HawkinsRails.net is a web scrapbook featuring 50 years of railroad photography, shared by a father and son, with emphasis on lines and locomotives across the southeastern United States.

In this our most extensive collection, we are proud to feature locomotives, rolling stock, and location shots from dozens of independent shortline railroads both current and defunct, well known and obscure. Deep South pikes form the core of the collection, but lines from other regions are included. Many shortlines were photographed during the transition from steam to diesel power. We also feature a large sampling of southern industrial and lumber operations, many still operating steam.

The story of American railroads has been told many times, and the ramifications of their growth have been explored by masters in the art of history and storytelling. The flamboyant romance of the our great rail systems has been extolled by learned authors and motion picture studios. But one aspect of America's rail lore has been neglected like a country cousin, and that is exactly what it is: the realm of the shortline country railroads. The very nature of the little pikes makes them unique in contrast to the coldly efficient transcontinental systems. The story of the shortline railroads needs to be told before it is too late. Our little country-cousin roads are quickly disappearing.

Clifton E. Hull, 1969