Seeing 5penniesworth’s comments in the “Foreign Trains in TRAINS” thread started me to thinking, which is often a dangerous thing. What topics would you like to see covered in TRAINS? I’d like to see an article with appropriate map(s) detailing the changes in railroading in the southeastern U.S. due to the mergers/acquisitions during the last 40 years. The 1967 merger of Seaboard Air Line and Atlantic Coast Line would be a convenient starting point. What say you?
Well,
I wouldn’t mind seeing C&O,B&O,WM
Merger[?]
More stories of the rails…
Better short line coverage.
LC
I like the stories about the Jerkwater towns…
Like LC said, I would like to hear a little more about shortlines too, perhaps there could be a small section that is dedicated to a Class III everymonth? That would be pretty cool.
I agree with macguy,I’ve enjoyed the stories from the “jerkwater” towns.
Also agree with LC would like to see more about the shortlines,or regionals.
…Would like to see some of the rail sites that have been abandoned…such as routes over important mountain passes and other interesting locations rails passed through at one time…Maybe some tunnel locations, both used at present and some not used anymore.
Some good old timer stories and illustrations to go with them…[Like Railroad mag.used to do years ago].
Major construction sites such as the Swiss tunnel construction…
Features occasionally on some grand old Depot’s and even some small ones…and occasionally some input on the civil engineering side of railroading.
Any stories from the crew. They tell the best ones!
Mook
I too, would like to see more of the smaller railroads, not that I am biased or anything![:D]
And a feature, maybe a little of the “that was then, this is now” stuff.
The draw back would be that Trains would have to either send someone there to do the story and take the photographs, (real hardship, huh?)
or rely on freelancers.
Keep in mind the only real access they, or any railroad based magazine has, is that which carriers allow.
If the carrier didn’t want you, the reporter, to see something they felt wasn’t in their best interest, you wouldn’t.
But still, there are a lot of shortlines and switching roads out there, that quite a few folks never hear about.
Ed
More midwest stories of shortlines(NOW in Tiffin,OH. for instance). More indepth info on shortline plans, such as new business, new or updated infrastucture. Would also like to see more articles on engineering in midwest(rivercrossings, tunnels) How about detailed track plans of yards with identification of all tracks. Of course you might have to add 30 -40 pages to this magizine.
Hmmmm…
Thought I heard a “Hmmmmm” in there somewhere?
Ed
fitting in with some of the earlier comments, I’d like to see some really technical coverage of New Jersey Transit’s River Line, its passenger service truly a diesel interurban line with street running as well as high speed open track, including some single track with sideings . How does CSX still provide freight service? How was the wheel profile arrived at to work well on both regular track and streetcar track (Stating on the track isn’t the problem, rather avoiding hunting and wheel and flange wear) What is the nature of CXS’s freight business on the line and what power do they usu, especially, now with the light rail having exclusive daytime occupancy, since the freight all goes at night. Any lessons to be learned for application elsewhere?
I’d like to see more coverage of railroad museums and transit systems.
Bring back the “All SOMETHING” issue, like last year’s “All Chicago” issue. Some suggestions, that don’t get much play in the railroad press: “All NYCTA”, “All Metrolink” (Los Angeles), “All Illinois Railway Museum”, “All Steamtown”.
More shortlines and traces of the lost cat Chessie?
stay safe
Joe
I never really cared much about shortlines until I realized that two sister shortlines in GA operate around a dozen fallen flags. Many of them are in original paint as well, including Chessies…So another vote for shortlines.
Also, I would love to see something about north Georgia and Atlanta.
Hear, Hear[#ditto][:)]
A story on the Paducah & Louisville RR and other interesting shortlines and regionals.
More steam
I like the “that was then this is now idea” like the “differences in decades”
a series on depots
Stories from the rails. Both past and present.
A) aomehting Canadian now and then
B) defenately crew stories
More on the hybrids!
And crew stories,too.
Oh- and MOW equipment!
And…