From the Dome Car: Introducing this blog

 

In 1990, Morgan Turney started Canadian Railway Modeller, Canada’s major national model railroad magazine.  

From then until 2018, he produced 121 issues. The last one came out in summer of 2018.

In each of those issues, he wrote what he called “From the Dome Car,” an editorial about the magazine, various aspects of modelling, or about the state of the hobby in Canada. (And an occasional rant!) 

From 1995 to 2013, I worked with Morgan on CRM, starting as a volunteer editorial assistant before becoming the associate editor. It gave me a front-row seat on the hobby in Canada during that time, as well as a life-long friendship with Morgan. 

In some respects, Morgan’s musings are a snapshot of the history of the hobby in Canada during the time CRM existed—from his position at the centre of it all. (That position being his basement office in Winnipeg.) 

I originally thought it would be as easy as taking a screen shot of each Dome Car, but it turns out too blurry and hard to read. So, I'll copy and paste it instead. 

As for frequency, it will be as I have time and interest. Hey: If the magazine ran for 28 years, maybe I have that much time, too! (Just kidding.) Also, Morgan's schedule could be a bit flexible, shall we say, depending on time, energy, articles and cash flow. So, "whenever" will work for me, too.

Morgan died on Feb. 6, 2025. By way of tribute, I decided to post all of his From the Dome Car editorials for everyone to read. If some future grad student wants to do a dissertation on model railroading in Canada at the turn of the last century into the early 2000s, this will be good source material. And if nothing else, it’s a reminder of a different time in this country and hobby, something to read and reminisce about for us old timers over a cup of coffee. 

However and for whatever reason you read them, enjoy! 

You can read about the creation of CRM here.

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From the Dome Car: Train 3 Track 1 (August-September 1992)

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  It’s sounding like a broken record by now: Morgan defending the tardiness of the magazine. Sure sounds like model railroaders had high expectations for getting CRM on time! Through it all, he manages to keep his cool, although I know the criticism weighed on him—he was doing his best at something he had never done before and with many things beyond his control. Like he said in the Dome Car below, it’s significant there’s any Canadian model railway magazine at all.   I've had some interesting mail lately outlining concerns regarding the type of letters we publish from our readers and about CRM publishing late.   To those few questioning our tardiness, I suggest they read some of our past editorials and letters on this matter of being 'behind'. In reality, we aren't behind. Prior to Train 1, Track 1, our Premier Issue, there wasn't a four-colour, glossy, Canadian content, model train magazine published exclusively for those that model Canadian roads! And, it...
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From the Dome Car: Train 2 Track 3 (Sept.-Oct. 1991)

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This From the Dome Car begins on a sad note with the death of a friend who helped Morgan found the magazine. And a post office disruption caused headaches; for the entire time CRM was published, the post office was a source of many headaches — and one or two migraines! It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of a founding member of Canadian Railway Modeller magazine. Ron Ayers, who's exceptional skill and eye for both photographic detail and business practices, passed away on September 10, 1991 after a brief battle with cancer. Ron was instrumental in helping me from the initial planning stages of CRM and gave of his all while he had his health. I have vivid memories of the times we spent together, and the excitement we both felt during the early stages of developing the photographic aspect of the publication. Although Ron was not a modeller or a railfanner, he displayed a never-ending interest in CRM and was always available when things needed to be done or talk...
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From the Dome Car: Train 2 Track 4 (Nov.-Dec. 1991)

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Morgan gives a shout out to manufacturers who are starting to bring out more Canadian models. He also reminds readers who are anxiously awaiting their next issue that publishing a magazine—almost single-handedly—is hard. There’s the first mention of the roster cards, which would become another product he produced. And he’s looking forward to attending train shows, something that was always a highlight for him. Maybe that's where some of you met him!   As another issue of CRM is distributed by Canada Post, the next one is being put together post haste! We've received a few telephone calls asking: "Where  is my latest copy of CRM?" Hold on folks, it's headed your way. We knew when we started the magazine that it wasn't going to be a 'cake walk' and the  vast majority of our readers, distributors and advertisers are very understanding—for which we are very grateful.   I read in the paper this morning that CN is going ahead with a new $150 million tunnel a...
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