Neil's "From The Editor" in May Model Railroader explained some staff changes at MR.
Neil included some very kind remarks about Jim Hediger as he explained staff changes. Jim is shifting to part time, but he will continue the Workshop column and the Information Desk Column. He will also write articles. A new Associate Editor Eric White was introduced.
Jim has been a very positive influence to my model railroading over the years, and I appreciate that. There must be thousands of model railroaders who feel the same way.
Best wishes to Eric who is now part of a first class organization.
Below is a photo of Jim and myself when Jim gave a tour of MR offices to me about a year and a half ago.
Congratulations to Jim as he shifts to being part time to allow time for being with his family and with his Ohio Southern layout.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
I wish Jim well at all he does. I enjoyed his thoughtful articles over the few years I have been in the hobby.
-Crandell
Jim's Ohio Southern remains one of my favorite freelance railroads.
Jim,Tony and Allen's freelance railroad lessons help me in planing my freelance short lines.
Congratulations to Jim and Eric.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Jim Hediger´s articles have accompanied me ever since my interest in US prototype model railroading was kindled. That was about at the same time he joined the MR staff.
Thank you, Jim, for your thoughtful and helpful articles over the 42 years since that date! My best wishes go out to you - may we see lots of interesting features from you in future MR copies!
Thank you Jim, for everything. Enjoy your part time work, and hope to see more well written articles from you. perhaps they could publish a book about creating a fictional shortline>
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
When I saw the title to this topic, I feared the worst. Thank goodness it's just a shift in involvement!
I have to say during the 80's, Jim Hedigers articles were some of my favorites. While not a mid-west railfan, his articles still were fun to read and had a lot of interesting discusion and inspirational material.
Thanks for all the great contributions to the hobby!
Jim (who digested many an MR magazine from the early 1970's thru the turn of the century!)
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I knew about this weeks ago from an E-mail from Jim to the DT&I Modelers Group, but I was not going to mention it until it was published in the magazine.
I have followed Jim since "Paint Shop" and enjoy his appearances and slides at the DT&I Modeler's Meets every year.
I also had the pleasure of sitting with Jim and discussing Model Railroading on the bus tour we had to the Pueblo DOT Test Center during the 1976 Denver NMRA Convention. We almost got stuck under a rock outcrop in the Garden of the Gods on our way to the Flying W Ranch for dinner.
Good Luck Jim!
Rick J.
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Congratulations and Best Wishes to Jim. I've had the pleasure to meet and talk with him at a couple of the RR Industry SIG conventions. He truly is a gentleman!
Eric
Much Like many other names in the lore of model railroading, Jim Hedigers name should be right there with them. His smiling countenance is easily recognizable, and always a pleasure to see an article from him.
Mr Hedigers contributions go back to when I became involved in the hobby over 40 years ago. So from childhood this man has influenced my hobby as well as yours. And rightfully so. Dedicated, well thought writings flew from his fingertips. Truly good reading for all, and very beneficial.
It is this kind of person with this kind of dedication that has forwarded our hobby into the "Greatest Hobby in the World". I firmly believe that statement. I think it is time we, the followers, acknowledge his contributions and stand in applause to a man who has given alot of his time in life to us.
Without people like Mr. Hediger, model railroading would still be just a train set under the christmas tree. I salute you Mr. Hediger, and THANK YOU for all that you have given me!
Respectfully,
Douglas Crowson
PM Railfan
I, too, had the privilege of meeting Jim back in 1998 during an annual meet of the Railroad Industry SIG; and like Garry, he also gave me a guided tour of the Model Railroader offices and layout while I was in the region on a business trip. Truly one of the more memorable experiences during my involvement in the hobby!
I wish Jim all the best in this new chapter of his life.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Hi!
While I have never met Mr. Hediger, he has generously replied to my emails to MR a number of times over the years. And, as a 50 year reader/subscriber of MR, I have always found his articles to be of interest and well written. I suspect he is a really good man, and I wish him well during his part time retirement.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Jim is one of the last "Old Hands" around, always been an inspiration for me and a gajillion other modelers. Evidently on of the Good Guys also. Hope he enjoys his semi-retirement and the satisfaction of having enriched the hobby as well as he has. Gonna be a hard one to replace......
Lou
Congrats on the semi-retirement. I do hope he continues with his series on MRVP. I find his stories wonderful and insiteful. He can tell a good "tale".
James in Texas
The topics discussed by Jim Hediger are usually not the sort of thing that interest me at this stage of my model railroading. But Jim manages to make them interesting just the same. That's a great gift, and I'm glad he's been sharing it with us. Indeed, the idea that I've gone through "stages" in the hobby tells me that my appreciation, awareness, possibly even my skills, are all growing. Jim Hediger has been the cause of much of that growth, and he's taught me to risk a little--move, as we say these days--outside my comfort zone--for the sake of becoming a more well-informed model railroader. I join with those who wish him all the best.
Along with Linn Wescott, Jim has been one of my lifelong "heroes" and writer-"mentors"in this hobby. I wish him the very best in retirement and am glad that he will still contribute to MR. Hope he gets tons more quality time with Ops on his layout than he's had time for in the past. Hope these messages get shared with him via the moderators, etc.
Jim
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
I too have enjoyed reading the articles and conversations that Jim was a part of. I have followed MR since the 1950's and noticed how so many truly talented and commited people have graced their pages. The thing I don't understand is how anyone could retire/semi-retire from one of the best jobs in the world?? My congrats to Jim and all the staff at MR, a truly first class organization.
-Bob
PS: I really do understand wanting to spend more time with family.
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!