B&M RR MAG.,1/56:P.B. MCGINNIS BECOMES PRESIDENT;34 MORE RDC's & 1,000 FRT CARS!

Description

Your bid is for the January-February 1956 issue of the BOSTON AND MAINE RAILROAD MAGAZINE. This digest-sized publication measures 15.5 by 22.8 cm and contains the usual 32 pages. The only cover subject that beat Patrick B. McGinnis with the number of cover appearances over the years was the Tin Fish, aka the streamlined Flying Yankee. Here is Pat on his first cover shot, with Herbert Alpert on his right and Oliver D. Appleton on his left. PBM became B&M President on 20 January 1956, but Appleton and his crew seized control back on 13 April 1955, so this was just a formality. McGinnis was a pawn in the game and a damn good one. Besides being a thief, by contemporary standards, he was really a showman and innovator. 55 years ago McGinnis was saying that trains need no more operating personnel than an elevator, if designed correctly from the roadbed up, and he was spot on. I'm pleased to own his B&M 1961 operating rule book No. 1. Anyway, I digress, read all about Patrick in this issue over 3 pages, plus the cover. TALKING THINGS OVER explains new aggressive marketing plans for the railroad on 2 pages as three dinner meetings in Boston, Greenfield and Concord are outlined and those in attendance are named. NEW EMPLOYEES SUGGESTION PLAN is outlined over 2 more pages. If you get the idea that new management was being radical, you are correct. AMONG THOSE RETIRING fills 3 pages plus the rear cover with literally dozens of names and 11 photos. Rats leaving a sinking ship? Probably, but 2 retirements were forced by the BLE's 1955 70-years-of-age mandatory retirement agreement. MORE BUDDS AND FREIGHT CARS details 34 more RDC's and 1,000 more freight cars, all roller bearing equipped. HOW WE'RE DOING shows a profit of ,025,807 for the first 11 months of 1955 versus a deficit of ,250,600 for the same period in 1954. 1955 was an exceptionally good year for North American railroads and the last good year until the 1980's for all but a select few. GOOD SAFETY RECORD IN 1955 is detailed on page 18. WITH THE BOSTON AND MAINE FAMILY fills pages 19-30 and includes 19 photos. Then END OF THE RUN lists about 60 obituaries with names, age, location, occupation and date of death. This magazine is in excellent condition.
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