit the fallen flags section of American Rails for maps detailing each road. Eventually I plan to cover all of the Class Is and Regionals as well (and maybe even the shortlines if I can locate maps of each for reference), and I hope the maps are another good source of reference for you in whatever you may be researching regarding a particular railroad (that’s what they are there for!).
Also, as you may have noticed a new featured has been added to the newsletter, a monthly photo, which is just meant for fun and to add a bit of interest. Of note, the photos used each month are the property of individual photographers and as such should not be redistributed or used without their permission.
This month's photo comes courtesy of Rob Kitchen and depicts a Grand Trunk Western GP9, #4134, leading an eastbound train at Charlotte, Michigan in September of 1977. The train has just hit the New York Central diamond, whose branch connecting Jackson and Grand Rapids ran through Charlotte and the GTW station can be seen to the left (which was still active at the time of the photo). Also note the two semaphores guarding the location.
Canadian National News:
CN warns EJ&E's acquisition is not an absolute
CSX Transportation News:
TCI loses $1 billion, but gains seats on CSX board
Union Pacific News:
UP to pay $102 million for Feather River fires
General Regional and shortline News
Updated Ohio Central Equipment Listing
If you have any interest in the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad please click here to keep up with the latest on the railroad.
Railroad Museum and Tourist Line Guide
General Tourist Railroads and Museums News Wire
Flagg Coal #75 Coming to the Whitewater Valley Railroad
Photos of the GOld Coast Railway Museum
Videos of the Strasburg Railroad
BNSF New Citizens For Rail Security Website
Two arrested for stealing ballast
FRA grants $1 million to Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver equipment hits man in VA
City misses filing deadline, loses quiet zone
Truck falls off California Northern Railroad bridge
Court strikes down state-imposed speed limit on rail line
Thieves take quarter-mile stretch of tracks
Salt Lake City adds streetcar line to transit mix
Hawaii Governor signs anti-rail petition
Bids solicted for D.C. streetcar project
Kerry bill will seek $1 billion for Acela, NEC
Obama reaffirms passenger rail support
Editorial Comment: The Wall Street Journal missed the train
General State and Regional News Wire
Railroad photography exhibit opens in West Virginia depot
Morristown rail, bus transportation gets $3.3M federal boost
Upgrades roll into Rutherford station
NY/NJ port's Staten Island terminal exceeds container volume
Rail route no danger to historic battlefield, county says
All aboard a modern-day train station
Ohio provides grants for diesel emission-reduction projects
NS transfers right-of-way to Pa. townships
Restoration of station in Jefferson County Under Way
Steam returns to Elkins July 10th 2008
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.
For the railfans, now that good weather is here, happy hunting when trackside and stay safe out there! 
Best regards,
Adam Burns
P.S. By the way, have you ever been interested in a place to talk and discuss with others the hobby of railfanning? Likewise are you looking for a quick answer to a railroad or railroad-related question? The American Rails Forums were created basically for those very two reasons, to have fun and learn about our country’s railroads, from its history to today’s operations. Even if you do not have a serious interest in railroading the forums can be a great resource guide to find answers to any questions about trains and railroads that you may have. If you are perhaps interested in joining us please click here to visit the forums.