Where's Jim? Here I am!

I had a sinking feeling Sunday afternoon. I knew it had been a while since my last post, but when I checked, it had been almost two weeks since I touched base with you all here. Where have I been?

Working is part of the answer. We’ve got some great content coming up for you, and that’s been demanding every minute of my attention. We’re finishing up the June issue, our annual issue with significant short line and regional railroad coverage in it, and I prepared a feature story about the big transformation that took place at one railroad over 30 years. We’re also starting to wrap up our next special issue, Big Steam is Back, and I wanted to get ahead of the deadlines we have for this 100-page magazine that will be available in June. We’ve also got great video content coming your way. Our videographer, Kevin Gilliam, just completed the 90-minute video that covers the big steam locomotives running or under restoration. It’s been a guilty pleasure to watch this project come together. We’re also reissuing six Rick Luckin documentary videos about famous American passenger trains, and that has meant gathering photos for the cover packaging. So it’s been a bit like rush hour at Grand Central Terminal around the office. We’ve still got more work ahead, but, in railroad terms, I feel like we’re nearing the summit.

Playing is the other answer to where my time has gone. I have been a bit preoccupied with the annual tradition called March Madness, when the NCAA college basketball championship means dozens of fantastic do-or-die games are televised. As a University of North Carolina graduate (I’m dating myself but I was there when Jordan and Worthy were playing and won the 1982 championship against Georgetown), I’m particularly excited because my team is playing in the national championship game Monday night. If you’re not paying attention to the tournament, it’s the Tar Heels vs. the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

So I’ll ask your forgiveness for being a poor correspondent of late, and I’ll reward you with hints about a couple of announcements coming this week: Our first live streaming event of the year will be Friday, and it will be an exclusive surprise that you’ll enjoy. We’ll also share information about how to get tickets to an exclusive shop tour that has never been offered before. Keep an eye on Newswire, Facebook, and here for details. Thanks again for your patience, and I hope to be around a little more often starting this week. Go Heels!