I had enjoyed this issue and believe it is the best issue of Trains in the Jim Wrinn era. Particularly interesting was the attention given to the sales and marketing aspect of the WLE and the flow of commodities. It is interesting how the regionals take a much more aggressive approach to the short haul traffic (in this case the grain and stone movements).
Was anyone else surprized by the volume of trains on the railroad?
Looking at railroads such as WLE and Indiana Railroad it is interesting to note the differences between the philosophies of the Class 1’s and the regional carriers. The regionals really seem to attend to the needs of customers and actually grow the franchise, while Class 1’s dont seem that interested in certain types of business, particularly short haul or single carload.
Does anyone have a clue as to what CN will do with the EJE short haul traffic? It will be interesting to see what they do for the local customers if they are allowed to purchase the line.
I am not a WLE fan but I thought the idea of an issue that really digs deep into several issues faced by one railroad was most interesting. You need almost an entire issue to do it right.
Agree. Not quite complete with reading the issue but it was the right sized issue for the right size railroad. Couldnt see doing this on a railroad the size of the big Class1’s, perhaps the KCS, but the others are too big.
A similar type of issue would be the tracking of say two coal trains, one from say PRB Wyoming to Georgia and another say from West Virginia to the Gary, Indiana mills.
Two types of coal, two types of movements (one on customer supplied equipment, the other on NS hoppers). One for utility power plant, the other for steel producing. A discussion of all aspects from loadout to unloading with a brief explanation of why the WV coal cant go to Georgia, etc.
Trains could get by with one such special issue a year, an economic issue if you will and make it apply to the complete coverage of an aspect of railroading.
…I agree…This July issue does seem like a good one. I’ve done minumun reading so far but thumbing thru and looking at what all we have this time I would also would like to give Jim Wrinn a [tup].
That black and white of the large bridge over the Monongahela river is one we pass on our way back to our home area of Pennsylvania {on I-70}, for over 50 years now…Always marvel at it’s size.
Well hey to each his own, but I thought this July issue was not one of the best, in fact the whole issue was boring., but hey, August issue may well be more to my liking[2c]
Interesting how the term “railfan” means different things to all of us.
Sorta reminds of back in the day when we had 3 TV stations to choose from and we watched the best choice. Now there are dozens on my basic cable and hundreds on digital or dish systems.
Ditto with Trains magazine. Back in the day, when the magazine arrived, I read it cover to cover. Same with Railroad and Railfan. Now, I read only a selection of articles, some months only a 1/3 of the content.
Why? Like cable and digital TV, we now have choices, including this forum to gather information.
I fully agree and found the comprehensive look at the WLE to be very interesting indeed. I hope to see more of this type of analysis of various railroad operations in the future from TRAINS.
My initial reaction to the July issue was a quick skim. I wasn’t that impressed. Then on June 4th at 4PM that changed. I was at a crossing of the Twin Cities & Western waiting for a freight to pass. The lights seemed to flash forever before the train came and I was expecting the usual TC&W consist. I did NOT believe what I just saw, I muddered to myself. A shortline operating a solid consist of containers.It was certainly not a long train like you see on BNSF or UP; but never the less a solid consist of containers. Please if someone would clue me in I’d sure like to know where it was bound for ? I think maybe that we better pay attention. I’m now reading the July issue in earnest.
In today’s homogenized world of class 1’s, it is hard for me to get really excited about railroading. Do I enjoy the class 1’s? Sure. But, it is far different from 30 years ago. Is this a better operating and financial environment for them. Absolutely.
As a student of the business world, I find their business model and franchise very interesting now. As a railfan, yawn.
Thus, the intrigue of the regionals such as WLE and my hometown regional Chicago FtWayne and Eastern. While they dont have the slam bam train volume of the class 1’s, the operations and the actual trains are interesting to me. It is interesting for me to take a look at the CFE trains rolling by and watch the car counts to see if business is growing or not. What are they hauling? Information on these carriers are hard to come by, but their stories are interesting.
WLE’s operations are interesting and their struggle to survive in the 90’s makes for a fascinating read…hopefully someone can expand on the magazine and write a book such as the Christopher Runds look at the Indiana Railroad.
Or better yet…how about a volume on the growth of the regional railroads. I could see someone like Richard Saunders (Merging Lines) write such a book.
For my own [2c], this is one of the best issues in a long time. So often, it seems to me the best part of an issue is the “Coming Next Month” advertisement, then when it actually gets here, it’s kind of a let down. Not this time.
Being a couple of states away from the W&LE, I knew they existed but that’s about all. I’m a fan of them now.
I too, am more a fan of regionals and short lines. They survive, and even thrive, on traffic the class 1s would either overlook, or try to drive off. I was told of a situation back when the IC bought back the Chicago Central & Pacific. There was a local shipper in eastern Iowa (volume was a couple of cars two or three times a week) who had no problems getting cars to load under the CC&P all of sudden had trouble getting cars with the IC back in charge. What was important to the CC&P wasn’t as important to the IC. It would be interesting to read about regionals that have been bought by a class 1 has to service provided to the smaller shippers.
In my not-so-humble opinion, the July issue was the best of the Wrinn era, by a long shot. I enjoyed every single article, very unusual for the last couple of years. Am partially done with the August issue, which isn’t as good.
I agree, the July issue of Trains on the W&LE was a winner; the question is how do you top it?
The W&LE had an interesting operation two years ago, but the train was rerouted totally over the Norfolk Southern since then. The W&LE ran a unit grain train from a connection with the Norfolk Southern in Ohio to Elkton VA on the Norfolk Southern’s H Line. The grain train ran to Connellsville and then on to Hagerstown via trackage rights over CSX where it was turned over to the Norfolk Southern in Hagerstown, with its W&LE power, to be forwarded to Elkton, VA while the W&LE crew rested.
Once the grain train arrived in Elkton the W&LE power returned light to Hagerstown where the W&LE crew returned it to its home rails via the CSX and Connellsville; the empty grain cars were returned via other Norfolk Southern trains.