Trains.com

50 Years of reading Trains

5653 views
38 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Valparaiso, In
  • 5,921 posts
Posted by MP173 on Monday, June 19, 2017 4:16 PM

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

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,019 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, June 19, 2017 1:18 PM

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.  

LarryWhistling
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...

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • 322 posts
Posted by BLS53 on Monday, June 19, 2017 1:03 PM

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. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Sunday, June 18, 2017 10:53 PM

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

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Cardiff, CA
  • 2,930 posts
Posted by erikem on Sunday, June 18, 2017 10:35 PM

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

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 6,449 posts
Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, June 18, 2017 8:50 PM

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.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Sunday, June 18, 2017 6:30 PM

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

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Sunday, June 18, 2017 5:12 PM

Erikm,

Not that far along as a reader. Other interests domimated my younger years; think women. All else was secondary.

Norm


  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, June 18, 2017 3:26 PM

I have to ask, does it seem like 50 years?

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Cardiff, CA
  • 2,930 posts
50 Years of reading Trains
Posted by erikem on Sunday, June 18, 2017 3:17 PM

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).

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy