I have enjoyed the latest issue so much I just had to say thanks to everyone who played a part in its' production. I was born in Columbia, S.C. in 1950 and never saw steam in revenue service on either the Southern or the Seaboard Air Line. At the age of 10, I did see an old 0-4-0 trundling about the Rockton and Rion Railroad at the granite quarry in Winnsboro, S.C. I remember wondering how the thing stayed on the rails as it lurched from side to side.
Yes, the issue was terrific. I agree.
But, no Birds Eye View, boo !
Alton Junction
some people want everything
daveklepper some people want everything
LOL
I will say this. Although I thoroughly enjoy each issue of Classic Trains magazine, I would subscribe to the magazine if it consisted of nothing more than the Birds Eye View.
I look forward so much to that feature that it is the first thing I look for as I open each new issue.
I was terribly disappointed to find it missing in the current issue and was even tempted to protest in a Letter to the Editor.
Does anyone else feel as passionate as I do over the Birds Eye View?
Did anyone else miss it in the current issue?
Rich
richhotrain daveklepper some people want everything Does anyone else feel as passionate as I do over the Birds Eye View? Did anyone else miss it in the current issue? Rich
Hmmm, I guess not.
"Did anyone else miss it in the current issue?"
Actually I didn't even notice its absence. Unless it is of a place I am familiar with, I am usually not that interested.
As for the issue overall, I thought the subject very interesting, but the quality of the stories and photographs was very mixed. Overall, I was a bit disappointed with it.
Yesterday (19th. May) was a great Kalmbach magazine day. I got my latest edition of Classic Trains and Garden Railways from my local newsvendor. From a model railroad store in Northern England I received Glory of Steam 2 and the April Edition (COAL) of Trains both of which I had missed.
Plenty of bedtime reading there.
Alan, Oliver & North Fork Railroad
https://www.buckfast.org.uk/
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. Lewis Carroll English author & recreational mathematician (1832 - 1898)
And it should be pointed out that the VERY latest issue, Summer 2010, has the a Birdseye View of McKees Rocks near Pittsburgh, a feature loved by many - including me!
One of my daughters lives near Pittsburgh but I didn't get to McKees Rocks. Of course, from a look at Google Satellite, that area has 'slightly' changed a wee bit since 1946.
Strangely, the coarse paper cover huckstering 'Locomotive 2010' says 'SPRING 2010'.
Art
I think this may have been the best issue since I started reading Classic Trains in 2005. There seemed to be at least one picture that really spoke to me in every article.
That M&StL branchline reminded me so much of the line I grew up on, and then in an amazing contrast there were those pictures of pre-computerized reservation taking on the C&O, and that C&NW stockyard transfer story. Better stories of how large and small railroading can be I don't think I've ever seen.
I could write a favourable comment on every story but there just isn't time. Truly spectacular work.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
I really enjoyed article on the Union Pacific turbines. I grew up in Kearney Nebraska in the 60s and 70s and got to see them in the last years of operations, They were awsome to say the least. From the Central Ave crossing you could see about three miles down the track. The first time I saw one coming into town I thought it was a steam engine and when it passed the noise shook you down to your toes. There was a story going around about a set of them under a bridge just idling, The exhust on these things was like 1300 degrees and I heard it melted the bridge. like the above posts I do like the birds eye views and look forward to them Thanks Larry
Without a doubt, this one magazine is a gem. I think its production and publication schedule is a big help to the staff, and the results are worth it. If it were a monthly, it would be about half as good...IMO.
Of the maybe 20+ issues that I have kept in the past four and a bit years, I would rate this one as one of the least favoured. I am more of a steam and valve gear nut, and must admit that my cravings have been well and truly stuffed and satisfied for the past 20 editions, so I am happy to read that others with a slightly different taste or interest have finally received something to crow about...good for you guys.
And I hadn't noticed it, but yes, no birds-eye views of the various rail yards and such from the mid-20th Century! I love that part!!!
I offer my compliments to the editors and production staff of Classic Trains, and my good wishes to those of you who found this edition to be particularly refreshing.
-Crandell
selector And I hadn't noticed it, but yes, no birds-eye views of the various rail yards and such from the mid-20th Century! I love that part!!! -Crandell
Crandell,
They made up for it in the Spring 2010 issue with an aerial shot of the McKees Rocks shops complex in Pittsburgh. A double roundhouse with two turntables. Great photo! Good to see the Bird's Eye View back.
Rich, are you sure the McKees Rocks photo is in the Spring 2010 issue? See my post above which mentions the paper advertising cover mentioning Spring, but the issue's glossy cover says Summer 2010 and has a picture of a UP Turbine on the cover.
The Spring 2010 was the '50 years since steam' issue and has a steam loco on the cover and no Birds-Eye View feature.'
The post by Crandell (Selector) also seems to be talking about the 50 Year Steam issue (Spring) and not about the current issue,Turbines (Summer).
I suspect the title of this thread should not be 'Current Issue' but have instead the season to minimize confusion.
I enjoy it as well, but what would make it doubly interesting would be if they took a photo of the same area as it appears today. What I enjoy even more is "before/after" shots taken from the same angle and with the same breadth of field. I try and do this on the ground but sometimes the newly grown plant life or buildings obscures the view. This isn't a problem from the air but I gave up flying airplanes over a decade ago so cannot make my own anymore...
73, Chris
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