Welcome to Off the Mainline! A Railfan blog/website that is on different tracks than your “typical railfan site.”
Topics will include:
Railfanning the Baltimore and Ohio in 1828. We will explore the excitement of the public in Baltimore as America’s first “Rail Road” was being eagerly built in Baltimore to “save Baltimore’s western trade” from upstart New York. Baltimore had it’s foamers like at no other time, and many including many of Maryland’s leaders. Yes, railfanning was starting along side of America’s railroad industry, like it or not!
The differences between a Railfan and a terrorist. You will be introduced to the concept of “Totality of Circumstances,” used by ethical security and law enforcement personnel who actually use their brains. This concept will show you that taking pictures of trains and being interested in railroads should actually exclude you from being a “terrorist.”
Among other topics…