Editor Jim Wrinn
Art Director Thomas G. Danneman
Production Editor Angela Pusztai-Pasternak
Associate Editor David Lassen
Associate Editor Brian Schmidt
Digital Editor Steve Sweeney
Editorial Assistant Diane Laska-Swanke
Senior Graphic Designer Scott Krall
Graphic Designer Samantha Primuth
Lead Illustrator Rick Johnson
Production Specialist Sue Hollinger-Klahn
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Editorial Director Diane M. Bacha
Columnists
Fred W. Frailey, Brian Solomon
Correspondents
Roy Blanchard, Michael W. Blaszak, Al DiCenso,
Hayley Enoch, Justin Franz, Steve Glischinski,
Chase Gunnoe, Chris Guss, Scott A. Hartley,
Bob Johnston, Kevin P. Keefe, David Lustig,
Bill Stephens
Contributing Illustrator Bill Metzger
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©2019 Kalmbach Media Co. Any publication, reproduc-
tion, or use without express permission in writing of any
text, illustration, or photographic content in any manner
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TRAINS assumes no responsibility for the safe return of
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at http://www.TrainsMag.com. Printed in U.S.A. All rights
reserved. Member, Alliance for Audited Media.Railroading has an amazing capacity to tote some of
the most unwieldy cargos, including big jet airliners
They haul what by
train?
he basic premise of any business is
problem solving. In our case, it’s
how to explain railroading to you
the reader. For the railroad indus-
try, it’s how to move big stuff long
distances. The situation is well explained on pag-
es 28-33 with Robert Scott’s story about moving
737 fuselages from their manufacturing location
in Kansas to their final assembly point in Wash-
ington state. That’s a big shipment, and that’s a
long way to carry it. It’s impressive!
I think about that first trip on the tracks for a
new airplane every time I board a plane that
belongs to Southwest Airlines, the world’s largest
operator of 737s with more than 750 in its fleet. I
doubt that any of my fellow passengers know or
care where their plane began its life or how it
moved to completion. But the railroad connec-
tion is a source of delight, and it stirs me to
ponder this thought: Over the years, if it’s been
made, grown, or raised, I would dare say that
railroads have hauled it. That’s resulted in
specialized freight cars, bigger capacities, unit
trains, shuttle trains, you name it.
Throughout the almost 200 years of railroad-
ing, sharp railroading entrepreneurs have risen
to meet the challenges. Are they still out there?
Today’s railroad industry loves standardiza-
tion and conformity. The consumer-driven trans-
portation market has moved high-value cargoes
to trucking, and railroading is primarily about
low-value, bulk commodities. But the railroad
business still has a great capacity to haul big,
strange things, and the industry — at a time
when coal is no longer king and trucking is mak-
ing advances — would do well to seek, court, and
win traffic where it can — even if that load is as
fragile, bizarre, and strange as big jet airliners.2020 TRIPS AND TOURS
We’re busy working with our trav-
el partner, Special Interest Tours,
to develop our lineup of trips for- We’re close to being ready
to announce plans that will
include our popular Colorado tour
in conjunction with the 50th anni-
versary of the legendary Cumbres
& Toltec Scenic Railroad (above).
We’re also looking at European
destinations. Keep watching this
spot, TrainsMag.com, and Face-
book for the latest. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn
COMING THIS FALL
In the works: Heritage unit and
special paint schemes on collect-
ible postcards, see-through Big
Boy poster, 4014 puzzle. Details:
KalmbachHobbyStore.comTrainsMag.com 3FROM THE EDITOR
Jim Wrinn
[email protected]
@TrainsMagazine
@trains_magazineT
Three Boeing 737 fuselages roll down the west side
of Mullan Pass east of Elliston, Mont., on Sept. 17,
- TRAINS: Tom Danneman