From the Dome Car: Train 6 Track 6 (February-March 1997)

 

Introducing—me! With this issue I assumed my new (paid) very part-time role as Associate Editor of CRM, after several years as a volunteer editorial assistant. I’m not sure I liked the announcement of my new role linked to news that the price for the magazine would be going up. But, like Morgan said in the editorial, everything was getting more expensive. 

I stayed in that position until 2014, when a new job demanded more of my time. It was a good ride, working with Morgan and relating to modellers in Canada and other parts of the world. It was always satisfying to help people get their modelling efforts in print for everyone to see and appreciate. Sort of like now, when I am remembering Morgan and the contribution he made to this hobby in Canada. 

Hardly a week goes by without something being said in the media about the coming of the year 2000. Many businesses and others are preparing and planning for the next millennium. It's no different around here. We'll be there too, with proper preparation and planning, publishing Canadian Railway Modeller, a quality, Canadian-content model train magazine that's become indispensable to modellers and manufacturers alike. 

For the past seven years we've planned for, and accomplished, that goal. We've also managed to hold our prices for the magazine steady over the last few years, despite the ever-increasing costs of production and administration. Some of the increases have been ridiculous: today our postal code book—something obviously necessary in our business, especially when Canada Post demands a 97% address accuracy rate—went from $10 to $17 in one fell swoop! 

It's for these reasons that price increases are being announced in this issue. Beginning with Train 7 Track 1, the magazine cover price will be $5.75 and a one year (6 issues) Canadian subscription will be $28.80 plus applicable taxes (depending on where you live). Advertising rates will also be adjusted. 

But those aren't the only reasons for the price increases. In order to continue obtaining quality articles and photographs, we want to be able to pay more to our contributors. Without their hard work there would be no CRM—they make this magazine possible. (And we still won't be paying them as much as they deserve!) 

The price adjustment will also permit us to add a part-time staff person, so I will be able to spend more time on the advertising and publishing side of the business. And I'm very pleased to announce that John Longhurst has accepted a position as associate editor, beginning with the next issue. You may have noticed John's name in CRM's masthead as editorial assistant; he has been helping as a volunteer for a couple of years now, doing editing and proofreading. 

He has been involved in publishing, editing and reporting for 15 years, including a stint as editor of a small community newspaper. He's a fine modeller who is presently building his second layout—an HO scale double-deck operation featuring CP Rail in Manitoba and Minnesota. Some may remember his Modeller's Photos in Train 4 Track 3 and Track 4 taken on his former HO scale 'Grimm Valley Division' layout. 

In John's new capacity, he will select and edit all of the articles which appear in the magazine, something I know he is looking forward to doing and will do very well. 

We realize that no one likes price increases; we certainly don't! But we know that you understand why it is necessary to ensure a solid financial foundation to assure that CRM is around after 2000. The increases have been calculated to carry the magazine over for the next few years, so it shouldn't be necessary to nickel-and-dime everybody on a yearly basis. 

With these adjustments, our long range plans for the magazine can be met, along with other obligations we have to our contributors, readers and advertisers. 

Here's some food for thought—and a challenge! I've just received the Internet version of the monthly 'Railfan News' compiled by Bryce Lee. He reports that there are 34 railways currently operating in Canada, including shortlines and mining railways. I know the majority of our readers—myself included—would love to know where all of the not-so-familiar roads are located and to see what each of these operating railways look like, including types of locomotives they use and how they're painted, etc. There are new railways in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes that some of us don't even know exist. 

So here's the plan: Send us a short description of what's new in your particular area, along with some photographs or slides (yes, we can now reproduce photos from slides) and we' II create a special page in CRM to present these railways to our readers. We'll produce a list of all 34 railways for the next issue so we can all see what is actually out there. The way private enterprises are buying-up the track that CN and CP don't want, the list will only get longer. 

We're looking forward to the coming of spring in this neck of the woods, as I'm sure you are in yours. That's all for now from where I sit. See you in the next issue.