What would you like to see covered in TRAINS?

[SALfan]

Seeing 5penniesworth's comments in the "Foreign Trains in TRAINS" thread started me to thinking, which is often a dangerous thing. What topics would you like to see covered in TRAINS? I'd like to see an article with appropriate map(s) detailing the changes in railroading in the southeastern U.S. due to the mergers/acquisitions during the last 40 years. The 1967 merger of Seaboard Air Line and Atlantic Coast Line would be a convenient starting point. What say you?

[locomutt]

Well,
I wouldn't mind seeing C&O,B&O,WM
Merger[?]

[Anonymous]

More stories of the rails...

Better short line coverage.

LC

[Anonymous]

I like the stories about the Jerkwater towns...

Like LC said, I would like to hear a little more about shortlines too, perhaps there could be a small section that is dedicated to a Class III everymonth? That would be pretty cool.

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy

I like the stories about the Jerkwater towns...

Like LC said, I would like to hear a little more about shortlines too, perhaps there could be a small section that is dedicated to a Class III everymonth? That would be pretty cool.

I agree with macguy,I've enjoyed the stories from the "jerkwater" towns.
Also agree with LC would like to see more about the shortlines,or regionals.

[Modelcar]

...Would like to see some of the rail sites that have been abandoned...such as routes over important mountain passes and other interesting locations rails passed through at one time......Maybe some tunnel locations, both used at present and some not used anymore.
Some good old timer stories and illustrations to go with them...[Like Railroad mag.used to do years ago].
Major construction sites such as the Swiss tunnel construction....
Features occasionally on some grand old Depot's and even some small ones...and occasionally some input on the civil engineering side of railroading.

[Mookie]

Any stories from the crew. They tell the best ones!

Mook

[edblysard]

I too, would like to see more of the smaller railroads, not that I am biased or anything![:D]

And a feature, maybe a little of the "that was then, this is now" stuff.

The draw back would be that Trains would have to either send someone there to do the story and take the photographs, (real hardship, huh?)
or rely on freelancers.

Keep in mind the only real access they, or any railroad based magazine has, is that which carriers allow.

If the carrier didn't want you, the reporter, to see something they felt wasn't in their best interest, you wouldn't.

But still, there are a lot of shortlines and switching roads out there, that quite a few folks never hear about.

Ed

[nslakediv]

More midwest stories of shortlines(NOW in Tiffin,OH. for instance). More indepth info on shortline plans, such as new business, new or updated infrastucture. Would also like to see more articles on engineering in midwest(rivercrossings, tunnels) How about detailed track plans of yards with identification of all tracks. Of course you might have to add 30 -40 pages to this magizine.

[Kathi Kube]

Hmmmm...

[edblysard]

Thought I heard a "Hmmmmm" in there somewhere?


Ed

[daveklepper]

fitting in with some of the earlier comments, I'd like to see some really technical coverage of New Jersey Transit's River Line, its passenger service truly a diesel interurban line with street running as well as high speed open track, including some single track with sideings . How does CSX still provide freight service? How was the wheel profile arrived at to work well on both regular track and streetcar track (Stating on the track isn't the problem, rather avoiding hunting and wheel and flange wear) What is the nature of CXS's freight business on the line and what power do they usu, especially, now with the light rail having exclusive daytime occupancy, since the freight all goes at night. Any lessons to be learned for application elsewhere?

[cbq9911a]

I'd like to see more coverage of railroad museums and transit systems.

Bring back the "All SOMETHING" issue, like last year's "All Chicago" issue. Some suggestions, that don't get much play in the railroad press: "All NYCTA", "All Metrolink" (Los Angeles), "All Illinois Railway Museum", "All Steamtown".

[JoeKoh]

More shortlines and traces of the lost cat Chessie?
stay safe
Joe

[Dough]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

More shortlines and traces of the lost cat Chessie?
stay safe
Joe

I never really cared much about shortlines until I realized that two sister shortlines in GA operate around a dozen fallen flags. Many of them are in original paint as well, including Chessies...So another vote for shortlines.

Also, I would love to see something about north Georgia and Atlanta.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dough

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

More shortlines and traces of the lost cat Chessie?
stay safe
Joe

I never really cared much about shortlines until I realized that two sister shortlines in GA operate around a dozen fallen flags. Many of them are in original paint as well, including Chessies...So another vote for shortlines.

Also, I would love to see something about north Georgia and Atlanta.

Hear, Hear[#ditto][:)]

[moelarrycurly4]

A story on the Paducah & Louisville RR and other interesting shortlines and regionals.

More steam

I like the "that was then this is now idea" like the "differences in decades"

a series on depots

[Jordan6]

Stories from the rails. Both past and present.

[Anonymous]

A) aomehting Canadian now and then

B) defenately crew stories

[Anonymous]

More on the hybrids!
And crew stories,too.
Oh- and MOW equipment!
And...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

A) aomehting Canadian now and then

B) defenately crew stories

How about Canadian on a regular basis, Occasionally is not sufficent for describing some of the great roads in the world. Canadian understanding of the need for communication and transportation with some great and proud names need to be studied and appreciated by us in the U.S. Also; someting about the men (and women) that keep things together and running to the North of us

[cherokee woman]

How about steam trains, American and European? Love the steam trains!!

[Randy Stahl]

We get Railway Age and Progressive Railroading at work for free so the in depth articles on RR buisness and locomotive and car tech. is well covered in those two magazines. I would like trains magazine to show the human side of railroading, the history of railroading and good pics. I read trains mag for fun.
Randy

[cherokee woman]

Randy, see you are a newcomer to the forum.

Welcome aboard!!

[Randy Stahl]

Yes I am a newcomer to the forums , thank you very much for the welcome
Randy

[Mookie]

Yes and I hear he does bathrooms too!

Moo

[tree68]

I like the tie-ins with MR - usually about a "jerk water" town, or small industry. Not only are they modelling fodder, but you can get your head around the whole thing, which can be difficult to do with a major metropolitan area (although I like reading about them, too.) I'll also vote for the RR stories - real-life railroading through the eyes of the railroaders. Often funny, sometimes poignant, always entertaining.

Technical stuff is interesting as long as it isn't too deep. I'm not interested in buying a new loco, but seeing statistics and comparisons is informative and makes me a smarter railfan, which makes trainwatching all the more interesting.

Perhaps some coverage of some of the "little" railroad museums. They are everywhere, and range from old depots with pictures to some significant collections. Just an objective view - what they have, where they are. The reader can attach their own rating, based on their interest.

[Randy Stahl]

Re. bathrooms,
The methods I use to clean locomotive toilets may not be appropriate for homes, gas stations etc. I am available for a consultation however at my standard rate.
Randy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl

Re. bathrooms,
The methods I use to clean locomotive toilets may not be appropriate for homes, gas stations etc. I am available for a consultation however at my standard rate.
Randy

A since of humor like that will serve you well with these folks. Welcome Aboard [#welcome] [^]

[Rustyrex]

I agree with several on here too, more articles about a certain shortline each month. Being biased, would love to see an updated feature article on the Twin Cities and Western and Minnesota Prairie Line in Minnesota. Others I would like to see is the Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad, a watco company based out of Wichita, KS and an updated article on the Kyle Railroad(last done in October 1988), Missouri Central operating ex- Rock Island across Missouri, and the IC&E/DM&E.

Someone suggested just a look at RailAmerica itself, I really like this idea, maybe do Watco, Pioneer and others each month or so.

Addtional articles on railroads/specific lines I would like to see which sometimes get overlooked:
--KCS's Gateway Western current operations(done by Trains in late 1992, in the excellent three part CMNW/GWWR articles)

--UP's upgraded Golden State Route from Topeka, KS to Tucumcari, NM

--UP's also upgraded Kansas Pacific Line from Topeka, KS west to Denver, CO

--Various BNSF, UP Midwestern branch line operations

Also love the idea of more articles on the employee's themselves. There may have been years of a few old heads who dreaded talking about their job, but there are quite a few in the industry today who really take pride in talking about their job and what they do, as bad and frustrating the day could get, it still makes them feel good when someone knows we appreciate what they do.

Trains has really catered in the last few years to the railfan who really wants to know all the details and information and what they actually want to see, rather than what they think would go great in a magazine. This is what makes Trains stand out from the rest as the top railfan magazine. Thanks guys!