For some years now, I have toyed with the idea of offering an article in American Bungalow about the importance—and the romance—of railroad transportation during the original bungalow era. Photographer Alex Vertikoff and I have even gone so far as to shoot photos for such an article, or at least we did whenever the subjects fell into our laps. It can be remarkably heady stuff. Many of the depots and train stations were created in the Arts & Crafts style, as were some of the era’s private Pullman cars. And anyone who has been near a steam locomotive knows of the awesome power, virtually and literally, these icons of our past can project. Then there is the personal aspect of it all – the way 20th Century America’s trains provided an up-close, mile-by-mile insight into the landscape—participation, really—and allowed travelers to actually get to know each other in the process.
But it is often difficult to discern what is objectivity and what is sheer fancy, and both Alex and I are known to wax fanciful when it comes to trains. It concerns me that readers who have waited three months for their magazine might not be thrilled to see some of its pages filled with material that, however well presented, in this day and age is not a part of their world. Conversely, in a time where our brains are invisibly penetrated by wireless waves, it might be refreshing to immerse one’s consciousness into the reality of wood and leather and iron and the hot, living breath of steam.
Fortunately, in this age we do have the Internet, so I thought I’d just ask, wirelessly. Your thoughts on including this content—or this kind of content—within the pages of American Bungalow are invited.
For that matter, I encourage your ideas and suggestions on all aspects of the magazine’s content. In magazine publishing as well as with railroads, it’s the squeaking wheel that gets the most attention.
John Brinkmann
Publisher/Founder
American Bungalow
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