Part of the decline of Trains Magazine, In My Humble Opinion, is the passing of David P. Morgan and more recently J. David Ingles. These two strong editors were the soul of the magazine for years. Also to be considered is the passing of that Great Generation of Authors : Richard Steinheimer, Don Dunscomb, Chard Walker, Doug Harrop, Bud Kneiling, Ken Meeker, Don Ball, and more recently Tom Dill. Also many Eastern railfan - authors whose names escape me right now.
White River Publications has been the savior of several Eastern magazines that were faltering. I subscribed to Passenger Train Journal the 1st time around, and now again since WRP assumed production. Also TRP, which used to be The Railroad Photographer, but under WRP is now known as Trains & Railroads ( of the ) Past. I ALWAYS turn first to Mike Bednar's articles in each issue of TRP; he was a working railfan / tower operator / telegrapher from Lehigh Valley to Conrail to Reading & Northern. Great stories and a history lesson in every one of his articles.