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February 2016 Issue

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February 2016 Issue
Posted by Deggesty on Monday, January 4, 2016 5:12 PM

My February issue came down to me Saturday afternoon, and I have gone through it.

I appreciated the articles on welded rail, especially as the process of welding two rails together was described.

It is good to see how travel between Raleigh and Charlotte has been/is being improved. I do believe, however, that the track between Greensboro and Charlotte will be made two-track and not double track. Some may say that I am quibbling, but I have the impression that double-track allows, ordinarily, for traffic in only one direction on each track.

The article on the railroad trade show is interesting; it reminded me of my visit to Chicago in September? of 1968, when I managed to look in on the show there then. I traveled up to Chicago, overnight on the Seminole from Birmingham, and went south on the Panama's parlor car to Carbondale (no, I did not eat the King's Dinner; I was by myself), and then back to Birmingham on the Seminole.

An additional note, concerning the UP's and SP's practice of identifying extra trains: both roads put the Train number, not the Engine number, in the illuminated box at the front of the engine. Since extra trains, on every road that I know of, were identified by the number of the engine on the point, the number was always "X---."   

Johnny

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, January 4, 2016 7:45 PM

Deggestry:  Correct Charlotte - Greensboro will be 2 main track (  Bi-direction CTC ).  As well all 2 MT and / or sidings Greensboro - Raleigh will be 2MT, bi-direction sidings CTC.  There are future plans to eventually add more sidings GRO - RGH and eventually connect sidings together for more 2 MT.

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, January 4, 2016 8:16 PM

I was kinda disappointed that none of the "denizens" of Deshler were shown in the pictures.  I think I was there that weekend, too...

It's still a great place to watch lots of trains.  Even camp, if you don't mind the squealing of loaded coil cars on the SW transfer at 2 AM, and the hammering of just about everything across the diamond.  Only place I've ever worn hearing protection so I could sleep...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Convicted One on Saturday, January 9, 2016 4:51 PM

I thought Frailey hit one out of the park in this issue. Bigness often becomes the problem

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Posted by Mookie on Saturday, January 9, 2016 7:32 PM

tree68

I was kinda disappointed that none of the "denizens" of Deshler were shown in the pictures.  I think I was there that weekend, too...

It's still a great place to watch lots of trains.  Even camp, if you don't mind the squealing of loaded coil cars on the SW transfer at 2 AM, and the hammering of just about everything across the diamond.  Only place I've ever worn hearing protection so I could sleep...

 

You slept during all this action?  Nap between trains and if no between, all the better!  Thumbs Up

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, January 9, 2016 7:43 PM

Convicted One

I thought Frailey hit one out of the park in this issue. Bigness often becomes the problem

 

I second that.  Mr. Jim's "From the Editor" column this issue is spot-on as well.

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Posted by Leo_Ames on Sunday, January 10, 2016 5:02 AM

I liked Mr. Wrinn's opening editorial, too. Not only was it right on the money I thought, it was nice to see him not be afraid to take a definitive position on the issue.

I haven't compared with recent issues, but this one seemed a bit thinner to me. Are we a few pages short of what we've been getting in recent times? 

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, January 10, 2016 12:40 PM

Leo_Ames
I haven't compared with recent issues, but this one seemed a bit thinner to me. Are we a few pages short of what we've been getting in recent times? 

It's certainly thinner than some of the "vintage" issues I pull from my "stacks" for my reading amusement from time to time.

There is actually a technical explanation.  Due to how most, if not all, magazines are printed, they work with multiples of X pages (I forget the exact number).  

I'm sure the Kalmbach people look at the possible editorial content and the known advertising revenue for a given issue and adjust accordingly.  If the ad revenue comes up short, some stories may well have to wait for later to be published if they are not time sensitive.

Because of that fixed "variable," changes in thickness of the magazine will be noticable.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
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Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by Convicted One on Sunday, January 10, 2016 1:17 PM

tree68
If the ad revenue comes up short, some stories may well have to wait for later to be published if they are not time sensitive.

 

We never DID get that "everything you ever wanted to know about paint" article that was promised, then postponed, then repromised for "early next (last) year"...did we?

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