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 Brian Rackley and depicts shortline Lancaster & Chester GP38-2s leading a freight Chester, South Carolina on January 22, 2009.

VW plant at Chattanooga spurs railroad project

House Appropriations Committee approves $4 billion for railroad construction

Rail Funds Give Chicago Hub a Lift

Report sees little environmental impact from Gardner railroad freight center

Rail still dominates ethanol transport, group says

Port of Vancouver (Wash.) to acquire land for rail access

Mont. railroad easement delayed; price tag doubles

Railroad project could see stimulus money

Iowa optimistic that trains are in state's future

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.

U.S. man says aided al Qaeda plan NY railroad attack

The Dangers of Railroad Crossings

Learning to handle railroad emergencies

5 dead as teen driver tries to beat train at Canton Twp. crossing

Beloved couple's suicides on railroad tracks remain a mystery in Henrietta

Progressive Railroading to boot up HSRupdates.com on Sept. 8

Virginia seeks more than $2 billion in ARRA funds to advance HSR

New Jersey governor, congressman back NJ Transit light-rail extension

Sound Transit opens Seattle-to-Tukwila Link line

Iowa governor rides rails to promote proposed Amtrak lines

Wisconsin purchases two Talgo train sets

Pa. seeks Federal Railroad funds

North Carolina DOT opens Amtrak station in Durham

Six governors team up to pursue a high-speed rail system in New England

Nonprofit group unveils streetcar routes for LA

Colorado, New Mexico and Texas team up to obtain 11th and final federal HSR corridor designation

Amtrak’s Adirondack seen at risk

Ohio's '3C' corridor garners support; Midwest HSR association releases feasibility study on St. Louis-to-Chicago line

USDOT, two states agree to extend California HSR corridor from L.A. to Las Vegas

Railroad from New York City To Poconos

BNSF wants to demolish Miles City, MT depot

Center for Railroad Photography & Art Releases Illustrated Guide to North American Railroad History

1950: Take the train to a treasure buried on Olde Cape Cod

Young Railroad Enthusiast Says Chattanooga Should Bring Back The Streetcar

Riding the rails: 'Speeders' are run for fun by railroad enthusiasts

Where the Transcontinental Railroad finally joined

Nashville Residents Now in National Railroad Hall of Fame

Leaders say Florence downtown revitalization is necessary

Railroad museum to acquire caboose

Hotel Monaco Baltimore to open at former B&O Railroad building

V&T railroad to resume Carson-Virginia City route after 71 years

Railroad cars to sit by Plainfield depot

Landowners won't regain property once used by railroad

Clinchfield Railroad Museum taking shape

County may join with railroad rehab project

Local man sees business opportunity with Grafton & Upton Railroad

Revival of Big 4 railroad bridge in progress, Sky11 has the overhead view

Locomotive No. 13 returns steam power to railroad museum

Rye, Port Chester New York train stations to get repairs

Original Hoboken ferry slips should be restored by 2011

Train’s a Coming This Year, Promises Macrie

There are two railroad stations that are in danger of being destroyed. One, located in Detroit is of Michigan Central heritage and a multistory 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.

Arizona ghost hunter travels: Roaring Camp Railroad ghost

Enjoy!

As Trackside moves forward I will look to include more topics and information within it. Also, be sure and keep up with the latest site updates on Facebook! 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