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1 month ago | 
railfanning.org | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
(Photo by Todd DeFeo/The DeFeo Groupe)DENTON, Texas — The 21-mile-long A-train opened on June 20, 2011, operating on a former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad right-of-way. The city of Denton purchased the disused line in 1993. A rail trail along the corridor opened in 2001. Rio Grande Pacific operates the A-train at the behest of the Denton County Transportation Authority. In September 2012, 11 Stadler GTW 2/6 DMUs replaced 10 Budd RDC-1s that DCTA leased from Trinity Railway Express.
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2 months ago | 
railfanning.org | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
It was a rainy Saturday morning — April 12, 1862 — when a group of suspicious men boarded a northbound Western & Atlantic train at Marietta, Georgia. The men held tickets to varying points along the line, trying to make it seem as though they were not a part of one large group. As the train wound its way around Kennesaw Mountain, the conductor alerted passengers, “Big Shanty.
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2 months ago | 
railfanning.org | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
This is a rough draft of the introductory remarks I plan to give today in Atlanta. I’ve been thinking about what oddities happened on the rails — and how to define oddity. In all the talks that I’ve given, something interesting has emerged. There are two aspects people are most interested in regarding railroad history: it’s information about a railroad they know, or it’s the unexpected that really draws people’s attention.
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2 months ago | 
railfanning.org | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
I’m excited to highlight the people and places that made the Western & Atlantic Railroad the truly historic road that it is. When we think of the Western & Atlantic, it’s only natural to think of the “big names” in the railroad’s history — people like William A. Fuller. William A. Fuller, born in 1836 in Morrow Station, south of Atlanta, was the conductor of the northbound passenger train that morning.
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2 months ago | 
railfanning.org | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
‘Fanning Friday is a new feature where we share videos and photos new and old. Today’s video of The Kingston Flyer was filmed last month in Kingston, New Zealand. For more on The Kingston Flyer, visit thekingstonflyer.nz. This article was published by Tales from the Rails and is republished here with permission. Click here to view the original. Before you copy and paste this information to your website, please keep in mind this research took a lot of effort. Appreciate it.
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2 months ago | 
sightseersdelight.com | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
Tombstone is in a class by itself. Am I referring to the movie or the place? The fact is, it applies to both. Many times in life, quoting the movie “Tombstone” seems natural and right. Lines like “I’m your Huckleberry” or “You’re a daisy if you do” perfectly encapsulate so many of life’s moments. Interestingly, so many of the memorable lines in that 1993 classic were uttered by Val Kilmer, who portrayed the legendary gambler and gunslinger Doc Holliday.
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2 months ago | 
sightseersdelight.com | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
INVERCARGILL, New Zealand — Queens Park, located just north of Invercargill’s city center, covers 80 serene hectares. It includes a rose garden, several walking paths and an animal reserve. Simply put, it’s a park any city would welcome. The park was included in Invercargill’s original plan when founded in 1856. Its calm atmosphere makes it the perfect respite on a pleasant fall afternoon, seemingly far away from the world.
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Mar 27, 2025 | 
sightseersdelight.com | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — News of an American “influencer” who picked up a baby wombat, separating the animal from its mother, sparked outrage in Australia and topped the news headlines across the ditch in New Zealand. While it sparked many headlines and media discussions worldwide, the American influencer’s actions are merely the latest instance of an “influencer” who has made a questionable decision and whose behavior has sparked outrage.
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Mar 26, 2025 | 
railfanning.org | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
KINGSTON, New Zealand — Just across Lake Whakatipu, the Kingston Flyer steams back and forth along a section of the former Kingston Branch, now disconnected from the rest of New Zealand’s rail network. The 795 steam locomotive, a member of the AB class of 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotives, regularly pulls four 100-year-old renovated wooden carriages for the eight-and-a-half-mile long Kingston Flyer excursions. Hillside Railway workshop in Dunedin built the steamer for NZ Government Railways in 1927.
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Mar 17, 2025 | 
sightseersdelight.com | Todd revels |Todd DeFeo
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Whether it’s high above the city, on land or water, there are no bad views of Auckland. While Sky Tower is a popular destination for many visitors (and worth experiencing), one of the best ways to enjoy the skyline and the Waitemata Harbour is by taking a pleasure cruise. Explore Group Auckland offers several cruises, including this sail beneath the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
