erikem I picked up my first issue of Trains magazine (June 1967 issue) 50 years and a few days ago, spotting it when picking up the June '67 issue of MR (June 1964 was my first issue of MR). The cover photo of a GG-1 was what first attracted my attention, but the article that made the biggest impact was the one on the D&H high pressure compounds. My next issue was May 1968 and I really got hooked with the June 1968 issue (Steffee Speed Survey), started collecting back issues shortly after and have been a subscriber since January 1970 (age 15 at the time).
I picked up my first issue of Trains magazine (June 1967 issue) 50 years and a few days ago, spotting it when picking up the June '67 issue of MR (June 1964 was my first issue of MR). The cover photo of a GG-1 was what first attracted my attention, but the article that made the biggest impact was the one on the D&H high pressure compounds. My next issue was May 1968 and I really got hooked with the June 1968 issue (Steffee Speed Survey), started collecting back issues shortly after and have been a subscriber since January 1970 (age 15 at the time).
My first copy had to be 1947 or thereabouts. My father would buy it at the local office supply store. I remember TRAINS offered a lifetime subscription for $50. Despite my pleading, I was politely turned down--that was a huge sum at the time, but 70 years later, it would have been quite a bargain!
John Timm
Chanute closed in 1993 I believe. In it's final years it's main role was as a school for aviation weather forecasters, for both the Air Force and Navy.
They established a nice little aviation museum there after closure. A hangar full of old Cold War birds. But they couldn't make a go of it, and the airplanes were moved to other museums.
The airfield is still open as a civilian airport.
tree68 BLS53 ...at the corner drug store. Other than the chains, those are getting pretty scarce, too. Many of my early purchases of railroad magazines were at the bookstore at Chanute AFB (the base is now closed), or at the "Slot and Wing Hobby Shop" just outside the gate in Rantoul. Some of those may not have survived the moves since, especially while I was still in USAF.
BLS53 ...at the corner drug store.
Other than the chains, those are getting pretty scarce, too.
Many of my early purchases of railroad magazines were at the bookstore at Chanute AFB (the base is now closed), or at the "Slot and Wing Hobby Shop" just outside the gate in Rantoul. Some of those may not have survived the moves since, especially while I was still in USAF.
Chanute? Maybe you were there while I was at U of I down US 45?
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Mike: No regrets is a pretty safe assumption. Picked a lot of tidbits on civil, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering along business practices, economics and law.
Bob: Polish/Assyrian is a pretty interesting mix, met some Assyrians running "The Real Texas BBQ" across the street from MCAS Miramar and they were a friendly bunch.
My now late father-in-law was a charter subscriber to Trains and he gave me the first three volumes that he had bound himself. A couple of pictures stood out from the first volume: The LARy car "Descanso" which I've seen on display at OERM and the Timber Transfer crane on the East Broad Top which was in the June 1967 issue of MR (article on the Sugar River & Ridgefield track plan). The next two volumes were a bit weird to read as wartime censorship limited what could be published.
- Erik
[quote user="erikem"]
1970, got ya by 3 years. Not much for magazines then, busy playing base guitar in a rock band and VERY interested in a Polish/Assyrian girl, 5'7", with long dark hair and well you the idea. Didn't get back to trains until the late 70's then three kids started to show up in 1980, so, reset to trains in 1986 and have been hooked since.
I am at 45 years. I starting to read Trains every month starting in 1972. Been a subscriber for most of those years, though I missed a few years in my early married days.
Regarding the art and poems mentioned here, I thought I remembered a brief story explaining that the ads were placed by the daughter in honor of her mother, who had passed away. The mother loved trains and did the drawings and poetry.
Let me be the first to say, "congratulations."
After this long, I assume you have no regrets.
BLS53...at the corner drug store.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I know what you mean. My first issue was bought at a smoke shop/newstand in Carson City and the next few issue I bought (starting almost a year later) were bought at the Whistle Stop in uptown San Diego. OTOH, my first few issues of MR were bought at the Vons in Thousand Oaks (pop. about 13,000 at that time).
One thing that's changed today is finding special interest magazines, like Trains, at the corner drug store. The only place I ever see them is at the big chain book stores like Barnes and Noble. Newsstands in general are a dying breed.
NKP guyPlease tell me you mean via motorcycles, not bicycles.
Why? When I was 12 I routinely biked nearly that far to get to my 'usual' hobby shop ... then went home balancing what often were bulky packages.
Of course, that was a different age, then. I wouldn't let my kids do that now.
Current from Google
https://voterrecords.com/voter/15933806/dorothy-segal
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
tree68 NKP guy One of the most unusual features in its pages a few years ago was the series of poems, written by a lady, about certain locomotives. I remember those. There was discussion about them, but as I recall, she wasn't real public about it, aside from the poems. I recall perhaps something of an homage due to a family member?
NKP guy One of the most unusual features in its pages a few years ago was the series of poems, written by a lady, about certain locomotives.
I remember those. There was discussion about them, but as I recall, she wasn't real public about it, aside from the poems. I recall perhaps something of an homage due to a family member?
The lady's name was Diane S Segal ( The ads, artwork and poetry) were apparently, done to honor her Mother Dorothy M. Segal.
The adds ran monthly for about a year.(2007 ?)
The author paid for the full page 'ad', and all the "Why's" "Whererfores" and Who is's.." were then, and are now, still a mystery. It was driving people nuts with questions, and no one seemed to be able to pin it down...
There were all sorts of speculations.. 'Mother and Daugher, were AMTRAK Engineers' ( on Trainorders(?).
Due to the 'heavy' C&O Content of her work , some tied her to a C&O 'family connection' (?).
Some 'enjoyed her works' and poetry, and there were the folks that 'panned it'.
IT is, apparently THE ONE MYSTERY on TRAINS that has stood the test of time? In a day and time when the press is accused of all sorts of transgressions;
The Staff and management of TRAINS and Kalmbach have kept this one in a lock box.
Linked here is one of the Threads about Daine S. Segal and her ads
@http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/101356/1197547.aspx
And I stand by my comment then: Posted by samfp1943 on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 3:49 PM
NW_611 wrote: Well, I like the prose, and I don't mind the presence of the things. Sooner or later we'll find out that these ads were actually a secret means of communication with parties unknown. You know, "The chair is against the wall. John has a long mustache." The mystery of it all is part of the fun. I look forward to them every month and will sort of miss them when/if they stop running.
Well, I like the prose, and I don't mind the presence of the things. Sooner or later we'll find out that these ads were actually a secret means of communication with parties unknown. You know, "The chair is against the wall. John has a long mustache."
The mystery of it all is part of the fun. I look forward to them every month and will sort of miss them when/if they stop running.
" When the story on these full page ads comes out--and it will, eventually.
It will make for interesting reading. Googling either name Diane or Dorothy Segal seems to be a dead end; except for the mention of Diane's stories for the C&O Historical Society publcation, there is a dearth of information. What is interesting is the amount of interest that this series of full page 'ads' has generated..."
I'm just a beginner compared to some of you gents. I didn't get my first copy of "Trains" (and "Model Railroader" for that matter) until 1989, when the train bug bit me and bit me hard!
My first issue had a magnificent article by Steve Lee on running the 3985, well written and very informative, with a little self-deprecating remark from Steve...
"I don't consider myself an experienced steam engineer, just a lucky one!"
Ulrich My bro and I used to bike 25 miles into town just to hit the newstand and pickup Trains, Railroad Mag, Railfan, and Rail Classics. And the various model mags too.
My bro and I used to bike 25 miles into town just to hit the newstand and pickup Trains, Railroad Mag, Railfan, and Rail Classics. And the various model mags too.
Please tell me you mean via motorcycles, not bicycles.
Johnny
overall My first issue of MR featured John Allen's well done GD line. That one came from Anderson's Book Store in Florence, Ala.The first issue of Trains I ever saw was in the Family Hobby Center in Clarksville TN in 1969. It had an article called "An Unadulterated Railroad" on the cover.
My first issue of MR featured John Allen's well done GD line. That one came from Anderson's Book Store in Florence, Ala.The first issue of Trains I ever saw was in the Family Hobby Center in Clarksville TN in 1969. It had an article called "An Unadulterated Railroad" on the cover.
I'm fifty-five years a reader of Trains, about forty as a subscriber.
One of the most unusual features in its pages a few years ago was the series of poems, written by a lady, about certain locomotives. Often an entire page would be bought (by whom?) and two or three poems would be published. As poems I found them not very graceful, but the fact that a female could rhapsodize about both steam and diesel engines got my attention; I read 'em all.
Whatever happened to her? Was this another case of a kind husband allowing his wife to think she's the Florence Foster Jenkins of the Arts of Euterpe?
I've been reading Trains since the early 1970s. One thing I've noticed is that there is a lot more advertising aimed at professionals. Western-Cullen-Hayes and the like. I do recall in older issues ads for super-8 films- does anyone still have and watch those?
The first issue I purchased was in July 1965, with articles about NYC suburban service and the conversion of the Monarch Branch to standard gauge. "News and Editorial Comment" led off with a write-up on the introduction of the 645 engine by EMD. Nine new domestic locomotive models were introduced with the 645.
I purchased a few issues irregularly after that and started buying regularly with the November 1967 issue. I haven't missed an issue since that date.
Picked up my first issue of Trains in June, 1979 (assume it was the June issue), and started subscribing within 3 months. Have missed a few issues as subscriptions expired or for other reasons, but still have all those I've received. Hard to believe it has been 38 years.
I got my start reading my dads copies which he had. He started buying it in 1942 when we lived in Milwaukee and kept all of them. Mr. Lalmbach was the puplisher then. Dad wrote six articles under a pen name as at that time he worked for a railroad and didn't want to create any problems. So when I left home in the early 60's I got my own subscription.
BLS53Didn't the publisher of RMC have a magazine similar to Trains at one point?
Carstens. Railfan, I think, which then became Railfan & Railroad.
The line has been taken over by White River Productions.
R&R and Trains have slightly different approaches to covering the railroads. I get both.
tree68 I've got most of the issues of Trains (not to mention MR, RMC, Firehouse, and several other rail and fire magazines) I've ever acquired. They sure take up a lot of space! It is interesting to reach into one of the files and pick out an old issue.
I've got most of the issues of Trains (not to mention MR, RMC, Firehouse, and several other rail and fire magazines) I've ever acquired. They sure take up a lot of space!
It is interesting to reach into one of the files and pick out an old issue.
Didn't the publisher of RMC have a magazine similar to Trains at one point?
My inro was First with Model Railroader in the Summer of 1955. I bought it from a drug store newsstand, somewhere around Harrisburg, Pa. We were moving from Memphis, to Milton, Ma. Bought it spasmodically, for several years, while living in Tulsa, and when we moved back to Memphis,
I was in HS school, and working part time in a Hobby Shop.. I had both MR and Trains. ( probably about 1957?). Since, then I've been a regular purchaser of Trains,(subscriber since about 1960?) and occcasionally, MR.
Hard to believe , it's been as long as it has.... One of my favorite MR's was the announcement of the lifetime subscription for $50.00 .
Talk about a missed opportunity!
Maybe.....TRAINS, might do that sometime????? [Just dreaming!]
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