First and foremost understand that in large part this blog is exactly what its title alludes: Rail.
I have the habit of setting up shop in towns like Wilkes-Barre
and putting together a blog focusing on its mass transit development, particularly with respect to modern forms of rail transit like light or commuter systems.
So yeah, Wilkes-Barre Rail is about rail.
That being established, it's also about the broader social, intellectual, commercial and professional development of the city, which as a convenient tie-in, happens to be
those positive things that rail transit options can foster.
In that
context maybe it's a blog railing about Wilkes-Barre and its potential.
You'll like this blog if you're tired about hearing how corrupt everyone is, are sick and tired of overt racism expressed in the various other Wilkes-Barre local discussion boards, are
tired of covert racism expressed with references to "animals" or "not from here scum", or are tired not from a dishonest government, but a harassed government which is rendered equally if not more ineffective as a result.
In short, if you are a reasonably intelligent person discouraged enough by the
regular fare to not participate in local online conversation, you've found a place here where you can state your piece or just enjoy a refreshing perspective on Wilkes-Barre's
future.
I Live in Buffalo New York
Some audience members might find it interesting that I live in Buffalo New York while manning a blog focused on Wilkes-Barre.
I was born in Wilkes-Barre and after a period of folly moving around the country with my family, settled back in the mid-80s long enough to finish both junior and high school (Coughlin Class of '86).
After high school I attended one semester at Luzerne County Community College before leaving the city again for another 25 or so years. That time away was split between Tampa Florida and almost six years in New York City (living in Queens if you hate the pretentiousness of deeming that "New York City", but I worked in Manhattan - so there!).
I returned to Wilkes-Barre after New York, "camping out" at my late grandparent's home in Miners Mills. It was while living there that I launched Wilkes-Barre Rail as a resident fully invested and enthralled in local issues and politics, and of course, the city's prospect of evolving commuter rail connections to New York City.
There's not much tangible rationale for this fascination, it just is. I love NYC and in a way championing a transit rail connection to it from Wilkes-Barre allowed me to stay a part of it, albeit fiscally exiled as I was.
I started a similar blog for Tampa just as blogging was becoming a thing and it gratified my drive to be a thought leader, publisher, and an engaged digital enthusiast. The blog gave me an authoritative voice in the community, however accidental, and I got hooked.
Because of that if I'm going to be someplace, chances are I'm doing a blog about that place in some way or fashion. The rail angle is one I care about if I truly believe it is pertinent to the time and circumstances while I am there.
After two years I ultimately left Wilkes-Barre, again, for Buffalo to pursue a relationship with my then-girlfriend, who was beginning medical school at UB.
It's to this moment that I still reside in Buffalo with plans to more or less make it permanent.
From Buffalo, I continue to watch events and developments online, blogging from a position I've come to deem a "binocular view", something I had previously tried doing with my other blog Tampa Rail, which I'll admit didn't work. However, I am a "perfecter" and am going to make it work with Wilkes-Barre Rail and yes, even Tampa Rail; I do not give up in these things.
