The December issue of Trains, which I downloaded onto my Nook, features Texas railroads. What a wise decision by the editors!
My criteria for buying the magazine is that it has at least two articles that interest me. This issue hit a homerun.
Be sure to catch Fred Frailey’s column.
And there lies the conundrum for the editors.
If I bought my issue of Trains on the newstand, I’d probably skip this one because I have little interest in the railroads of Texas.
Very understandable, the editors do have to be fair.
There’s a lot more railroadin’ out there besides the hot-spots of California, the Mid-West, and the North-East.
My issue arrived today and a quick scan confirms I shall read and enjoy all of it. Been to several of the locations.
A quick thought: My scan did not find mention of the new (1990’s) BNSF Alliance yard and the adjacent Alliance freight only airport. This was quite a new concept for both.
Since our trip to Texas last year, I’ve known that we’ve got to go back, and enjoy the things we missed or cut short because of the three-digit temperatures we encountered on that last trip. This issue certainly is encouraging.
The best time of the year to visit Texas is in April, May, October or November. The weather is usually pretty nice.
No one seems to have noticed that Fred Frailey has written his last column for Trains Mag. He is retiring his pen and tablet, or should I say word processor.
Fred Frailey always put more than a little thought into his columns and they were always interesting, even when you didn’t agree with them. I just hope that his successor will be as provocative as him in encouraging serious thought about any of a variety of topics.
Apparently Bill Stephens will be the successor. I have read several of his columns. He appears to be a thoughful, well informed writer.
Fred did not hesitate to get his hands, and feet, dirty when telling about operations. A classic example was ‘24 hours at Willow Springs’ where he had established a repor with the BNSF operations which permitted him on site access.
I shall miss him for his enciteful words created after ‘being there’.
It’s like that whole complex is in “witness protection” or something, surprised as I was when I drove past on I-35W a couple of years ago. I guess not so glamorous on the Fort Worth side of the metroplex.
My ‘quick scan’ missed it but there is mention of Alliance Yard midway through the story.
I’m interested in railroads anywhere in the US or Canada, and to a lesser extent, Mexico.
Even though I once lived in Europe, I have never had much interest in the trains there.
Texas? No problem.
I too always enjoyed Fred Frailey’s columns and are going to miss them.
Hopefully he won’t go too far away and become a Forum commenter. I’d love to see him here!