October 01, 2008
Well, October is now here which means fall is now fully upon us, and for some living in the northern reaches of the country or in the mountains winter-like weather is probably just weeks away. With the leaves changing, for those of you who are photographers autumn is perhaps the best time of year to capture brilliant photos of contrasting and vibrant colors, probably with something railroad-related in the picture! And, with the leaves dropping it also means that abandoned right of way season is heating up so if you enjoy exploring old, long forgotten rail lines have fun and stay safe.
Welcome 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!: Now completed are maps detailing nearly all of the fallen flag system covered at the site. Eventually I plan to also feature all of the Class Is and Regionals (and maybe even the shortlines if I can locate maps of each for reference). In any event, I hope that 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, one other new feature added to the newsletter is 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 Danny Robie and depicts Norfolk Southern train 134 "running around its westbound counterpart, NS 135 at Claremont, North Carolina" on the railroad's "S" line in May of this year.
Norfolk Southern News:
NS: NTSB finding on 2006 accident is 'erroneous'
STB to assess environmental impacts of NS/Pan Am Railways' Patriot Corridor
NS Timetables and Track Charts
NS orders 24 GE AC locomotives
Union Pacific News:
UP orders two more genset locomotives
Kansas City Southern News:
KCS: "Fastest growing North American railroad"
KCS posts progress on new intermodal terminal
KCS projects transload program growth in the U.S., Mexico
CSX News:
CSX launches "New Responsibility" website
Canadian National News:
House bill prompted by CN/EJ&E merger plan fails
General Regional and shortline News
W&LE and RJ Corman Acquiring Locomotives
New nine-mile Iron Range line approved
California county withdraws from rail line purchase
STB orders CO&P to let port officials examine Coos Bay line
Ohio Central Steam Roster Disposition
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
Tourist line interested in UP branch
Ridership loss, rising fuel prices drove GCR to cancel steam program
Steamtown historic site facing tough times
Group begins restoration of ex-Southern 2-8-0
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Ridership
Minnesota Zephyr to shut down for good
Steam engine finds new life as a Pa. tourist train
BNSF New Citizens For Rail Security Website
Rio Grande Creede Branch to be abandoned in namesake city
New artifacts unearthed at site of L.A.'s first train station
Trespasser to Amtrak: you should have protected me
Transit funds no longer eyed for highway funding gap
Rail tour operator declares bankruptcy
Biden: Obama administration would be pro-rail
U.S. DOT identifies freight railroads' role in Amtrak delays
General State and Regional News Wire
Consortium awarded NJ Transit Portal Bridge design contract
Northern Ethanol to build CSXT-served plant in New York
Utica station gets federal funds
Brothers test makeshift railcar on tracks, are arrested
New York governor sets goals for Moynihan Station
New York objects to Susquehanna's planned abandonment
Part of the B&P may become a trail
Alternate plan for trans-Hudson tunnel gets new life
New York governor pushing for station plan
Google Transit in New York is announced
Ghost Hunters: Buffalo Central Terminal
Middletown & New Jersey put up for sale
NY orders probe of LIRR disability "epidemic
Eastman House exhibit in Rochester
Former Albany-Vorheesville line to become a trail
Dayton task force eyes streetcar despite cost concerns
FRA OKs 11 rail grants; Ohio rail commission approves six
SEPTA to get $500,000 for Paoli center
York Railway-served detergent plant coming to Pennsylvania
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 and photographers out there, best of luck in getting those spectacular fall foliage shots! 
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.