Just curious, but which of the two regular contributing authors do you prefer to read?
Kneiling (sp?) just because he was out there- way outside the box sometimes. Frailey is a good writer for my tastes, Phillips not so much.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Kneiling, by a mile. JPM was of course really superb.
As far as I am concerned, they could drop Phillips and Frailey.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Phillips has the more interesting stuff of the two and typically seems to be more accurate to me.
Who is JPM? David P. Morgan is a name we're all familiar with but the initials JPM don't ring a bell for me. Did you mean DPM?
Two of my favorite names in Trains over the years have been Greg McDonnell and Paul D. Schneider. Never read something from either that I didn't thoroughly enjoy.
I think it is hard to judge them over the long haul. They both have good and bad columns.
But I am really beginning to have concerns with Frailey's ability to comment on the Canadian based Class I's. He gets the headlines right, but his lack of understanding of the underlying issues is at times really appalling. I have several times in the past year been prepared to write the Editors of TRAINS Magazine about him. I am going to wait for his comments on the CPR's 2013 Second Quarter results before I decide what to do next. His all encompassing worship of E. Hunter Harrison has to stop. EHH is a mere mortal and at times he has gotten almost as much wrong as he has gotten right. And the jury is a long way from reaching a verdict on Keith Creel.
TRAINS has to seriously consider whether it wants to continue to think of itself as a RR trade magazine, or as a hobbyist magazine for railfans. There still certainly is enough good content there, without reading the columnists, to cause this hobbyist to renew his subscription.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
Just as an aside, I was curious about which of the two LISTED had people's preference.
If one wanted to go pull out other names, I preferred Larry Kaufman's "no holds barred' style of reporting over either of the other two.
Leo_AmesWho is JPM? David P. Morgan is a name we're all familiar with but the initials JPM don't ring a bell for me. Did you mean DPM?
DPM, my error!! Haven't a clue how that became JPM, except thinking of J. Pierpont Morgan?
Don Phillips or Fred Frailey? Honestly I like 'em both. Two different writers with two different approaches. Apples and oranges, if you will. Neither hit it out of the park all the time but both are consistantly good.
Even Shakespeare didn't hit it out of the park all the time.
Firelock76 Don Phillips or Fred Frailey? Honestly I like 'em both. Two different writers with two different approaches. Apples and oranges, if you will. Neither hit it out of the park all the time but both are consistantly good. Even Shakespeare didn't hit it out of the park all the time.
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Frailey continues to get out on the railroads and mingle with the personel who are making it work. His diverse interaction with the railroads and his apparent skill with persuading railroaders to talk about their every day duties distinguishes Frailey from those who write from their offices.
Phillips offers a different perspective and I like him also. I see no reason for any change, retain them both.
Mookie Firelock76 Don Phillips or Fred Frailey? Honestly I like 'em both. Two different writers with two different approaches. Apples and oranges, if you will. Neither hit it out of the park all the time but both are consistantly good. Even Shakespeare didn't hit it out of the park all the time. +1
+3
Then again, I never was a fan of that ye olde englishe type writing(e?).
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
zugmann +3 Then again, I never was a fan of that ye olde englishe type writing(e?).
Don't want to sidetrack us here, but Shakespeare's best seen performed, I don't care for reading him either, although some of the sonnets are very, very good.
diningcar Frailey continues to get out on the railroads and mingle with the personel who are making it work. His diverse interaction with the railroads and his apparent skill with persuading railroaders to talk about their every day duties distinguishes Frailey from those who write from their offices. Phillips offers a different perspective and I like him also. I see no reason for any change, retain them both.
Count me in on Diningcar's statement, and rationale.
Personally, I have to agree.
AgentKid TRAINS has to seriously consider whether it wants to continue to think of itself as a RR trade magazine, or as a hobbyist magazine for railfans. There still certainly is enough good content there, without reading the columnists, to cause this hobbyist to renew his subscription.
For many yrs I looked forward to Fraileys feature articles but most of his writings more or less have become about praising industry leaders and so forth. He rarely supports labor in his writings and most craft workers do not hold his coverage in high standards. You can clearly tell he has a large control in what is put down in print. Trains is paying him good bucks to do what he does. In my opinion, its a product that the publisher and editor have paid too much for the services.
Dan Metzger
zugmannen again, I never was a fan of that ye olde englishe type writing(e?).
Perhaps you should give Will Shakespeare another chance. I find his writing can be refreshing and not at all "olde englishe[y.]"
Consider this line: "tis my vocaton, Hal; 'tis no sin for a man to labor in his vocation." (Henry IV Act I scene 2).
Or as Juliet said to Romeo: "Do not swear at all; or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, Which is the god of my idolatry." (Act II scene 2).
I really enjoy Fred Frailey's columns and blogs. As was previously pointed out he is out in the field constantly and that gives a great mixture of the operations aspects plus the railfanning. Phillips is all about trains and politics. Personally, I enjoy railroad operations, railfanning, and politics so each has a place.
Earlier comment about Fred being pro management. Great point. Perhaps Trains could bring another columnist on board with opinions from the labor side. I can think of a couple of qualified gentlemen that are on this forum, plus Joseph Santucci who's monthly blog "Hot Times on the High Iron" give a great perspective on railroading from the locomotive.
I would suggest a revolving labor column/blog with Santucci, Mudchicken, and Ed providing views from the locomotive, ROW, and yards. A monthly blog from each of the above would be outstanding.
Mark Hemphill was in the process of giving David Morgan a run for his money as the best editor of this magazine. Both combined the ability to merge the business aspect of the industry with the enjoyment of watching trains. Don't know where Mark is, but I sure miss him.
Ed
I like them both. Two knowledgeable people with different perspectives.
BTW, Don Phillips will be the speaker at Sandhouse Gang on July 16, 2013 3pm at Northwestern University.
His topic: Passenger trains on freight railroads: truth is a constant casualty.
Other topics for discussion include:
1. What is Boardman doing?
2. Oil by rail, revolution or temporary? Hmm timely topic.
3. Protect your rights to take train pictures!
John WR zugmannen again, I never was a fan of that ye olde englishe type writing(e?). Perhaps you should give Will Shakespeare another chance. I find his writing can be refreshing and not at all "olde englishe[y.]" Consider this line: "tis my vocaton, Hal; 'tis no sin for a man to labor in his vocation." (Henry IV Act I scene 2). Or as Juliet said to Romeo: "Do not swear at all; or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, Which is the god of my idolatry." (Act II scene 2).
Maybe someday.
I hope so. I agree with Firelock that Shakespeare's plays are best seen as plays. And the language, while understandable to people who speak modern English, can trip you up. At least his language sometimes trips me up. But I still think he is well worth the effort.
My personal take is, Frailey seems to write to the heart, while Phillips seems to write to the head.
Convicted One Just curious, but which of the two regular contributing authors do you prefer to read?
I read both of them but with caution. I find most if not all of their columns to be relevant. However, sometimes they don't back-up their view points with solid data.
In one of his recent columns Phillips implied that he knew or had a source who knew how Amtrak allocates the cost of hoisting the long distance trains in the NEC. I asked him to support his claim, since to do so would require access to Amtrak's cost accounting books. He did not reply.
Frailey's recent column on Amtrak's Guest Rewards Program was interesting. I asked him whether he knew if the Guest Rewards Program increased Amtrak's bottom line, i.e. reduced the annual operating deficit, by increasing riders or preventing the erosion of existing riders. He admitted that he did not know.
Murphy Siding I dunno.... I've never read a good article about trains written by Shakespeare.
I dunno.... I've never read a good article about trains written by Shakespeare.
What about SD70Macbeth?
Romeo, Joliet, and Eastern?
zugmann Murphy Siding I dunno.... I've never read a good article about trains written by Shakespeare. What about SD70Macbeth? Romeo, Joliet, and Eastern?
Maybe there IS a way to get my kids to read Shakespeare..
zugmann Then again, I never was a fan of that ye olde englishe type writing(e?).
One problem with Shakespeare is that he used some topical humor - for his time. There are numerous puns buried in his writings, if you understand them. Not that I'm a student of The Bard of Avon.
I'm sure that there are lines in his plays that would have had the audiences hooting with laughter, but that go right straight over our modern heads.
As for the writers in question, both have something to offer, as many have already stated. I'll not pick a favorite.
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...
dakotafred Opinion columns add life to any magazine, and TRAINS has enough pages to accommodate two. I remember well the pep that went out of the magazine back in the '80s when, wanting to dump Kneiling but also wanting to appear evenhanded, TRAINS dropped Phillips too -- ostensibly to have more pages to devote to "news." Then DPM retired, and the magazine was years in recovering. I will say I think Phillips has lost something off his fast ball since retiring as a reporter. The columnist I enjoyed most after DPM and Kneiling was Ed King. There was a straightshooter and great writer with a world of hands-on railroad experience and still plenty to say on the contemporary scene.
I believe Phillips lost his fast ball when he worked in Europe before retiring. Now, more times than not, he tries to hit the left side of the plate on most issues.
Frailey is definitely my preferred between the two. I read them both but put more credence in Frailey over Phillips.
Agree with other comments that Hemphill was the best editor since DPM. He definitely put the meat back on the bone while he was the editor. Winn seems to be doing OK in these transitional times for magazine publishing. It is tough to get style points while trying to keep ones head above the water.
Jay
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