Western Railroad Discussion > Railfan Magazine Where For Art Thou ?

So , is Railfan Magazine, Trying to become like Extra 2200 South ? A distant memory ?

Has anyone seen a New Issue lately ?

A buddy of mine just received a copy. How long has it been sine the last edition??
Pete

There were printing issues in the wake of Sandy. I believe they missed their printing time slot due to no power in the office to complete the issues. The printer worked them in around other printing projects.
Gary

Posted from iPhone

SN711 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There were printing issues in the wake of Sandy. I
> believe they missed their printing time slot due
> to no power in the office to complete the issues.
> The printer worked them in around other printing
> projects.
> Gary
>
> Posted from iPhone


That sounds so much like what Extra 2200 South, Flimsies, all had their excuses , and our Money

miralomarail Wrote:
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> That sounds so much like what Extra 2200 South,
> Flimsies, all had their excuses , and our Money

I know the editor personally, and they are struggling to catch up. They've announced it on Trainorders that they will be late for a few issues until everything gets caught up.

I really think magazines are going to be trouble because of the online stuff. Just like the newspapers are already having a tough time. Just think about this for a moment - when was the last time you saw a person under the age of 35 reading a newspaper?

I was wondering the same thing. I just subscribed a few months ago and nothing yet.
Stan

Steve Barry posted a week or two ago that they'd be catching up over the next few months.

Storm knocked them off their proof review, they lost their slot at the printers, and had to wait.

FWIW, I received both the November and December Railpace issues on the same day. No mention of the reason, but I'd suspect it was the same storm - printer - timing slot problem.

It's been months since I reeived my last issue, and then yesterday I receieved a renewal notice. I'm debating whether or not to renew.

Many under 35 are not even informed about anything. maybe they should try reading. At any rate Sandy disrupted everything in its wake. No doubt the cause of a late magazine. There is still a lot of clean up and rebuilding to be done.

fehorse1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I really think magazines are going to be trouble
> because of the online stuff. Just like the
> newspapers are already having a tough time. Just
> think about this for a moment - when was the last
> time you saw a person under the age of 35 reading
> a newspaper?

fehorse1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I really think magazines are going to be trouble
> because of the online stuff. Just like the
> newspapers are already having a tough time. Just
> think about this for a moment - when was the last
> time you saw a person under the age of 35 reading
> a newspaper?

I'm under 35 and read the newspaper daily, granted the "E" version on an iPad...

R&R was already a month late when Sandy came to town.

I know I won't be renewing. I still suffer from X2200S syndrome!

Rob

Posted from iPhone

Not exactly on topic, but I think that Railfan & Railroad needs to consider whether it can still be a breaking news publication, or continue to focus on in depth reports about regions (like Kansas City ops) mixed with some historical stories.

Having a six to eight week lead time is tough to overcome for breaking news, etc.

Same criticism could be made of Trains magazine, but I think they make better use of their website

A friend inquired and was told they are in the mail which probably means the mailing service so should be hitting.

My own experience in business is you have to get ahead of these things quickly at all cost which hopefully they can do moving forward, I had several cases where we did not and lost customers are hard to retrieve.

Bob

I really miss "Flimsies." My favorite "handle" and I never knew his real name was "FI'ed and evicted." You guys who know law enforcement and some of you who have been "contacted" know what an FI card is.

Chill Tom (and the rest of you naysayers)! They'll get back on track, give them a chance. If you don't want to renew until then, buy it on the newstand or at your local hobbyshop.

KC

GRNDMND Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chill Tom (and the rest of you naysayers)! They'll
> get back on track, give them a chance. If you
> don't want to renew until then, buy it on the
> newstand or at your local hobbyshop.

Or not at all!

Rob

Posted from iPhone

miralomarail Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So , is Railfan Magazine, Trying to become like
> Extra 2200 South ? A distant memory ?
>
> Has anyone seen a New Issue lately ?


Their homepage (in very, very small font) has a news feed updating the status of the issues. I re-subed back in July and they said I would start with the November issue, nothing received yet.

miralomarail Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> That sounds so much like what Extra 2200 South,
> Flimsies, all had their excuses , and our Money

Remember CTC Board from the late 1980's and early 1990's? I understand, but have never been able to confirm, that Dale Sanders got the nickname "Whale Slanders" because of CTC Boards chronic lateness. And that was about the time he, Carter and Hemphill were involved in "MDT". All I know is that there were some VERY irate fans because of the magazines extreme tardiness. To appease the masses they did come out with some great issues (Milwaukee Road "Lines West", WP) during those years but they were too few and far between. "Flimies" helped by filling in the info void during that era.


Allen



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/12 12:31 by bradleymckay.

I miss Rail News. It was great back in the day.

Russell Honey
Springfield, MO
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