If you wanted to read the print version of Railway Age (trade magazine), you either had to convince them that you qualify for a free subscription by virtue of your employment status, or else pony up some cold cash.

I just discovered that they are now offering a digital version of the full magazine, for free, on their web site.

[www.railwayage.com] Once the home page comes up, click on "Digital Version". This is a product that is a complete copy of the print magazine, including the ads. It has functionality similar to .pdf files, but is from Nxtbook rather than Adobe, and does not require any software to be installed on your PC. This is not something you have to sign up for like email, you just go to their web site to read each issue.

There is also the same deal at their sister magazine, Railway track and Structures:

[www.rtands.com]

I have no connection to Simmons-Boardman Publishing, but I do like free (technically, advertiser supported) publications.