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                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549

                                 SCHEDULE 13G


                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                             (Amendment No.   )*




                            RAILAMERICA, INC. (RAIL)
                   -----------------------------------------
                               (Name of Issuer)


                              Common Stock
                   -----------------------------------------
                      (Title of Class of Securities)

                                 750753105
                   -----------------------------------------
                              (CUSIP Number)





Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this
statement [   ]. (A fee is not required only if the filing
person: (1) has a previous statement on file reporting
beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the
class of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has
no amendment subsequent thereto reporting
beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such
class.)  (See Rule 13d-7.)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out
for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with
respect to the subject class of securities, and for any
subsequent amendment containing information
which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior
cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this
cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for
the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject
to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).


                        (Continued on following page(s))

                               Page 1 of 6 Pages

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CUSIP NO. 750753105            13G        PAGE  2  OF 6  PAGES


1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     S.S OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

     First Wilshire Securities Management, Inc.    Tax ID #95-2844956


2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER
      OF A GROUP*


                  (a) [    ]
                  (b) [    ]



3    SEC USE ONLY



4    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

       California Corporation

                    5    SOLE VOTING POWER

                                    50,600          0.57%


   NUMBER OF        6    SHARED VOTING POWER
    SHARES
 BENEFICIALLY                      None
   OWNED BY
     EACH
   REPORTING        7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
    PERSON
     WITH                          296,000           3.35%


                    8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                   None


9    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                                   296,000 shares



10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
     EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES *



11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

            3.35%


12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

            BD,IA


                      *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!


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                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                       Washington, D.C. 10549

                   ---------------------------------

                  SCHEDULE 13G UNDER THE SECURITIES

                       EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  ---------------------------------



Item 1.    (a).  Name of Issuer:

                      RAILAMERICA, INC.

           (b).  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive
                 Offices:

                      301 YAMATO ROAD, SUITE 2222
                      BOCA RATON, FLORIDA 33431


Item 2.    (a).  Name of Person Filing:

                      First Wilshire Securities Management, Inc.


           (b).  Address of Principal Business Office:

                      600 South Lake Street, Suite 100
                      Pasadena, CA 91106-3955







                              Page 3 of 6 Pages


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Item 2.    (c).    Citizenship:

                      CALIFORNIA CORPORATION


           (d).    Title of Class of Securities:

                      Common Stock

           (e).    CUSIP Number:

                      750753105

Item 3.        This statement is filed pursuant to Rule
             13D-1(B)(ii)(G).  The entity filing is an
             Investment Adviser registered under
             section 203 of the Investment Advisers
             Act of 1940.


Item 4.            Ownership.


           (a).    Amount Beneficially Owned

                     296,000 shares

           (b).    Percent of Class:

                     3.35%

           (c).    Number of Shares as to which such entity has:

              (i)  sole power to vote or to direct the
                   vote 50,600 shares


              (ii)  shared power to vote or to direct
                    the vote     None


              (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct
                    the disposition of 296,000 shares


              (iv)  shared power to dispose or to direct
                    the disposition of      None





                              Page 4 of 6 Pages


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Item 5.            If this statement is being filed to report
                 the fact that as of the date hereof the
                 reporting person has ceased to be the
                 beneficial owner of more than five
                 percent of the class of securities, check
                 the following. [  X  ]



Item 6.            Ownership of More Than Five Percent on
                 Behalf of Another Person:



Item 7.            Identification and Classification of
                Subsidiaries which Acquired the Security
                Being Reported on by the Parent Holding
                Company:



Item 8.            Identification and Classification of Members
                of the Group:



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Item 9.             Notice of Dissolution of Group:



Item 10.           Certification:

          By signing below I certify that, to the best of
          my knowledge and belief, the securities referred
          to above were acquired in the ordinary course of
          business and were not acquired for the purpose
          of and do not have the effect of changing or
          influencing the control of the issuer of such
          securities and were not acquired in connection
          with or as a participant in any transaction having
          such purpose or effect.


          Signature:  After reasonable inquiry and to the best
          of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the
          information set forth in this statement is true,
          complete and correct.








               By:  Gerald F. Winters
               ----------------------------
                   Title: President


Dated:  2/3/98

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