Trains.com

What would you like to see covered in Trains magazine?

5001 views
25 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
Moderator
  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Waukesha, WI
  • 217 posts
What would you like to see covered in Trains magazine?
Posted by Angela Pusztai-Pasternak on Friday, April 4, 2008 4:33 PM

Hi,

One of my duties at Trains is to edit the City Rail column. What would you like to see covered? Do you like to read stories about new or improved service? If so, am I lacking coverage in a certain geographical area? Am I lacking coverage of a certain type of commuter or transit service? Are you interested in learning what transit systems in other countries are like? Or, do you prefer to read broader topics? Let me know what you think!

 Thanks!

Angela Pusztai-Pasternak, Production Editor, Trains Magazine

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • 2,741 posts
Posted by Paul Milenkovic on Friday, April 4, 2008 8:40 PM

I would like to learn more about how passenger trains of various kinds get dispatched on freight railroads.  How does Metra thread their commuter trains over UP, BNSF and IC tracks?  How does that one ex Milwaukee Road line from Chicago to Milwaukee handle all of that commuter traffic along with 7 roundtrip Hiawathas plus the daily Empire Builder along with whatever freight uses that route?

What is Metra doing to more or less keep their commuter trains on time while Amtrak is having serious trouble keeping many of its trains on schedule?  What does a commuter agency have to bring to the table in terms of extra track, sidings, signals, or whatever to work integrate that large amount of passenger traffic with their host railroads?  What would Amtrak have to provide (such as on the Illinois corridor trains which are said to have schedule keeping problems) to get the same result?

If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Chicago, Ill.
  • 2,843 posts
Posted by al-in-chgo on Saturday, April 5, 2008 12:19 AM

I'd like to see the occasional commuter's-eye-view of suburban service, especially if it's new.  (A thread above re:  MBTA's new rail line I found quite informative.) 

Also is there time to unpack some of the "tech talk" about later-generation LRV's?  I'm not saying waste time dumbing it down, but I bet I'm not the only railfan who is boggled by recent descriptions of motors near the wheels and why. 

 

 

al-in-chgo
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: L A County, CA, US
  • 1,009 posts
Posted by MP57313 on Saturday, April 5, 2008 3:16 AM
I like the coverage you've provided so far on specific lines, and if you could add maps that would be great.  I would like a little more about the history of the line if the transit route is running on a former steam- or electric- freight or passenger line. 
  • Member since
    September 2006
  • 565 posts
Posted by Bapou on Saturday, April 5, 2008 3:25 PM
I am a big NJ Transit fan so I would like to see more of that. I read somewhere that they were going to get new M.U. cars, if this is true I would like to see that covered. Also do you know anything about NJT's order for second generation ALP-46s?
Go NJT, NJ Transit, New Jersey Transit. Whatever you call it its good. See my pictures and videos here: http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff20/Bapouthetrainman/
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, April 6, 2008 5:09 AM
Light rail, the new term for the modern trolley car, is now growing.   Could Trains please publish a definite graph showing the whole mileage history of all electrified railway track USED FOR PASSENGER SERVICE in the USA and Canada?   Irregardless of gauge, characteristics (interuruban, subway, streetcar. commuter rail, etc.), year by year basis?   Starting with Spragues Richmond electrification in 1887, Boston's West End Street Railway the year after, and the B&O Baltimore Tunnel? 
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Fontana, Ca
  • 46 posts
Posted by Amtrak77 on Monday, April 7, 2008 4:00 PM
 Paul Milenkovic wrote:

I would like to learn more about how passenger trains of various kinds get dispatched on freight railroads.  How does Metra thread their commuter trains over UP, BNSF and IC tracks?  How does that one ex Milwaukee Road line from Chicago to Milwaukee handle all of that commuter traffic along with 7 roundtrip Hiawathas plus the daily Empire Builder along with whatever freight uses that route?

What is Metra doing to more or less keep their commuter trains on time while Amtrak is having serious trouble keeping many of its trains on schedule?  What does a commuter agency have to bring to the table in terms of extra track, sidings, signals, or whatever to work integrate that large amount of passenger traffic with their host railroads?  What would Amtrak have to provide (such as on the Illinois corridor trains which are said to have schedule keeping problems) to get the same result?

Me!!!! Flanked by 2 Amtrak passegner trains(joking).  Everytime I pick up a railroad book, there is something about freights and steam.  Don't get me wrong, I know there the backbone of railroad industry but people forgot about the passegner trains of then and now.  Do a cover base on communter trains and Amtrak and how they help shape the big cities then and now.

Just me speaking from the intercom of the Acela...Whistling [:-^]

 

Timothy D. Moore Take Amtrak! Flying is for upper class lazy people
  • Member since
    May 2008
  • 73 posts
Posted by awalker1829 on Monday, May 5, 2008 4:01 PM
I would like to see more articles on developing rail transit programs, such as the Tucson, Arizona Modern Streetcar Project and the Phoenix Light Rail. Tucson's Modern Streetcar should be operational by 2012 but is already in the advanced planning stages.
I am not an attorney. Nothing in this communication is intended to be considered legal advice. However, I am a legal professional who routinely deals with attorneys when they screw up their court filings.
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Chicago, Ill.
  • 2,843 posts
Posted by al-in-chgo on Monday, May 5, 2008 5:10 PM

 awalker1829 wrote:
I would like to see more articles on developing rail transit programs, such as the Tucson, Arizona Modern Streetcar Project and the Phoenix Light Rail. Tucson's Modern Streetcar should be operational by 2012 but is already in the advanced planning stages.
 

To say in different words some of what I said before, and I hope most people above will agree with me, is that City Rail needs to be more than "spot news":  We hear about when an LRV a line is funded, when it's about to open, possibly shortly after it opens, and perhaps major crises of funding enroute to development or accidents once the line is in operation.  I'd like to see more about system development, why one brand of LRV is chosen for a project rather than another.  I also think that talking to people who are new to LRV is a useful thing because they have -- if not none -- than different preconceptions of what LRV or streetcar ought to be.  Perhaps the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER is talking to LYNX riders, but I'm not hearing about that in TRAINS.  That part reiterates the commuter's-eye-view I mentioned above.

 

 

al-in-chgo
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Chicago, Ill.
  • 2,843 posts
Posted by al-in-chgo on Thursday, May 15, 2008 2:47 AM

Also, I keep meaning to say:  Wouldn't it be great if one or more of TRAINS' maps-of-the-month were to show all LRV systems in the USA (or just the post-1980 ones if space forbids). 

Or all the commuter-rail lines? 

Or all the RT? 

 (with the understanding that big cities or urban areas with many and complex lines could not fit them all into the Map of the Month [NJT, Metrolink, NY Subways]).   

 

 

al-in-chgo
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Hewitt,TX.
  • 1,088 posts
Posted by videomaker on Friday, May 16, 2008 9:18 PM

 awalker1829 wrote:
I would like to see more articles on developing rail transit programs, such as the Tucson, Arizona Modern Streetcar Project and the Phoenix Light Rail. Tucson's Modern Streetcar should be operational by 2012 but is already in the advanced planning stages.

  I agree with AWalker, I would like to see more articles on transit systems in my part of the country,The SW USA.. New Mexico's Railrunner,Utaha's FrontRange and Az,Tx,granted theres only so much you can say about one commuter or light rail system but still,it is always nice to see articles on places in our area of the world and not always the NORTEAST...Take Dallas Tx. for instance,DART is growing by leaps and bounds and No one ever says anything about it..Also the NRHS is holding its convention in FT.Worth,Tx.next month and Trains has not said a thing about it or had a railfanning article on the area yet !

  Thanks for letting me vent..

Sincerly,

 

Danny
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Chicago, Ill.
  • 2,843 posts
Posted by al-in-chgo on Monday, May 19, 2008 12:26 AM
 videomaker wrote:

 awalker1829 wrote:
I would like to see more articles on developing rail transit programs, such as the Tucson, Arizona Modern Streetcar Project and the Phoenix Light Rail. Tucson's Modern Streetcar should be operational by 2012 but is already in the advanced planning stages.

  I agree with AWalker, I would like to see more articles on transit systems in my part of the country,The SW USA.. New Mexico's Railrunner,Utaha's FrontRange and Az,Tx,granted theres only so much you can say about one commuter or light rail system but still,it is always nice to see articles on places in our area of the world and not always the NORTEAST...Take Dallas Tx. for instance,DART is growing by leaps and bounds and No one ever says anything about it..Also the NRHS is holding its convention in FT.Worth,Tx.next month and Trains has not said a thing about it or had a railfanning article on the area yet !

  Thanks for letting me vent..

Sincerly,

 

Sign - Ditto [#ditto]  Sign - Ditto [#ditto].   Just call us the Scoot Coalition!  - a.s.

 

al-in-chgo
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, May 19, 2008 8:48 AM
Reading posts for the last year maybe someone needs to start a transit mag (very expensive) or at least a section every month in trains on transit and how it is affecting RRs. Unfortunally there is underlap when transit covers bus operations. 
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 19, 2008 9:17 AM

Clevelands RTAs Busway and Shaker Rapid and Red Airport Line and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: NJ-NYC Area
  • 192 posts
Posted by paulsafety on Monday, May 19, 2008 10:44 AM
 apusztai wrote:

Hi,

One of my duties at Trains is to edit the City Rail column. What would you like to see covered? Do you like to read stories about new or improved service? If so, am I lacking coverage in a certain geographical area? Am I lacking coverage of a certain type of commuter or transit service? Are you interested in learning what transit systems in other countries are like? Or, do you prefer to read broader topics? Let me know what you think!

 Thanks!

Angela,

What can WE do to help you expand the coverage? 

Do you need "field reporters & photograpers?"  Since the main focus of "Trains" is Freight railroading and Amtrak/VIA, could we submit relatively short overviews of our local systems with relevant "news-y" photos of recently opened lines, renovated stations, newly acquired equipment, etc?

How about historical photos along with a current image in the same location (sort of a "Then and Now" comparison)?

Paul F.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Monday, May 19, 2008 2:29 PM

For people very very seriously interested in light rail, you must visit the website:

www.lrta.org

TRAINS is a general railroad magazine.   The Light Railway Transport Association puts out a members magazine Tramways and Urban Transit that keeps readers up to date on the news of every planned and operating light railway system everywhere in the world, has technical articles, explores specific cities and systems in depth.   It does not cover commuter railroads adequately nor heavy rapid transit and doesn't claim to do so.  And its editorial coverage is definitely slanted to that Kingdom wherefrom most of American culture originated.   I recommend it.  Following after TRAINS and CLASSIC TRAINS, it is tops in railroad reading for me.   For me some of its most interesting articles are on some of the most scenic Swiss mountain interurban lines.

 

For similar intensive coverage of New Jersey Transit, the LIRR, Metro North, all SEPTA's rail operations, and the New York subways, the New York Division Bulletin of the Electric Railroaders Association, HQ at GCT in NYC, cannot be beat.

Moderator
  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Waukesha, WI
  • 217 posts
Posted by Angela Pusztai-Pasternak on Friday, August 1, 2008 12:16 PM

Hi, Paul:

 I want to thank you and everyone else who replied to my question. Sorry it took so long to write back. I've peeked in and taken a look at replies here and there though. Yes! Please do write me with article proposals and photos. I'm currently putting together a list of topics for 2009 City Rail topics. I've taken some of your suggestions, too, I might add. Big Smile [:D]

My e-mail address is apusztai@trainsmag.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Photos may be uploaded and directed to me as the editor at www.contribute.kalmbach.com. Don't forget to include detailed captions. Remember to answer the question: Why should readers care about your topic?

I hope you like what you see for the remaining issues this year and what's to come in '09. Keep in mind that everyone likes to read about their respective neighborhoods, which is precisely why I try to throw in an overarching topic that may appeal to more people in a given month.

 Thanks again for your replies. I'll check back with you soon.

 Take care!

Angela Pusztai-Pasternak, Production Editor, Trains Magazine

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • 1 posts
Posted by Sooner Transit on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 8:22 PM

I live in Oklahoma City, where we have no rail transit service.  The fight to begin light rail or commuter rail service here seems to be an uphill struggle, with no support for (make that hostility towards) rail transit from the city government.  This issue is intertwined with the effort to prevent our Union Station rail yard from being destroyed to re-route Interstate 40, currently running about four blocks to the north.  The Union Station yard is at the center of a network of track and right-of-way that would be a great asset to jump-start any rail transit system.

I would like to see coverage of these issues, and I would like to see an article or series on how to build support for and implement a rail transit system in cities which currently have no service.

Doug Vincent

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 8,156 posts
Posted by henry6 on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 9:21 AM

I am glad to see that TRAINS is gaining a balance of old/new, freight/passenger, domestic/foreign, and incorporating rapid transit as a part of "railroading".  I grew up in the NYC metropolitan area and a subway was as much a train as any LIRR, DL&W, ERIE, or PRR movement.  Often,however, when I have mentioned commuter rail and rapid transit being "railroading" as much as the EL or CR or NS freight operations seen here (Bingahmton, NY) some 200 miles from New York City, I get funny looks and comments.  But the logistics are the same just more complicated and faster on the same 4ft 8 1/2 inch wide paths.  Those close to me have found how fascinating these systems are by riding them with me.  Riding historic (or parts of historic) routes, single track lines, 6 track lines, electic or diesel locmotives, multiple unit cars, subways and elevated subways, light rail lines (diesel and electric, street and private rights of way), and heavy commuter lines, seeing how they interconnect, opens a new understanding and appreciation of railroading.  (I am for hire in escorting these trips, by the way.)  With new light rail and commuter operations coming on line yearly, sometimes over former or existing rights of way, history is relearned as is the value of  mass transit.  I appreciate that TRAINS has opened this page in the magazine to explore and reveal how much railroading is done under the guise of "mass transit".  These mass tansit lines can give the railfan an inexpensive ride and learning experience.

RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • 1,112 posts
Posted by aegrotatio on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 2:32 PM

 I am really interested in subway service and commuter rail service.

The recent coverage is great and getting better.

The subtle differences between commuter rail and passenger rail, and the fact that they're wholly separated in Eastern USA, has always perplexed me.  Covering the different history of commuter rail and how it evolved as a state-subsidized form of passenger service, and how Amtrak specifically avoided commuter rail, and finally the divestiture of commuter rail from Conrail to state agencies.

I would also like to find out the economic reasons why we believe that commuter and passenger rail cannot and should not be completely paid for by its users.

Thanks for soliciting our thoughts!

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
  • 1,781 posts
Posted by ns3010 on Saturday, January 10, 2009 7:47 PM

Maybe after it starts, an article about ACES. Atlantic City Express Service is the train run by the casinos between NY Penn and AC. Service starts February 6. If anyone rides it, the story of your experience would be a great article.

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
My Videos on Youtube: Youtube
My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Cape Coral, Florida
  • 412 posts
Posted by billio on Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:50 PM

Two possibilities: 

1) Major system infrastructure extensions/upgrades.  Not so much CTA in Chicago finally woke up and decided to reduce deferred maintenance on the brown (formerly Ravenswood) Line or in the line to O' Hare Airport, but on the order of, say, Seattle extending its light rail to places previously not on its network.

2)  Once a month, an overview of transit/commuter rail systems; including a) where they reach to, and what they do now, and b)  (and more important to me), what they plan to do in the future.  Recommend MAJOR systems (e.g. -- Metra, CTA, MBTA, Metro North, Caltrain, NY MTA, Long Island RR, SEPTA, NJ Transit, Metrolink, etc,) and not Podunk ones (NICTD, RailRunner, VRE, etc.), or at least, hit the biggies before you tell us what's up in Boise.

 My two bits. -- billio

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Norfolk Southern Lafayette District
  • 1,642 posts
Posted by bubbajustin on Sunday, February 15, 2009 6:21 AM

I would like to see something about Chicago-land Metra in the colum. Something dealing with the "push pull" modes the dinky's use or just about the commuter hauler in general, say for example a story on how long metra has been in businuss and how they have managed to do that.  Also here's a idea, how Metra's ticket sales have fluxuated during this economic downturn and how thay plan to deal with that. Hope to see some Metra in some of the upcomming issues!

The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Monday, February 16, 2009 10:41 PM

I would love to see Trains Magazine would pick on montly basis one small railroad and profile their operation. It would give the reader the inside on their operation.

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:40 AM

Picking up on the above post, again TRAINS is not specifically a light rail oriented magazine or transit oriented.   But a real in-depth history and examination of current operations of the Salt Lake City MAX system would also cover the freight operations of the diesel-operated short line that shares most of the tracks with operations at night when the light rail cars don't run.  Including motive power and crews.    So such an article would appeal to general interest as well as those interested specifically in transit.  I would hope the detail would extend to a side elevation line drawing of the latest light rail cars operated, with labels for air conditioning equipment, batteries, inverter, and a tebulation of horsepower and number of motors, maximum acceleration and braking rates, and perhaps cost.

 

Rge NJT River Line, Camden-Trenton, NJ,  with Conrail freight at night, is equally interesting, but not as typical since its passenger service has diesel light rail cars.

 

For the Oklahoma City man who wants to advocate rail transit, again www.lrta.org is recommended.   You will even be able to download some good material directly from the website at no charge.   The Light Railway Transit Association is both an educational and an ADVOCACY organization.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
  • 1,781 posts
Posted by ns3010 on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:58 AM

As noted above, system expansion, increase (or decrease) in service, new developments (equipment), MoW, etc.

Maybe since we know that it's actually going to happen, something on ARC (Access to the Region's Core) and THE tunnel (Trans-Hudson Express) would be nice. It feateres a new two-track tunnel under the Hudson River into a new station in the Farley Post Office building. It will allow better flow of traffic and more trains into/out of the city.

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
My Videos on Youtube: Youtube
My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

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