JACKSON, Tenn. – When Casey Jones’ locomotive crashed near Vaughn, Miss., he vaulted into history and American folklore.
The subject of songs and books, Jones, who died on April 30, 1900, has become a larger than life figure in American history in the 11 decades since his death.
But, finding the real Casey Jones is as simple [...]

SAITAMA, Japan – The Shinkansen glides swiftly along the rails that crisscross Japan. The high-speed bullet trains that whisk travelers from one side of Japan to the other are an icon of the country and a model for high-speed rail.
While these trains are the symbol of the country today, they are just the latest chapter [...]

KENNESAW, Ga. – On a pleasant Sunday afternoon, it’s hard to imagine the chaos and utter hell that occurred here nearly a century and a half ago. The trails up the side of Kennesaw Mountain are steep, but relatively quiet, the silence broken by passing hikers or their dogs or the occasional whistle of an [...]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – It’s no coincidence that the first attraction to greet guests of the Magic Kingdom is the railroad. After all, trains played such an important role in Walt Disney’s life – even Mickey Mouse was created on a train.
Disney’s first foray into live steam locomotives came about in 1950 – five [...]

ATLANTA – I’m not sure how I feel about a traveling Titanic exhibit that showcases items recovered from the great shipwreck lying on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sure, as a student of history, I can’t help but marvel through this window into one of the most intriguing, yet horrifying, episodes in history. When the [...]

ATLANTA – Upwards of 15,000 to 20,000 people gathered today at the state capitol to protest high taxes, out of control federal government spending and a number of other issues. The Atlanta “Tea Party” was one of at least 700 such peaceful protests nationwide.
U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., told the crowd that of the many [...]

Photo by Todd DeFeo
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Certainly, a trip to Chattanooga conjures up memories of America’s romantic past – an era when rail was the only way to travel.
The city’s railroad past was immortalized in “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” the foot-tapping big band classic made famous by Glenn Miller. While there are plenty of must-see railroad [...]

Photo by Todd DeFeo

KENNESAW, Ga. – For anyone looking to take advantage of the spring weather, today marks the 147th anniversary of the Andrews Raid.
It was the one-year anniversary of the start of the Civil War, and the morning passenger train – pulled by the locomotive General – arrived in town. The train [...]

Photo by Todd DeFeo
Walt Disney World is itself a classic. Generation after generation has grown up walking right down the middle of Main Street U.S.A., roamin’ the Wild West and waltzing with storybook characters in Fantasyland.
Attractions have come and gone, others have delighted crowds for years. Below is a list of 10 classic Walt Disney [...]

Photo by Todd DeFeo
It used to be that a few days were quick enough; then it went to an hour. Now, a few seconds is just unacceptable.
It’s interesting to think back a few years ago about the transformation of cameras and how photo processing has changed over the years. Does anybody shoot film anymore?
I take [...]