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

 

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's published in Canada to boot! That in itself is a grand feat given the business conditions with which small business works under in this country. So, every issue is a bonus. 

Put simpler, imagine if CRM was unable to publish at all! 

But, fear not. With the policies we have in place, the next issue of CRM is coming your way. 'Good things are worth waiting for' is another way of saying 'Be patient'. 

As to the letters we publish in Letters to the Editor, I consider all of them as a form of 'contribution' to the magazine and if somebody in Fox Creek, Alberta wants to express his happiness about reading CRM, we'll likely publish it. Everybody likes to see their name in print; it's a kind of immortality. 

Conversely, we do receive criticism from a few of our readers and, with caution, they are selected for printing. If obvious errors are spotted in article material, we've created our 'Room For Improvement' (RFI) department where reader's letters inform us of flaws they've spotted. 

It all boils down to this: if you aren't happy with something being done here, find a way of helping us improve it. It's your magazine, I just publish it! It could be contributing an article or a photo you'd like to see or as little as sending a renewal before we have to mail one out. Maybe I should send a letter to the editor outlining my beefs! Wouldn't that be interesting! I wonder if he'd publish it? 

There have also been questions about subscription expiry. Rather than indicate a date on address labels and renewals, we've chosen to show an issue number. A full subscription is comprised of one train and six track numbers rather than a volume and issue connected to a date. Like some of our unique modelling techniques, we've chosen to do it differently and are keeping in mind that. 

Although it's sometimes a serious hobby, we've tried to built some fun into it. So the train and track number on your address label tells you in advance which issue you will receive before your subscription expires and your renewal notice is sent out. 

Now, on a different note, here we go again into winter, not that we experienced a summer! Railway clubs become active once more and the business of enjoying our hobby becomes a reality again for most. With the fall weather approaching, I look forward to moving the magazine into office facilities in conjunction with my printer where together we will seek control over our typesetting and design difficulties (part of the reason CRM is behind schedule). 

Anybody reading the masthead will notice that D.J. Typesetting, after producing nine fine issues, has left us and another designer has accepted the challenge. D.J. gave us an incredible performance and it's here that she deserves praise for her work. 

Looking at this issue, I'd say Debbie Magnusson has met and succeeded in meeting your goals as well as ours. Terrific job, Deb, and congratulations! 

Well, folks, that's all there is for now: keep those cards and letters coming. I'm still looking for articles on modelling GO Transit, BC Rail, Algoma Central, Ontario Northland and the TH&B. Maybe I should heed my own ramblings and become an author, eh?