DUNWOODY, Georgia — Author Todd DeFeo will present on long-forgotten railroads during the first of several appearances across metro Atlanta.
DeFeo will present “The Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore” during the Dunwoody Preservation Trust’s monthly “History Alive” at 9:30 a.m. on July 20 at the Donaldson-Bannister Farm located at 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338.
“Trains are an integral part of the region’s history, yet it’s sometimes hard to believe trains once rumbled through some parts of town,” DeFeo said. “Sometimes, subtle reminders remain, but modern development has often obliterated their remnants. I hope to share some of these railroads’ stories that have been largely lost to time.
“Railroads helped build Atlanta as we know it and helped local communities move for decades before new forms of transportation caught the public’s attention,” DeFeo added. “Ultimately, the steel rails faded because they were underutilized or unprofitable. I often wonder whether our nostalgia today matches the perspectives of those who lived during their demise.”
DeFeo, the publisher and editor of Railfanning.org, has written extensively about railroads, authoring several unique railroad books, including histories of the Atlanta Northern Railway, the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad and the Western & Atlantic Railroad. His presentations include rare and well-researched anecdotes to bring the stories of those affected by railroad mishaps to life.
Since 2013, the events have brought to life the history of Dunwoody and the surrounding community through speakers and workshops on various interesting topics.
DeFeo will also speak at events in Acworth, Cartersville, Marietta and Morrow later this year. For more information, please visit Railfanning.org and DeFeo.biz.