Preview of a Podcast: Listen to part of my introduction from Dunwoody, Georgia

Before the podcast goes live on Railfanning.org, enjoy this preview.

A subtle reminder of the Roswell Railroad in Dunwoody, Georgia. (Photo by Todd DeFeo)

The below is based on my July 20 remarks to the Dunwoody Preservation Trust in Dunwoody, Georgia.

DUNWOODY, Georgia — Whether it’s the Beltline in Atlanta, downtown Smyrna or the heart of Dunwoody, it can be hard to believe trains once rumbled through the area. Long before roads, rails were the best way to move goods to market and navigate the landscape.

Sometimes, they leave behind subtle reminders. Other times, modern development has obliterated their remnants.

Railroads could make or break a community. They could turn small communities into important economic centers. When the railroad ceased operations, these same communities might fade into obscurity.

Railroads helped build Atlanta as we know it. Consider what Jonathan Norcross, the fourth mayor of Atlanta and affectionately known as the “Father of Atlanta,” said. He witnessed history and a new city taking shape.