Reading Jim Wrinn’s usual monthly column, FROM THE EDITOR, on page 4 of the August 2011 issue of TRAINS magazine, I was stunned when he stated, “I took a trip back home to North Carolina, and I arrived at the Charlotte airport …” The fact that someone took an airplane trip would not normally raise my attention, if that person was in the general population. But, Jim Wrinn (!), whose profession (and some income) derives from supporting railroading. Not! If Jim had to go by plane because of a schedule (not revealed nor implied in the column) or because of no Amtrak connections (again, not stated), then I might have understood. But he offered no parenthetical apologia. Ah, well and regardless, Mr. Wrinn does a magnificent job for us all at TRAINS, and deserves our continuing commendation.
Please do not waste my time with meaningless drivel such as this again please.
My guess is that Mr. Wrinn does NOT have the time to leisurely travel by train, as ironic as that may be.
In estimating Mr. Wrinn, he strikes me as a very, very savvy, experienced journalist that knows how to make money for a super demanding employer.
We are all for the most part in the dark about things taking place behind the scenes. It is like the mysterious single wood pole that was brought to the UP Colton Signal Dept. in Colton, CA.
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What goes on behind the scenes is generally not public, whether it is with poles or editors.
That is my perspective anyway …
In the USA today, even the most diehard railfan, and include me in that catagory, need not make an excuse for traveling by plane for long distances. I am absolutely certain Jim would have traveled by train if it was at all conceivable for him to do so and still keep a reasonable schedule.
Both United and US Airways have non-stops on the Milwaukee to Charlotte route. Flight time is a little under 2 hours.
Compare that to Amtrak. The best Mr. Wrinn can do is one of the Hiawathas to Chicago, the Capitol leaving that evening for Washington, arrive Washington 2:20 pm the next day, depart Washington on the Crescent at 6:30 that night and arrive Charlotte at 2::20 the 3rd morning.
Even if I were on vacation, I’d have to think about which way to do this, and I’m pretty certain my time isn’t as full as is Mr. Wrinn’s.
And even in the ‘Golden Era’ of rail passenger operations, Milwaukee to Charlotte would not be the easiest of trips to pull off, as in those days, relatively nothing was in Charlotte to draw the business. It is only since the Interstate age that Charlotte grew itself into the financial power of the Southeast.
Oh, grow up!
Count me with Henry6;
[X-)] OP needs to get a grip. [soapbox]
[2c] I don’t care if Jim Travels by horseback, or jet pack.
As long as he keeps up the good work! [tup] [(-D][(-D]
Don’t know why “Trip” needed to be in quotes anyway, apparently the Forum didn’t like it, either.
Even David P. Morgan would fly when he needed to. As I recall, he didn’t like to fly.
I long for the day when there need not be flights from Milwaukee to Charlotte. Just hop on the train at Milwaukee and, after a high-speed ride directly into O’Hare, catch one there. Probably wouldn’t make much difference in time, with the security procedures being what they are and unlikely to become any better.
Few people these days can say that they don’t fly, haven’t flown, and are not likely to get their feet too far off the ground (or the deck). Pat and I are some of the weird ones.