10 years goes by fast when you have the world’s greatest job

I won’t lie to you. I have the world’s greatest job. Ten years ago today, I walked into Kalmbach Publishing Co., and began my editorship of Trains. For me, it was the dream job that I had wanted as a daily newspaper journalist and as a Trains reader since childhood. I started doing photography and writing for Trains in 1982 when I was still in college. I wrote feature stories for years. But things changed in 2004 when I went to work full-time, and I want to thank you for this privilege. You, the readers of our magazine and website, make this job possible, and over the last 10 years you’ve been more than kind to me and to the staff (For all of the emphasis on the editor’s role, Trains isn’t a solo act; it’s an ensemble show). When we’ve exceeded your expectations, you’ve lavished praise; when we’ve come up short, you’ve been gracious in setting us straight. During it all, we’ve enjoyed sharing our passion for railroading, and I’ve enjoyed learning about your enthusiasm for our favorite subject, as well.

I’m often asked about the best part of this job, and it’s true that the experiences are tremendously rewarding. The places I’ve visited, the locomotives and railroads I’ve seen have been incredible. I’ve had cab rides that went way beyond my wildest dreams, and I’ve witnessed unique events that I could have never imagined. But in the end, it’s the railroaders and the railfans who make this job interesting. As a long-time volunteer at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, I often said, that “we come for the trains; stay for the people.” Trains magazine is like that, too. I’ve met enthusiasts from around the globe, visited with and spoken before dozens of railroad clubs and museum groups, and spent time with everybody from shop workers and train crews to the top CEOs of railroads large and small. I count many of you as friends.

That goes for the people I work with too. As I mentioned before, Trains isn’t about one person. The success of this publication rests with a team of talented, inspired people. They are dedicated, passionate, and excited to do what they do. Just like me, they love railroading. They enjoy learning about its history and are thrilled envisioning its future. That love of what we do extends to others who work on Trains in other departments, and I think it shows in the final product that you see here on your computer or in the print edition you get at home or at your newsstand. Living a passionate life every day is the ticket to a rewarding career, and we know that we are truly lucky.  

My greatest fear when accepting this job was that it might go by too fast and be over too soon. Time does indeed fly when you’re having fun, and 10 years has gone by like a speeding express train. But it has been and continues to be an exciting thrilling ride. I am glad we’re sharing the journey through the print and Web pages of the magazine of railroading.