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Ferroequinology
Def - Study of the "iron horse".
At one time, the railroads in this country, if not dead, were being given Last-Rites. Just 35 years ago, the combinations of airplanes, semi-trucks, and poor management led to contraction and abandonment of thousands of miles of trackage across the country. The rail networks that remained in operation suffered from neglect and deffered maintenence. Huge rail-companies, such as Penn Central, fell into bankruptsy, taking the rail infrastructure of enitre regions of the country with it. Finally, with every family in America keeping two automobiles in the garage, national passenger rail service did die. as freight railroads abandoned passengers for higher profit margins.
What a difference thirty-five years make. Now, railroads are making a grand come-back. Touted as fuel and cost efficient, and posed to take advantage of congested highways and a shortage of semi-truck drivers, the freight railroads of America are being seen by some as the only way to save our transportation infrastructure from total collapse. Money is being invested in record amounts in increasing capacity with new locomotives, rolling stock, and upgraded track and signals. And, for the first time in a long time, railroad companies are applying to build new rail lines.
Passenger railroading is still dead, but in a day when it costs about $20 a day to get to work, even Amtrack's lifeless body is starting to warm up. The coming years are going to be an interesting time to be a rail-fan!
What's New - November 20, 2008
CHASER CAM DVD -The Chaser Cam DVD is ready for purchase! Go to the SMM DVD page for ordering information
(Railroad News is updated daily or as it becomes available)
NEW...
The grain train took off like a BOH from Martin Marietta, and it took a quick interstate trip of about twenty miles to catch up to it.
CSX - Here, the train waits for MOW crews to clear the mainline at Tilton, GA.
CSX - A short southbound GM freight comes off the siding after a runaround move on a northbound grain train.
LOCOGUIDE - GP59 #4610 is added to the database.
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