Trains in the news

Following is a modest collection of articles we have come across related to trains and railfanning, including a few we have authored ourselves. These are offered for your reading entertainment and edification only and in all cases we have cited the original source. However, we are not a news organization and as such hold no rights to most of this material. What this means is that (a) it should not be used for commercial purposes without the express consent of the originating organization and (b) we may be obliged to remove this content from our site if there are objections to its use. Please attribute any excerpted material to the source named in each article.

The library

Features

Mojave train robbers -- How the UP police prevent theft from freight trains rolling through the California desert. From the Orange County Register.
All aboard! -- An Oklahoma couple build a live steam railroad and find they've become the most popular folks in the neighborhood. From The Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, Okla.
Death rides the rails -- If you think hitching a ride on a freight train sounds like fun, this article will give you pause. Police follow the trail of a murderous gang of hoboes. From the Los Angeles Times.
Our bodies are like trains -- There's a microscopic railroad running through your veins, or at least some scientists believe so. The theory could one day cure major diseases. Filed by Knight Ridder Newspapers.

Issues

Whistle ordinances -- Many communities are banning trains from sounding their whistles at crossings. The government is trying to determine whether this interferes with safety. Filed by The Associated Press.
Rail safety improving -- Despite a steady increase in traffic, the percentage of accidents on the nation's rails has declined, experts say. From the Orange County Register.

Wrecks, Stupidity and other Tragedies

Bottom of the gene pool -- A classic excerpt on train stupidity from "News of the Weird," distributed by the Universal Press Syndicate.
Trust fund for boy injured by train -- Parents, please don't ever do this to your little ones, no matter how despondent you are. This story breaks our hearts. Filed by Bay Cities News Service.
Train involved in two accidents on same night -- This happened in Berkeley, but it could happen anywhere. There's a lesson here: Don't stop on the tracks. Filed by Bay Cities News Service.
Texas train wreck -- An unmanned Union Pacific freight train rolls out of a siding and travels 8 miles before crashing into another train and killing 2. From the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.
New York rail tragedy -- Two women walking on the tracks and arguing with a male friend are killed when a freight train neaks up on them at 65 mph. From the New York Times.
Woman killed while walking on tracks -- A freight train crew's frantic attempt to warn an approaching Amtrak train of two people walking on the tracks is unsuccessful. From the Contra Costa Times.

Heroism

Saved with a kick -- A quick-thinking Norfolk Southern conductor saves the life of a toddler who strayed onto the railroad tracks. Filed by The Associated Press.

Garden Railroading

Railroading in the garden -- This modeling activity is growing in popularity and people are spending big bucks to run trains through their yards. From This Old House magazine.

"Taking the Kids" Articles by Glenn

Antioch Marina -- A good train-watching location near the BNSF Stockton Subdivision mainline. From the Contra Costa Times.
Portola Railroad Museum -- A fun, interactive museum located in the Sierras. From the Contra Costa Times.
California State Railroad Museum -- One of the best railroad museums in the nation. From the Contra Costa Times.
Model train shows -- A good way to expose children to the fun and excitement of railroading. From the Contra Costa Times.
Railtown 1897 -- This museum offers steam train excursion rides at an affordable price. From the Contra Costa Times.
Railfanning in Stockton -- We hang out at the Amtrak depot to watch the passing parade. From the Contra Costa Times.
Western Railway Museum -- Rio Vista offers a collection of streetcars and interurbans for your riding pleasure. From the Contra Costa Times.