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 have to ask, does it seem like 50 years?
Erikm,
Not that far along as a reader. Other interests domimated my younger years; think women. All else was secondary.
Norm
I saw my first issue, on a newstand, in April of 1952--with the picture of a young father and his son watching the Abraham Lincoln in Joliet. I managed to scrape together enough for a one year's subscription--and I have not missed an issue since.
Johnny
Last couple of years of high school in the mid 60s I bought every issue of MR, but only the occasional Trains. I hardly bought any thru college and grad school. In 1976 I started buyng Trains again, and have not missed an issue since.
Firelock76 I have to ask, does it seem like 50 years?
Good question, as it certainly doesn't seem like 50 years. What's even scarier is one of my earliest memories is riding the Olympian Hiawatha from Seattle to Miles City and that's maybe a month away from 60 years ago.
It's thought provoking looking back on what various projections of what railroading would be like in the future and seeing what changes actually did come about.
- Erik
I believe my first was in June, 1962, with Steffee's Annual Speed Survey, so 55 years of sporadic reading. The survey's peak 60mph mileage was 1954 and was dropped in 1973. A survey now would be interesting but pretty skimpy.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Mine also was June 1962. I don't have the issue now. The only article I remember was an article concerning the Santa Fe and Frisco operating some sort of locomotive run-through from California to Birmingham AL. It had a big photo of a set of Frisco F units pulling a freight at Cajon Pass.
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.
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...
May, 1972 for me....the issue with the Super Chief and the actress detraining. Also had a great article on the Erie Lackawanna passenger service. I believe it was all passenger issue, no doubt in honor of the fallen private service one year earlier.
I have not missed an issue since...and recently cataloged all issues in the basement with personal index of each issue with articles, maps, etc.
No, it doesnt seem like 45 years to me.
ed
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!]
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.
Didn't the publisher of RMC have a magazine similar to Trains at one point?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
Please tell me you mean via motorcycles, not bicycles.
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!"
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..."
Current from Google
https://voterrecords.com/voter/15933806/dorothy-segal
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
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.
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.
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).
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