Classic Trains, The Magazine

Classic Trains is another magazine publication from Kalmbach Publishing. The most recent of Kalmbach's magazines, it has only been printed since 2000. Furthermore the Classic Trains is only quarterly so it is run only sparingly throughout the year. Having said that, however, it is very interesting to peruse and read the feature stories especially for railfans and historians as it covers the “Golden Era” of American railroading from the 1920s through the 1970s.

For instance, Classic Trains predominantly highlights the famed "fallen flag" railroads and their day to day operations from differing types of steam locomotives to iconic streamlined passenger trains like the 20th Century Limited or Super Chief.

If you are not familiar with the term "fallen flag" to describe a railroad for historians and railfans it is a name all too common describing American railroads whose corporate name has been dissolved either through merger, bankruptcy, or liquidation (just a bittersweet fact of the free market at work). At one time in the United States there were nearly 140 Class I railroads (or those with at least $1 million annual operating revenue at that time) and today these are commonly known as the fallen flags or “classic” railroads. The older folks reading this can remember almost all of these in person, from the legendary Santa Fe with its famous Warbonnet paint scheme to the mighty Pennsylvania and this country’s first common carrier, the Baltimore & Ohio.

Most of the fallen flags remembered today operated roughly until the 1970s before bankruptcy and mass-mergers (which began in the 1950s with the Norfolk & Western purchase of the Virginian Railway) did many in and dwindled the Class I numbers to just a handful. While the glory days of railroads (when they were earning the most profits) extended from roughly the late 19th century to just after WWII, ask most railfans and the time period with which these railroads are best remembered extends from roughly the 1940s to the 1970s when the railroads began switching from steam locomotives to diesel-electrics (commonly known as “diesels”) and paint schemes and emblems abounded, giving each company its own, personal identity with which folks could relate to.

So, if you were not around to witness the "Golden Era" or would like to simply learn more about day-to-day operations or the industry prior to the 1970s Classic Trains really is a great resource for such.

I will say that I have never purchased a subscription to the magazine myself. However, I have picked up copies every now and again and must say they are very much worth reading and most railfans and historians, as well as anyone out there interested in the classic days of our country’s rail industry would find the magazine enjoyable not only for its articles but also for the incredible pictures included within it.

In any event, if you are perhaps interested in purchasing a subscription to the magazine please click on the link below which will take you to ordering information (by clicking on the link you can also learn more about the magazine from Amazon.com and what subscribers, or those who have purchased a copy of the magazine, think of the publication). However, before you do so, you may want to either purchase or at least peruse through a copy of the magazine to be sure that it is worth your investment. Almost all large newsstands and bookstores carry Classic Trains so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a copy.