Railroad Magazine

Railroad Magazine
Editor Freeman Hubbard
Categories Rail transport
Frequency Monthly
Year founded 1906
Final issue 1979
Company Popular Publications International
Country United States
Based in New York City.
ISSN 0033-8761

Railroad Magazine was a pulp magazine which first published in October 1906, founded by Frank Anderson Munsey. A railroad man born in Maine in 1854, he moved to New York City in 1892, where he authored a few books and published periodicals and newspapers in many cities. The magazine's first offices were located in the Flatiron Building in New York City. At the time of its founding, there was no organized railroad enthusiast movement, and initially the magazine was targeted towards railroaders and retirees.[1] The magazine title was later combined with Railfan to form the new Railfan & Railroad, published by Carstens Publications.

Early years and development

The magazine was published under different names and formats throughout its history. Originally titled The Railroad Man's Magazine, it was the first specialized pulp magazine with stories and articles about railroads. Fictionalized stories of working on the railroad became the cornerstone of the new magazine, along with profiles of current and historic railroad operations around the country. As a boy, the author H.P. Lovecraft is known to have read the entire run of the magazine, from cover to cover. In 1919, it merged with Argosy which became Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine for a brief period before reverting to Argosy, thus killing Railroad Man's Magazine. In 1925, magazine founder Frank Munsey had died, leaving a $25 million gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[2]

In 1929, when freelance author William Edward Hayes announced he was bringing out a new railroad-oriented pulp, the Munsey Company recruited him to edit a revival of Railroad Man's Magazine. Upon the abrupt departure of the editor in chief in 1930, Freeman H. Hubbard took over the post, yet was uncredited on the masthead for many years. In 1932, the title was simplified to Railroad Stories, then changed to Railroad Magazine in 1937. Through the 1930s, the magazine helped grow the organized railfan movement by encouraging communication between enthusiasts, organizing special "fan trip" excursions with the railroads, and reporting on the activities of various clubs and museums around the country.[3]

After December 1942, Railroad Magazine was published by Popular Publications, which purchased the Munsey Company. It dropped railroad fiction after August, 1954.[4] At mid-century, the magazine staff consisted of editor Henry B. Comstock, associate editors K.M. Campbell and Ted Sanchargin, art editor George H. Mabie, and "Electric Lines" editor Stephen B. Maquire.[5]

By the 1970s, the magazine staff consisted of editor Freeman Hubbard, associate editor Gordon T. Wilbur, assistant editor Nancy Nicolelis, "Steam Locomotives" editor Michael A. Eagleson, "Diesel Locomotives" editor Jim Edmonston, "Transit Topics" editor Steve Maguire, "Passenger Trains" editor Ramona K. McGuire, "Technical Editor" Sy Reich, and "Information Booth" editor Barbara Kreimer (although, in truth, Kreimer had left the publication long before, her column featuring a dated photo of her). By this time, the magazine was known more for its photos featuring conveniently-posed attractive women around trains than any editorial content.

Decline and acquisition by Carstens Publications

After years of declining revenue and readership, the magazine abruptly ceased publication with the January 1979 edition, with no mention of the situation. In a deal worked out with Carstens Publications, the venerable title would be merged with their Railfan magazine, and existing subscribers would have their obligation fulfilled with the new title. For the first few years, Steve Maguire continued his "Transit Topics" column, as did Mike Eagleson with "In Search of Steam."

The combined publication continues to this day as Railfan & Railroad, a monthly publication with Steve Barry as editor.

References

  1. ↑ Freeman Hubbard (September 1979). "The RAILROAD Heritage". Railfan & Railroad: 32.
  2. ↑ Freeman Hubbard (September 1979). "The RAILROAD Heritage". Railfan & Railroad: 32.
  3. ↑ Freeman Hubbard (September 1979). "The RAILROAD Heritage". Railfan & Railroad: 32.
  4. ↑ Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine
  5. ↑ Railroad Magazine. September 1951. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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