I love everything about railroads! I love the feel of tons of iron and steel making the earth tremble by virtue of their sheer immensity. I love the smell of creosote and grease, and the distant sound of the horns blaring as they approach crossing grades!
I love the appearance of mile after mile of perfectly parallel rails running off into the distance, floating on a bed of crushed rock and held in place with square spikes! There is also a magnificent serpentine quality of a long string of rolling stock meandering through the countryside.
Our country expanded during the industrial age on the backbone of the railroads! With the ability to move our natural resources and finished products easily throughout the continent, our great nation became the economic leader of the world.
But alas, America's railroads are disappearing one line at a time. At one time nearly every town in America was connected by rail, now, only the main arteries are continuing bust, taking containers of freight to transfer stations to be distributed locally by truck.
Today, I photographed the Georgia Southwestern Railroad trackage in Pine Mountain Georgia being removed for salvage. After serving the town for over a hundred and fifty years, the day of the local train is over. It's the end of an era!
There's nothing to be done to stop the trend, it's a matter of economics and changing technologies. But it's still sad, like losing an old friend. A part of our American heritage is removed along with every piece of rail.
And so to the GSWRR line, I bid you a fond adieu. I will miss you very much!
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There is definitely something nostalgic about the sound of trains or watching them go by. We can here them in the distance from our home and I would hate for that go away.
Richard,
Reminds me of a time when the pace of life was slower. We'll never see those days again. When they're gone, we'll all miss the Iron Horse.
Rich
I love the railroads. Our family used to travel by train from Oklahoma to visit our relative in California. I remember the Superchief -- sitting in the dome car, the wonderful food -- and meeting lots of people -- now that was NETWORKING! I miss those wonderful experiences. Bye Bye railroads.
I like your reference to "The City of New Orleans." I had not thought about, or heard that song for many years.
Happy New Year!
Marcy
Hi Richard - Sad indeed! I remember with fondness many train trips I took as a child, and when I worked in Downtown Los Angeles and lived a 2 hour drive away, I took the train back and forth and always enjoyed the trip a lot more than fighting freeway traffic!
Richard, Both my father in law and my husband (when he was in college) worked for a local railroad so they can empathize. Looks like your creative juices are flowing again!
Stacey-Ann...
I think that they are part of the character of our towns, and when they are removed, a little something is missing!
Rich...
I vaguely remember the final steam engines puffing up and down the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks that were a block from where I was raised. We crossed the tracks on a pedestrian bridge on the way to school!
According to a friend who works for Motive Power the demand for trains as a method of shipping spikes when gas prices do, they are far more efficient per gallon than trucks. There's the upside to high gas prices.
We have great stories to tell our grandchildren. Thank goodness we have pics!
We used to travel by rail from Virginia to Florida when I was young to visit my retired grandparents. It was always fun and I love to take the train from DC to NY for long weekends in the city.
Railroads are an American icon, and it's a shame to see them dwindling away from our landscape.
thanks for reminding us of good things about America - even if it is slipping away.
That's sad,. I love passenger trains but have not seen one since moving to Spring. Now I can't tell you how many times I wait for freight trains. It is AMAZING how many trains go though our area. Perhaps it is being so close to a ship channel but we have very active freight tracks. I do miss those passenger trains though.
Joan...
I don't know the current status of Amtrak, but some of the great trains were still running. I know that "The City of New Orleans" was still running last year. But the lines are few and far between now, and the passenger trains rely on government subsidies so who knows how long they'll last?
Marcy...
I like both the Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson covers of the Steve Goodman classic! THX
Susan...
I think that the commuters in the Northeast will be around for a while longer, as they are an efficient way of fighting the traffic! Thanks for the comment.
It's happening all over, isn't it? The old Norfolk Southern line that ran through my hometown was abandoned a few years ago and it's not the same without it. There's some beauty in those mounded rock highways even without the rails but it's definitely not the same. Great photo's Richard.
There isn't much railroad around where I live. However, my cousin who still lives in the North said he has the best job security of anyone he knows working for the railroad.
Some of these abandoned right of ways make great trials that can be a plus for many communities.
Barb...
I was just driving through Pine Mountain and saw that the rails had been pulled up ... and voila ... a blog post!
Brian...
Friction is reduced to a bare minimum, and the grades are designed for efficiency! I would think that the locals would be on the rebound but it is not so! THX
Mel....
Yeah, we do ...oh, I need to send you an email!
Richard--That is so sad--after 150 years, no more WhooWhoo! Seriously, when I was living on the southeast side of the city, the train whistle blew at 11:00 every night and that was signal that I needed my head on the pillow, going to sleep! It was just a relaxing sound to me and I miss that each night.
I love old trains and the blaring horns...like the old black and white movies and people leaving on the train with the whole family waving goodbye with their hankies. Just a fond memory ...when change takes place.
Cindy...
The NE corridor is still well served by trains ... they'sll be around in that region for some time! THX
JL...
I just like the character they add to a town!
Lise ...
You're most welcome ... and keep your camera ready to help preserve this part of our history!
Railroads may come back into power as our roadways start to suffer from less tax revenue created. Seems like one thing always leads to another.
I love to hear the train whistle across Lake Sinclair oh around 3 am as it pulls in to deliver coal to Georgia Power. It doesn't wake me the way it once did, but even though I peacefully sleep through it some nights... it's a comfortingly familiar sound... that I hope is here to stay.
Richard,
It is a shame that we are loosing a part of our nations history. I too enjoy just being close to a train as it rolls down the track, just something about it that adds a little bit of joy to my day. Maybe because it brings back part of my youth.
Hi Richard:
I hate the thought that railroads are disappearing.
It's a great form of transportation. I often thought that if there was a local railroad line, how often I would go into NYC or Baltimore..etc...
The silver lining, in this dark cloud, Richard, is that those abandoned railroad tracks make great bicyling paths for long-distance cycling. I've ridden several of them In Wisconsin, and the are great right-of-ways through some beautiful countryside.
And the railroad ties often find new life, in old buildings (old growth wood), and beaches, and landscaping...
Richard,
Along the same lines as Alans comment , the old RR beds make geat trails. The Silver Comet Trail passes about 1/2 mile from my house. The city of Powder Springs has also built some secondary trails that connect to it. Its a beatiful place for cylcling, jogging, or a nice leisurely walk. The Silver Comet Trail is a real asset to the city.
There has been talk of establishing commuter rail service here in the Atlanta area. I don't know if it will get anywhere or not. I hope so.
Thanks for the great post.
As a child we used to take the North Shore into Chicago. We could get off at the Loop. We usually did this before Christmas to shop and look at all the window decorations. Of course that was before all the discount stores. I have fond memories of the commuters reading newspapers and playing cards on their way to work in the "city". Thanks for the memories.
Richard,
Trains are cheaper than trucks to operate so you can be sure they will not be here much longer....Like the electric trolley cars that used to be everywhere in St. Louis...
Ann Hayden remaining positive in cloudy Wildwood, Missouri
Richard...sad to see them go, but many in our state have been turned into bike paths and ATV trails.. Ther has been some taslk about the Railroad recaliming a couple of the old lines...We'll see, sounds expensive!
Marchel...
You are correct, containers from the ports are loaded onto articulated rail cars to carry them to distribution points in major hubs, where they are loaded onto trucks for local service. That's why the smaller towns don't need the tracks anymore!
Jesse...
and every year the line slowly slips into oblivion ... it's sad but a necessary evil, I guess! Thanks, my friend.
Jer...
The Northeast still has a very strong rail system! Thanks for getting "on board!"
Jerry...
Yes, in many areas communities are taking advantage of the old rail lines!
Debe...
It is a comforting sound, very soothing!
Sally...
Now the Amtrak stations are practically deserted, It's really kind of sad!
Dear Richard,
This was a sad day. our trains connect us to our history in a way nothing else does. I have fond memories of riding the train as a child. there was something magic about them. I loved falling asleep to the rocking motion of the train.
Betina
I lament the disappearance of the trains. Some very fond childhood memories are of travelling from Akron Ohio to California by train. It was a 2 day trip and we made so many friends on those trips. I loved stopping in the towns along the way and fantasizing about the adventures I could have exploring them!
I also remember counting the cars when stopped at a railroad crossing as a child. 1-2-3-4~~~~~~~
Funny how most other countries are increasing the number of trains, and our only passenger service, Amtrack, has to be propped up by the government. There is a real problem there.