I have been given the task of coming up with a name for the Western Virginia Railroad Preservation Society's newsletter, which was originally called "The Back Shop" until we discovered that name was already being used by another organization. I have the new name narrowed down to a couple of choices, but before I pick one, I'd really like to get a sense for what else is already out there, just to try to make sure that the name I pick is unique to our group. Since RyPN's readers seem to represent a good cross-section of North American railroad preservation groups, and thinking it might be useful info for others in the same situation, I thought it would be worth asking here: What is the name of your organization's newsletter?

Richard Jenkins
The Western Virginia Railroad Preservation Society

I just looked at your website and see that you have a roundhouse and backshop plus a set of machine tools from the RRMPA. I think the appropriate name of your newsletter should be "The Lucky Bastards"!

At this time we are still working on a proposal of use for the backshop at Clifton Forge. Unfortunately the roundhouse is no longer with it, having been torn down long before CSX transferred ownership of the property over to the town. The turntable is still there though, in what appears to be excellent working order.

The tools have been moved to the Walkersville Southern Railroad as was mentioned, and we hope to have the boring mill operational by next weekend. If anyone would like to help out you may contact us either via PM or via the contact information on our website.

Andrew Martin
President
TWVRPS

Baltimore NRHS: Interchange
B&O Museum: Roundhouse Review
Baltimore Streetcar Museum: The Live Wire
RR Museum of Pa.: Milepost
Potomac NRHS: Potomac Rail News
DC NRHS: Timetable
Wilmington NRHS: Transfer Table [a tribute to the PRR Wilmington Shops]
Philly NRHS: Cinders
Harrisburg NRHS: Harrisburg Rail Review
and the most distinctive of all, the Central Pa. NRHS, after a PRR passenger train of that name, from the Indian tribe: The Susquehannock.

Grand Canyon NRHS: Canyon Dispatcher

More NRHS newsletters at : http://www.nrhs.com/chapters/index.html

From overseas, The Deltic Preservation Society: Deltic Deadline (which survived some members' motions to have it changed to "Deltic Lifeline", as "deadline" suggested a scrapping track at a time when we were operating them instead....)

Consider that when naming a publication (or website, for that matter), you are not only circulating something meaningful to your members (which accounts for all the "Highballs", "High Green", and similar newsletter names), but something that hopefully puts on a public face to your organization and will have public appeal. Thus, I would shy away from cliches like "All Aboard" or insider terminology like "High Green", but still suggest something distinctive and somewhat obviously railroad-related.

RMNE uses "Along The Line", which was the New Haven's employee magazine name from 1955 or so until the 1960s. We also use the stylized lantern and script title featured on "ATL" from the 50's era.

The name not only pays homage to the New Haven (sort of our DNA at RMNE/NAUG), but is understandable to the non-railroader as well. ADM4 is certainly correct about that aspect-- the newsletter is also very much a "hand-out" printed piece for propsective members and more-than-casual members of the public.

Howard P.

Roanoke Chapter NRHS is the "Turntable Times" Forgive me in advance Richard, (placing tongue firmly in cheek in reference to the appearance of the "Lost Engines") I just couldn't resist. Have you considered "The Oxidation Observer", or maybe "The Corrosion Chronicle" ...............................:)

Our streetcar museum's newsletter is called the Streetcar Currents, which has a double meaning referring to the latest info and the fact that our streetcars are electrically powered.

Thanks!

The Westewrn Railway Museum publishes the Review.

Another name I like is Trolley Fare from the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

But my all time favorite name is the Iron Horse News published by the Colorado Railroad Museum.

Ted Miles

The Black River Railroad Historic Trust’s newsletter is called “The Grip”.

I uploaded it for your reading pleasure at,

http://www.prrllc.com/images/The%20Grip_Winter2008.pdf

Scott

I did a "double-take" at the name "The Grip", having visited San Francisco last month and ridden cable cars. But then I remembered an old SP engineer (who had been a PE motorman) who referred to his satchel as a "grip". Thus, it is an appropriate name for a newsletter, that like a railroader's grip, contains many different items.
For the folks in West Virginia, assuming that their location is typical WV terrain (i.e. hilly/mountainous), how about "Mountain Railway News" or "Mountain Railway Gazette"? The idea comes from an inspirational old country song, "Life is Like a Mountain Railway" (a.k.a. "Life's Railway to Heaven".

Bob Davis
(from a relatively level part of California)

"Observation Platform" is the newsletter of the Southern California Chapter, Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. "OP" for short reference.

Clyde Stoneman
Editor, Observation Platform

My favorite newsletter name has long been the New Jersey Live Steamers "Whistleblast"

The Michigan Transit Museum has the Gazette.
The Southern Michigan Railroad had The Cross Tracks but also published a Memo to Members which has become the Railway Express.
The Toledo, Angola & Western (R.I.P.) had The Trolley Wire.

Thanks Bob for not stealing my thunder... OERM Railway Gazette

Wilmington & Western publishes the "Lantern"

New Hope & Ivyland had an actual newsletter called "The Coupler" (1970's)