Foreign Trains in "Trains"

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Railroading beyond North America is delightfully different and quite varied. It ranges from a strong resemblance to North America found in Australia and Brazil to the tight clearances and heavy frequencies found in Great Britain.

Railroading is fascinating no matter where it is and I'm happy that TRAINS is bringing railroading in the rest of the world to us.

[FJ and G]

Yes, I forgot to mention Iraqi Railroads. Must be a "blast" riding on those.

[Modelcar]

Agree with most of above....But being reminded of the US taxpayer footing the bill to revive the Iraqi railroad....Just a bit difficult for me to take. I fully agree the Swiss article was great but I vote to not take up magazine space in the future of any more Iraq endeavors.

[FJ and G]

Like many of you, I don't have a whole lot of interest in trains that are not US and Canadian and in the last decade, Trains has shy'd away from running foreign stuff. And, you'd never catch a foreign train on my layout:

http://davidvergun.tripod.com/

But recently, Trains mag has. And do you know what?

It ain't half bad.

I couldn't help but admire the spectacular scenery in Ecuador with 19th century steam trains that still have the brakeman riding atop the cars. Then, read another article about Swiss trains and how the country rewrote their Constitution to ensure that trains make up the bulk of freight and passenger mode. A pretty radical idea that never will happen in the USA even if gas hits $10 a gallon. In England gas is $7 gal and people still drive.

Dave Vergun