The Extinction of Regional RR Magazines.

[Anonymous]

I thought I'd throw this topic out for discussion. Having been a railfan for 25 years, I've got to share with you I miss an exclusive western railnews magazine or newsletter.

Although the internet provides very timely "heads-ups" on special moves and events, and also gives us great re-posts on newspaper articles on railroad news, there is little in the way of news reported on by railfans.

Boomer, a regular poster on TO (trainorders.com), with his detailed, well thought out posting is the exception today. Although Todd at TO has invested in capacity of storage, where is Boomer's post 50 years from now, I assume, mostly gone.

Historians are already concerned about the record with the coming of the internet age, and the lose of data no longer committed to paper.

Although great photos can carry a magazine like CTC Board, these same type of excellent photos can be found at a number of different web sites.

What can't be found anywhere anymore is a newsletter, or magazine of current events, fact checked, and/or enlarged upon for the historic record of internet news out here in the west.

Western Railroader, Pacific News (Pacific Rail News) and Flimsies all started life as basically newsletters. These issues are now archived, and can be read. How many internet news posting are so saved on sites that no longer exist!

Its time to consider a co-op newsletter that captures the instant news of the internet, with fact checks and expanded coverage. This for the record of railroad history.

This really is a hot topic, and a regional concern.

Jim Bryant - Lawton, NV MP 236