"Each ensuing number more complete and valuable" - From the editor - overview: 125 years of publishing - Brief Article

Railway Age, Nov, 2001

William C. Vantuono

So intelligent a class of people as those who will read The Railway Age need not be told that the first issue of any publication is attended with difficulties resulting from the inevitable haste, incompleteness of exchange lists, and other news facilities, and lack of voluntary contributions of information and ideas, which come only after the publication is known and has made its friends. While we do not feel that the initial number of The Railway Age is anything to be ashamed of, we expect to make each ensuing number more complete and valuable, and thereto we ask all railway officials and employees of whatever rank, and all other readers, to send us promptly and often any information and thoughts in regard to railway interests of which they may become possessed."

Save for the modern tools at our editors' disposal--desktop publishing, email, the Internet--the circumstances under which Railway Age is published haven't changed much in 125 years. Technology in and of itself doesn't make a better magazine. Rather, it's a commitment to giving you, our readers, information that's useful as well as enjoyable to read. That's something I've learned after almost ten years on the job, the last two at the throttle. (I know--the expression is "at the helm," but this is a railroad magazine.)

That commitment has been passed on through generations of Railway Age editors, like the gentlemen in the photo at bottom left. Long-time readers will remember Engineering Editor Merwin Dick, who worked here from 1929 to 1978, and who also edited Railway Track & Structures, our sister publication. I had the pleasure of working with Gus Welty, who came on board in 1956 and stayed until his passing in 1997. Luther Miller, my immediate predecessor and mentor, joined in 1958 and is in the office just about every day. Hardly a day goes by when I don't learn something new from him about the business we call journalism.

One thing hasn't changed. Our readers remain so intelligent a class of people." And we at Railway Age will in the best way we know how, continue to produce an intelligent magazine for you.

RELATED ARTICLE: And now a word from Tommy Thompson....

As he accepted Railway Age's W. Graham Claytor, Jr., Award for Distinguished Service to Passenger Transportation in Washington on Oct. 17, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson was kind enough to say: "I especially want to recognize Bill Vantuono and the folks at Railway Age for their long-term leadership in the railroad industry. Since 1876--just a few years after completion of the first transcontinental rail line in Promontory Point, Utah--Railway Age has provided its readers with up-to-the-minute information about all facets of American railroading." He said the Claytor Award, which he called the Oscar of the passenger rail industry" was "especially meaningful to me because I'm so passionate about the importance of railway transportation in the United States." Railway Age presented the award to Secretary Thompson in recognition of his exemplary service as chairman of Amtrak's board of directors.

Secretary Thompson himself provided some cogent, up-to-the-minute observations on passenger and freight railroading at the Claytor Award presentation ceremony, which took place at a luncheon concluding Railway Age's eighth Passenger Trains on Freight Railroads Conference, attended by 120 industry leaders "The anti-terrorist measures the railway industry has taken, from establishing a Rail Freight Industry Crisis Center and working with the military to support our military efforts, to increasing security at passenger terminals and increasing inspections of tunnels and bridges, have added and will continue to add to the safety of our citizens, the delivery of vital goods, and the ability of our men and women in uniform to carry our battle to the enemy," he said. "On behalf of President Bush, let me thank you for your service to our country."

On behalf of America's railway industry, thank you, Mr. Secretary.