MARIETTA, Georgia — Todd DeFeo, acclaimed author and founder of The DeFeo Groupe, will present “Death on the Southern Rails” at the Georgia Room in Switzer Library.
The free presentation will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9 in the Switzer Library’s Georgia Room in Marietta.
While rail travel improved mobility and opened new markets, it was often incredibly dangerous, and train wrecks and mishaps changed the lives of passengers, workers, and innocent bystanders. In “Death on the Southern Rails,” DeFeo will explore the history of significant train wrecks in the South, from the Civil War era to the 20th century, highlighting their impact on passengers, workers and communities.
“I presented a similar topic at the Smyrna Library in August 2023, and the audience’s reaction was overwhelming,” DeFeo said. “Railroad tragedies didn’t happen in a vacuum. They involved real-life people and left a lasting legacy in the communities where they happened. I think we tend to forget that over time, and I hope that through this presentation, I can help keep these stories alive.”
DeFeo’s meticulous research and compelling narrative bring to life the stories of these disasters and highlight the people behind the headlines. Attendees can participate in a Q&A session and, after the presentation, purchase signed copies of DeFeo’s books.
For more information, visit defeo.biz.
About Todd DeFeo
Todd DeFeo is the founder of The DeFeo Groupe, a content creation firm, and publisher of Railfanning.org, a website dedicated to railroads. He is an experienced journalist and author who has written nine railroad histories, including the first-ever detailed histories of several railroads.