The DeFeo Groupe | Author Todd DeFeo

DeFeo to address the Smyrna Optimist Club
2022-06-10 07:00 - 08:00 (America/New_York) | American Legion Post 160, 160 Legion Drive, Smyrna, 30080
Author Todd DeFeo will talk about the Atlanta Northern Railway, the subject of his latest book, to the Smyrna Optimist Club. The talk, titled “Smyrna’s Streetcar: The Atlanta Northern,” will focus on the former interurban line that ran between Atlanta and Marietta from 1905 to 1947, its impact on local communities and its legacy.
DeFeo has studied railroads since growing up alongside the Northeast Corridor line in New Jersey. He is the publisher and editor of Railfanning.org and the founder of The DeFeo Groupe. Today, he lives near the historic Western & Atlantic.
He has written several railroad histories, including books about the Western & Atlantic and the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville railroads. His new book highlights the largely forgotten history of the Atlanta Northern Railway, which ran between Atlanta and Marietta and passed through downtown Smyrna.
DeFeo is an avid traveler, photographer and amateur historian. But, DeFeo has made a habit of mixing business and fun. In 2002, he launched Railfanning.org, one of the most popular websites dedicated to the hobby of train-watching. DeFeo is also editor of Sightseers’ Delight, a travel site.

Cobb County’s Commuter Railroad: The Atlanta Northern Railway (Georgia Archives)
2022-06-10 12:00 - 13:00 | GA
Cobb County’s Commuter Railroad: The Atlanta Northern Railway
When people talk about Atlanta, the conversation often shifts to traffic and public transportation. Lost in the conversation about expanding transportation across the Metro Atlanta is the Atlanta Northern Railway, the former interurban line that connected Atlanta and Marietta between 1905 and 1947. A predecessor of Georgia Power owned and operated the line for much of its history.
Railfanning.org Editor Todd DeFeo will highlight the line, the subject of his new book, during a June 10 presentation at the Georgia Archives in Morrow.
About Todd DeFeo
Todd DeFeo has studied railroads since growing up alongside the Northeast Corridor line in New Jersey. He is editor of Railfanning.org and founder of The DeFeo Groupe. Today, he lives near the historic Western & Atlantic Railroad. He has written several railroad histories, including the first-ever complete histories of the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville and the Indiana, Alabama & Texas railroads.

Atlanta Northern Presentation (Georgia Society of Ferroequinologists)
2022-06-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2881 Canton Road, Marietta, GA, 30066, United States

Rev Summer Fest
2022-06-25 11:00 - 14:00 | Rev Coffee Roasters, 1680 Spring Rd SE B, Smyrna, GA, 30080, United States

Live at Rev
2022-07-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Rev Coffee Roasters, 1680 Spring Rd SE B, Smyrna, GA, 30080, United States
Singer/songwriter Todd DeFeo will perform live at Rev Coffee Roasters from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 16. In December, DeFeo released “All That We Left Behind,” an 11-track offering of new songs.

Private Event
2022-08-17 18:00 - 20:00 | GA
Todd DeFeo will perform live at a private event.

Railfanning.org Celebrates 20 Years
2022-10-07 | GA

Southern Museum's Trains, Trains, Trains
2023-01-28 - 2023-01-29 | Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History, 2829 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, United States

Western & Atlantic Railroad Bus Tour (April 2023)
2023-04-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History, 2829 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, United States

Smyrna Historical Society
2023-05-13 14:00 - 16:00 | GA

Death on the Rails
2023-08-06 15:00 - 16:00 | Smyrna Public Library, 100 Village Green Circle SE, Smyrna, GA, 30080, United States
While rail travel improved mobility and opened new markets, it could be, at times, incredibly dangerous. Sadly, train wrecks and mishaps changed the lives of passengers, workers and innocent bystanders.
Todd DeFeo has written extensively about railroads, authoring books about the Atlanta Northern Railway, the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad, the Western & Atlantic Railroad and others. He will present anecdotes from those books and unveil new research to bring to life the stories of those affected by railroad mishaps.

63rd Atlanta Model Train Show
2023-08-26 09:00 - 16:00 | Gas South District, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA, United States

Smyrna: A Railroad Town?
2023-10-31 10:00 - 11:00 | Aline Wolfe Adult Recreation Center, 884 Church Street SE, Smyrna, GA, 30080, United States

Parallel Roads
2024-01-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Georgia Room at Switzer Library, 266 Roswell Street NE, Marietta, 30060, United States
“Parallel Roads”
At one time, two railroads connected Atlanta and Marietta: the well-known Western & Atlantic Railroad and the lesser-known Atlanta Northern Railway, an interurban line that ran from 1905 to 1947. In some ways, the two companies were “friendly enemies,” not unlike the Atlanta Northern’s relationship with another growing form of transportation: the automobile. In this presentation, author Todd DeFeo will explore the development of how railroads were integral to the early growth of the region.

CANCELLED: People and Places of the Western & Atlantic
2024-03-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History, 2829 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, United States
The Southern Museum cancelled this event.
“People and Places of the Western & Atlantic”
While the state-owned Western & Atlantic Railroad is well-known, the tracks and trains are just one part of the story. Thousands of railroad workers and local business owners made the railroad successful. Many of these stories are forgotten. Author Todd DeFeo will explore some lesser-known people who worked on the railroad or alongside it, such as hoteliers.
About Todd
Smyrna resident Todd DeFeo has studied railroads since growing up alongside the Northeast Corridor line in New Jersey. He is the publisher and editor of Railfanning.org and the founder of The DeFeo Groupe. Today, he lives near the historic Western & Atlantic.
He has written several railroad histories, including books about the Western & Atlantic and the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville railroads. His new book highlights the largely forgotten history of the Atlanta Northern Railway, which ran between Atlanta and Marietta and passed through downtown Smyrna.
DeFeo is an avid traveler, photographer, amateur historian and part-time folk singer. But, DeFeo has made a habit of mixing business and fun. In 2002, he launched Railfanning.org, one of the most popular websites dedicated to the hobby of train-watching. DeFeo is also editor of Sightseers’ Delight, a travel site.

Live at Drowned Valley Brewing Company
2024-03-23 18:30 - 22:00 | Drowned Valley Brewing Company, 4 S Tennessee Street, Cartersville, GA, 30120, United States

CANCELLED: Western & Atlantic Railroad Bus Tour (April 2024)
2024-04-06 08:00 - 17:00 | Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History, 2829 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, United States
PLEASE NOTE: This event has been cancelled for April 6, 2024, and may not be rescheduled.

Retrace History with a One-of-a-Kind Tour of the Historic Western & Atlantic Railroad
Saturday, April 6, 2024!
Todd DeFeo, founder of The DeFeo Groupe and publisher of Railfanning.org, has written several railroad histories, including books chronicling the Western & Atlantic Railroad.
He leads a tour that highlights a mix and well-known and lesser-know landmarks that make the State Road’s history so unique.
About the Western & Atlantic Railroad
The State of Georgia chartered the Western & Atlantic Railroad in 1836. The railroad aided in the development and growth of many communities between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
During the Civil War, both armies used this vital artery. It was the setting for one of the war’s most iconic events, the Great Locomotive Chase, when Union spies led by James J. Andrews stole the General locomotive on April 12, 1862.
The state still owns the Western & Atlantic and has leased it since 1870. The line remains an essential part of North Georgia and is the backbone of the region’s industry.

History Alive: The Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
2024-07-20 09:30 - 11:00 | Donaldson-Bannister Farm, 4831 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA, 30338, United States
The Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
Whether it’s the Atlanta Beltline or downtown Dunwoody, it can be hard to believe trains once rumbled through the area. Sometimes, they leave behind subtle reminders. Other times, modern development has obliterated their remnants. But railroads helped build Atlanta as we know it. Trains transported communities for decades before the public turned to new forms of transportation, leaving the steel rails underutilized and ultimately relegated to the history books. Does our nostalgia today match the perspectives of those who lived during their demise?

Railroad History of Acworth
2024-08-13 10:30 - 11:30 | North Cobb Senior Center, 3900 South Main Street, Acworth, GA, 30101, United States
Learn from a train historian about the people and places of the Western and Atlantic Railroads. This discussion will be focused on Acworth’s history of the railroads. Presented by Todd DeFeo, Founder of The DeFeo Groupe.

Death on the Southern Rails
2024-09-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Georgia Room at Switzer Library, 266 Roswell Street NE, Marietta, 30060, United States
While rail travel improved mobility and opened new markets, it could sometimes be incredibly dangerous. Sadly, train wrecks and mishaps changed the lives of passengers, workers, and innocent bystanders. Author Todd DeFeo recounts some of the deadliest wrecks in Southern history, including lesser-known wrecks during the Civil War and the 20th century.

The Unexpected Western & Atlantic: Tales from Cartersville and Beyond
2024-09-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Bartow History Museum, 4 East Church Street, Cartersville, GA, 30120, United States

Live at Sessions Stand
2024-10-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Sessions Stand, 397 North Sessions Street, Marietta, GA, 30060, United States

Railroad History at the Smyrna Rotary Club
2024-11-12 12:00 - 13:30 | Brawner Hall, 3180 Atlanta Road, Smyrna, GA, 30080, United States

Georgia Archives: Oddities on the (Georgia) Rails
2024-12-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Georgia Archives, 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA, 30260, United States
While many histories center on dates and places, they overlook some funnier, if not downright bizarre, happenings throughout the years. From armed robberies to a duel between long-time friends, some of the most intriguing events to happen in history were plain weird. Author Todd DeFeo recounts some of the highlights (or lowlights) that happened on (or near) the rails in Georgia.
About Todd DeFeo
Todd DeFeo 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. He is the publisher and editor of Railfanning.org.

Oddities on the Georgia Rails
2025-04-14 15:00 - 16:00 | GA

Rotary Club of Vinings Cumberland
2025-04-23 12:30 - 13:00 | GA

Trestles, Runaway Trains, and Streetcars: Athens’ Unexpected Railroad History
2025-04-27 15:00 - 16:00 | Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter Street, Athens, GA, 30606, United States
Athens, Georgia, has a deep railroad history, and it extends beyond the trestle on the back of a local band’s album. It includes a streetcar system that whisked Athenians around town and a narrow-gauge railroad in the region that struggled to connect with The Classic City. The stories of the local railroad history are as heartwarming as they are harrowing.

Keep Smyrna Beautiful Garden Tour
2025-05-03 10:30 - 11:30 | Reed House, 3080 Atlanta Road, Smyrna, GA, United States
Please check with Keep Smyrna Beautiful for information on how to attend.

Death on the Rails in Georgia & Beyond
2025-06-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2881 Canton Road, Marietta, GA, 30066, United States

Slavery and the Southern Railroads
2025-06-16 13:00 - 14:00 | North Cobb Senior Center, 3900 South Main Street, Acworth, GA, 30101, United States
Learn from a railroad historian how the railroad companies in the South were the first to build railroads, and how they heavily relied on enslaved labor to not only build, but also operate one of the most extensive railroad networks in the world.
