Hi...

When I retired from teaching last June, I thought I’d putter around the house, play with some trains, and write some stuff for Model Railroad News. Well, I did all that and a few other things besides and now here I am, the editor. I certainly didn’t plan it this way but, since it doesn’t hurt so far, I guess I’ll stay with it for a while.

My very good friend and former Managing Editor, Mike Pratt, has had a career opportunity that would have been hard for him to decline. He’s happy with his new situation, particularly since he can help us on special projects and write reviews, too. I always enjoy reading his reviews and I know you do, too, so we’re still giving you Mike’s best.

Meanwhile, I may be the new captain, but I’m trying not to rock the boat. We have a very good publication here, and I don’t have time to fix what isn’t broken. Mike Lindsay, owner-publisher-executive editor-photgrapher-friend, is still firmly in charge. The rest of the Lindsay household stands with him. Some hats got moved around but the show will go on.

What does the editor of MRN need to be able to do? There are three basic qualifications, but others may apply as well. First, I must edit the writing. I won’t say that I’ll never let a mistake get past me, but I’ll try really hard to stop them all. The years I spent correcting English papers should pay off here.

Second, I must edit the images used in the content portion of the magazine. They come to me as raw JPEGs from cameras or color prints from the One Hour down the block. Through the magic of Adobe Photoshop, they must be massaged gently into images that tell stories worth a thousand words each. I have worked in publishing during my teaching years, and before that, I actually worked in print shops. The whole business boils down to Ink On Paper. Even further, it gets down to readability, both text and image.

Finally, I’d have to be a train freak. No problem. I’m a regulation foamer. I’m not the sort that plays tag with the Rail Police, but I do like to chase the real thing and ride on it when I can do so legally. I love to read about trains, watch videos, look at pictures, and comb the web. When people ask me what I’m doing, I draw a sober look on my face and intone, “Research.” I suspect that you know the truth. I no longer play with trains; I’m involved in “product testing”. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Still, being the editor of any monthly publication is something like work, and I’ll need your help. If you point out my mistakes, I promise not to yell at you. Even editors need to be edited. The material I write for MRN is edited by the capable Miss Jennifer Lindsay, #1 daughter of Mike and Karen. She’s an English major and meaner than a junkyard dog! She’ll make a great editor someday. I have hope that she won’t let me off lightly.

If you are one of our regular readers, you should know that you are very important to us. We want to hear from you. Send us a letter or an e-mail if you see something you either like or don’t like. The hardest part of being an editor is to put out issue after issue, like shouting into the darkness, and hear no echo or answering call.


John Sipple
Editor