January 01, 2009
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.
Here we are with Christmas now over (always a sad thing) and the New Year upon us. The 2008 year went by in a flash it seems but with a new year comes new beginnings and may your 2009 be filled with goodness and success.
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 Randy Kotuby and depicts a very early Conrail scene, although you would never know it with the colorful array of paint leading the train. It is the day after Christmas, 1976 and Penn Central, Lehigh Valley, and Reading units lead a freight through the snow at Bound Brook, New Jersey.
BNSF Railway News:
BNSF to sell track, property to Port of Vancouver, Washington
BNSF gives rides to servicemen, women
Norfolk Southern News:
NS chief offers $1 million to Virginia museum
In cost-cutting move, Norfolk Southern plans layoffs
Union Pacific News:
UP plans Mococo Line reopening
Canadian Pacific News:
DM&E to begin right-of-way upgrade in 2009
Canadian National News:
CN ends through traffic on Calgary-Saskatoon route
CN chief: expect another round of rail mergers
CN orders 40 EMD high-horsepower locomotives
CN wins fight for EJ&E, and makes history
General Regional and shortline News
Florida East Coast acquire four EMD locomotives
STB gives final approval for new Texas line
Counties want to take over Siskiyou route
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
Railroad Historical Society Guide
General Tourist Railroads and Museums News Wire
BNSF New Citizens For Rail Security Website
Summer Trip, Chicago, LA, Seattle, Chicago
Connecticut lawmakers seek upgraded Danbury Branch
Feds eye exclusive Washington-New York passenger line
USDOT seeks public, private high-speed rail proposals
FRA supports California HST alignment
Conductor: Signal at Chatsworth wreck was green
Metro-North 'diagnoses' catenary conditions
General State and Regional News Wire
NY/NJ port authority issues preliminary 2009 budget
Lackawanna's Lake Hopatcong Station
Atlantic City Express Service to debut Feb. 6
New Jersey short line stores CSX idle gear
Minor FGLK derailment in Victor
Staten Island container terminal a success
New York senator calls on Amtrak to expand service
Spreading the MTA cost increase
Super Steel closing Schenectady plant
Historical society starts planning for anniversary
New Spur Construction Jackson, Ohio
Pennsylvania rail authority to buy NS Water Gap trackage
Pennsylvania adds $10 million to freight rail grants
Old Maine Line, B&O Possibly Reopening?
Historian finds evidence of depot attack
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.
The winter months are also the best time of year to go abandoned right-of-way exploring and hunting. So, if you have a trip planned be safe and have fun! Best regards,
Adam Burns
P.S. As always, we are always looking for new members at the forums so if you have any interest in joining in we would be very happy to have you!