From the Dome Car: Train 4 Track 3 (June-July 1994)

 

There's an old saying in the magazine business: “This publication has something for everyone. That’s why we include some mistakes for those who look for errors.” Well, in the previous issue there was a “doozie,” in Morgan’s words, which he profusely apologized for. (In retrospect, it wasn’t that bad.) And this issue contains the first reference to Red Green of Possum Lodge—Morgan did like him, and tried to keep his stick on the ice. And he made a trip to a train show in the U.S. If Morgan was alive today, visiting the U.S. is probably the last thing he would do. 

And this issue is personal for me; the first time my modelling had appeared in a model railroad magazine. It was a photo from my first real layout, my HO scale CP Rail Grimm Valley Division. I was beyond proud to have created something good enough for publication—and it was my photo, as well! 

If your name is Richard and you entered our sweepstakes contest, chances are you did alright. Our winners were chosen from the more than 800 entries received and prizes mailed to the following winners: Fourth prize of an Excel Railroad Set to Mike Koomen of Belleville, Ontario; third prize of an Xuron Tool Kit to Richard Lord of Port Alberni, British Columbia; second prize of a Paasche Airbrush to Richard Morris of Creston, British Columbia and the first prize of a $150.00 Gift Certificate to Richard Chrysler of Mount Hope, Ontario who named Grass Valley Model Railway Shop in Brantford, Ontario as the hobby shop that he would redeem his prize at. 

We want to congratulate all of our winners and especially those that took advantage of our subscription offer of seven issues for the price of six. Thanks to everyone that entered and a special thanks to H&D Hobby Distributors of Calgary, Alberta for their participation in this, our first contest. 

For all the folks that like to find errors in the magazine, we had a real doozie in the last issue (Train 4 Track 2). Somehow it managed to get by three proof readers and was finally spotted after all 4,300 copies had been printed. The Thursday night proof readers who gather regularly at Warehouse Hobbies are all fired! Seriously though, I am referring to the 0 SHO ME Plans that appeared on Pages 38 and 39 in which the Mikado is referred to as a 2-8-0 when in fact it's a 2-8-2. Anyone looking at the photos and the drawing will immediately spot the error, as will those that read the heading on the contents page which correctly refers to the Canadian National Railways 2-8-2 Mikado from the 0 SHO ME collection. 

Our sincere apologies to the 0 SHO ME people who have given us authorization to reproduce these fine drawings, and to you, our readers who look to CRM as a Canadian reference source. 

On a lighter note, could it be that the article was typeset on April 1st as a cruel joke that managed to slip through the system? I guess we'll never know. We do know one thing: it won't happen again! 

As was mentioned in the last issue, we've arranged to attend the NMRA National Convention in Portland, Oregon and for those of our readers travelling to the event, you'll find us in attendance all week and at Booth 408 during the Trade Show being held on Friday, August 19th to Sunday, the 22nd. We are looking forward to meeting many of our readers as well as renewing some past friendships. I'd be willing to bet that it'll start when we get on the train in Grand Forks, North Dakota for our trip westward on AmTrak. 

And so ends another trip in the dome car and as the famous Canadian, Red Green would say: "If the women don't find you handsome at least they should find you handy". See you in the next issue.














My first published photo!

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