The New Electric Railway Journal
Encyclopedia
The New Electric Railway Journal (ISSN 1048-3845) was a quarterly American
magazine primarily about electric urban rail transit
in North America
, published from 1988 to 1998, with an international circulation. Its name was a tribute to a much earlier magazine with similar coverage, the Electric Railway Journal, published (by McGraw-Hill
) from 1908–1931. The first issue was that dated Autumn 1988. The magazine was published by the Free Congress Research and Education Foundation
(FCF) for most of its run, from 1988 until mid-1996. Starting with the Summer 1996 issue, publication was transferred to CityRail, Ltd., a not-for-profit corporation based in Illinois
. The magazine abbreviated its own name as TNERJ (as opposed to "NERJ").
The magazine's publisher was Paul M. Weyrich
, a noted American conservative and FCF's founder and president. Weyrich was a longtime advocate of light rail transit
and streetcars
. As TNERJ publisher, he penned an opinion column for every issue, and he acknowledged that it was unusual for an American political conservative to support government investment in mass transit, but in the magazine he explained why he believed support for urban transit, and particularly rail transit, made sense and did not run counter to what he considered a "proper definition of conservatism." In the magazine's premiere issue, Weyrich wrote that he was "committed to rail transit" and that "rail transit – all but abandoned in the 1950s as yesteryear's mode of transportation – is back in a major way all across the nation." He also made it clear that, while the magazine's commentary sections would generally be advocating investment in rail transit, he and the editors would not hesitate to criticize
existing or proposed rail-transit
systems when they believed criticism was deserved.
Editor-in-Chief of TNERJ for its entire run was Richard R. Kunz, who had previously worked as Rail Transit Editor of Passenger Train Journal
.
Modes of transportation
covered by The New Electric Railway Journal included light rail
transit, streetcars
, rapid transit
(subway/metro) systems, commuter rail, trolley bus
es and, to a more limited extent, monorail
s and people-mover
s. The change to a different publishing company in 1996 did not change the magazine's focus, as the editor-in-chief and most other contributing editor
s remained the same.
Publication ceased in late 1998, when the issue carrying the date of "Winter 1998" was published, as a result primarily of the death of the editor, Richard Kunz.
and Mexico
as well as the United States, but most issues also had a page or two of non-North American content, occasionally several pages.
Issues were 46–50 pages in length until 1994, thereafter 38–40 pages. The magazine used good-quality paper, and over half of its pages were printed in color. In some issues, 100% of the illustrations were in color.
and George Krambles, a former executive director of the Chicago Transit Authority
(1976–1980).
each had, and a calendar with projected dates of future significant developments, such as the opening of a new light rail
system or line. The annual Status Report and calendar were accompanied by a feature called "Rating the Rails", in which every electric urban transit operation (including the continent's then-eleven trolley bus
systems) was given a performance rating on a scale of 1 to 5 by the editorial team, with 1 defined as "poor; multiple major problems" and 5 as "superior performance" in the original 1-to-5 scale, which was changed to a 1-to-10 scale in 1990. Accompanying comments explained the editors' rationale in cases of very low or very high ratings, or whenever a particular system's rating had changed from the previous edition of the list. One review of TNERJ in a British
magazine said "the worth of" the annual Status Report and Rating the Rails features "seems a little questionable", but overall called the magazine "attractively produced", with "high standards" of editing.
Once per year, the editorial team selected a notable person working professionally in the North American transit industry, for the honor of "Man of the Year". The award was given to someone deemed to have "made a significant positive contribution to the electric transit industry" in North America. Among the recipients was David Gunn
, who had managed large transit systems in Philadelphia, New York City
, Washington, D.C.
, and Toronto
. The 1995 recipient was female, so honoree Shirley DeLibero
was appropriately referred to as TNERJ’s "Woman of the Year".
transcribed most of TNERJ’s 1992–1998 articles about heritage streetcar
systems or topics onto its Heritage Trolley website, where they remain available in 2011.
Starting in January 1994, a monthly television show using the same name as the magazine began airing on the then-new National Empowerment Television
satellite network, co-hosted by the magazine's associate publisher, Bill Lind
, concerning the same topics as the magazine. The program aired on the last Sunday of each month.
As CityRail, Ltd., prepared to take over publication of the printed magazine, a supplementary digital newsletter
called "CityRail" became available by email, offering greater detail of news coverage and more frequent reporting (monthly), as a separate subscription.
In early 2000, a little over one year after TNERJ ceased publication, its former publisher Paul Weyrich
launched a website to provide a place for continued commentary and news reporting on electric rail transit
, which he called "The New New Electric Railway Journal". Weyrich and former TNERJ associate publisher William Lind were regular contributors to the website. The site remained active until 2009 (Weyrich died in December 2008).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
magazine primarily about electric urban rail transit
Urban rail transit
Urban rail transit is an all-encompassing term for various types of local rail systems providing passenger service within and around urban or suburban areas...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, published from 1988 to 1998, with an international circulation. Its name was a tribute to a much earlier magazine with similar coverage, the Electric Railway Journal, published (by McGraw-Hill
McGraw-Hill
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
) from 1908–1931. The first issue was that dated Autumn 1988. The magazine was published by the Free Congress Research and Education Foundation
Free Congress Foundation
The Free Congress Foundation , is a conservative think tank founded by Paul Weyrich. It was based near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C...
(FCF) for most of its run, from 1988 until mid-1996. Starting with the Summer 1996 issue, publication was transferred to CityRail, Ltd., a not-for-profit corporation based in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The magazine abbreviated its own name as TNERJ (as opposed to "NERJ").
The magazine's publisher was Paul M. Weyrich
Paul Weyrich
Paul M. Weyrich was an American conservativepolitical activist and commentator, most notable as a figurehead of the New Right. He co-founded the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank and the Free Congress Foundation, another conservative think tank...
, a noted American conservative and FCF's founder and president. Weyrich was a longtime advocate of light rail transit
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
and streetcars
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
. As TNERJ publisher, he penned an opinion column for every issue, and he acknowledged that it was unusual for an American political conservative to support government investment in mass transit, but in the magazine he explained why he believed support for urban transit, and particularly rail transit, made sense and did not run counter to what he considered a "proper definition of conservatism." In the magazine's premiere issue, Weyrich wrote that he was "committed to rail transit" and that "rail transit – all but abandoned in the 1950s as yesteryear's mode of transportation – is back in a major way all across the nation." He also made it clear that, while the magazine's commentary sections would generally be advocating investment in rail transit, he and the editors would not hesitate to criticize
Criticism
Criticism is the judgement of the merits and faults of the work or actions of an individual or group by another . To criticize does not necessarily imply to find fault, but the word is often taken to mean the simple expression of an objection against prejudice, or a disapproval.Another meaning of...
existing or proposed rail-transit
Urban rail transit
Urban rail transit is an all-encompassing term for various types of local rail systems providing passenger service within and around urban or suburban areas...
systems when they believed criticism was deserved.
Editor-in-Chief of TNERJ for its entire run was Richard R. Kunz, who had previously worked as Rail Transit Editor of Passenger Train Journal
Passenger Train Journal
Passenger Train Journal is an American magazine about passenger rail transport and rail transit, oriented for railfans. Founded in 1968, it was published continuously until 1996, and monthly from 1979 onward, but then ceased publication. After a 10-year absence, it was restarted in 2006 with a...
.
Modes of transportation
Mode of transport
Mode of transport is a term used to distinguish substantially different ways to perform transport. The most dominant modes of transport are aviation, land transport, which includes rail, road and off-road transport, and ship transport...
covered by The New Electric Railway Journal included light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
transit, streetcars
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
, rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
(subway/metro) systems, commuter rail, trolley bus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es and, to a more limited extent, monorail
Monorail
A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track...
s and people-mover
People mover
A people mover or automated people mover is a fully automated, grade-separated mass transit system.The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks, but is sometimes applied to considerably more complex automated...
s. The change to a different publishing company in 1996 did not change the magazine's focus, as the editor-in-chief and most other contributing editor
Contributing editor
A contributing editor is a magazine job title that varies in responsibilities. Most often, a contributing editor is a freelancer who has proven ability and readership draw. The contributing editor regularly contributes articles to the publication but does not actually edit articles, and the title...
s remained the same.
Publication ceased in late 1998, when the issue carrying the date of "Winter 1998" was published, as a result primarily of the death of the editor, Richard Kunz.
Content overview
Each issue generally included about three or four feature articles, plus a news section reporting on recent developments by city, on the aforementioned modes of transportation. Regular geographic coverage extended to CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
as well as the United States, but most issues also had a page or two of non-North American content, occasionally several pages.
Issues were 46–50 pages in length until 1994, thereafter 38–40 pages. The magazine used good-quality paper, and over half of its pages were printed in color. In some issues, 100% of the illustrations were in color.
Opinion columns
Along with publisher Weyrich and editor Kunz, others who contributed opinion columns – generally about one page in length each – on a regular basis included associate publisher William S. LindWilliam S. Lind
William S. Lind is an American expert on military affairs and a pundit on cultural conservatism.-Education:Lind graduated from Dartmouth College in 1969 and from Princeton University in 1971, where he received a Master's Degree in history.-Military expertise:Alongside several U.S. officers, Lind...
and George Krambles, a former executive director of the Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
(1976–1980).
Periodic features
Certain features were included only about once a year. In the Spring issue, a one- to three-page feature called "Status Report" included a table listing all cities in North America served by electric transit, indicating which modesMode of transport
Mode of transport is a term used to distinguish substantially different ways to perform transport. The most dominant modes of transport are aviation, land transport, which includes rail, road and off-road transport, and ship transport...
each had, and a calendar with projected dates of future significant developments, such as the opening of a new light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system or line. The annual Status Report and calendar were accompanied by a feature called "Rating the Rails", in which every electric urban transit operation (including the continent's then-eleven trolley bus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
systems) was given a performance rating on a scale of 1 to 5 by the editorial team, with 1 defined as "poor; multiple major problems" and 5 as "superior performance" in the original 1-to-5 scale, which was changed to a 1-to-10 scale in 1990. Accompanying comments explained the editors' rationale in cases of very low or very high ratings, or whenever a particular system's rating had changed from the previous edition of the list. One review of TNERJ in a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
magazine said "the worth of" the annual Status Report and Rating the Rails features "seems a little questionable", but overall called the magazine "attractively produced", with "high standards" of editing.
Once per year, the editorial team selected a notable person working professionally in the North American transit industry, for the honor of "Man of the Year". The award was given to someone deemed to have "made a significant positive contribution to the electric transit industry" in North America. Among the recipients was David Gunn
David L. Gunn
David L. Gunn is a transportation system administrator who has headed several significant railroads and transit systems in North America....
, who had managed large transit systems in Philadelphia, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The 1995 recipient was female, so honoree Shirley DeLibero
Shirley DeLibero
Shirley DeLibero served as chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas from 1999 until 2004.DeLibero was previously the deputy executive of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and executive director of New Jersey Transit....
was appropriately referred to as TNERJ’s "Woman of the Year".
Beyond the printed magazine
The American Public Transportation AssociationAmerican Public Transportation Association
The American Public Transportation Association is a non-profit organization which serves as an advocate for the advancement of public transportation programs and initiatives in the United States. Since its founding in 1882, APTA has educated the public about the benefits of public transportation...
transcribed most of TNERJ’s 1992–1998 articles about heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcars or heritage trams are a development of the heritage railways that are becoming popular across the world. As with modern streetcar systems, the vehicles are referred to as trams or tramcars in the United Kingdom, Australasia and certain other places , but as streetcars or...
systems or topics onto its Heritage Trolley website, where they remain available in 2011.
Starting in January 1994, a monthly television show using the same name as the magazine began airing on the then-new National Empowerment Television
National Empowerment Television
National Empowerment Television , also known as America's Voice, was a cable TV network designed to rapidly mobilize conservative followers for grassroots lobbying. It was created by Paul Weyrich, a key strategist for the paleoconservative movement...
satellite network, co-hosted by the magazine's associate publisher, Bill Lind
William S. Lind
William S. Lind is an American expert on military affairs and a pundit on cultural conservatism.-Education:Lind graduated from Dartmouth College in 1969 and from Princeton University in 1971, where he received a Master's Degree in history.-Military expertise:Alongside several U.S. officers, Lind...
, concerning the same topics as the magazine. The program aired on the last Sunday of each month.
As CityRail, Ltd., prepared to take over publication of the printed magazine, a supplementary digital newsletter
Online newspaper
An online newspaper, also known as a web newspaper, is a newspaper that exists on the World Wide Web or Internet, either separately or as an online version of a printed periodical....
called "CityRail" became available by email, offering greater detail of news coverage and more frequent reporting (monthly), as a separate subscription.
In early 2000, a little over one year after TNERJ ceased publication, its former publisher Paul Weyrich
Paul Weyrich
Paul M. Weyrich was an American conservativepolitical activist and commentator, most notable as a figurehead of the New Right. He co-founded the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank and the Free Congress Foundation, another conservative think tank...
launched a website to provide a place for continued commentary and news reporting on electric rail transit
Urban rail transit
Urban rail transit is an all-encompassing term for various types of local rail systems providing passenger service within and around urban or suburban areas...
, which he called "The New New Electric Railway Journal". Weyrich and former TNERJ associate publisher William Lind were regular contributors to the website. The site remained active until 2009 (Weyrich died in December 2008).
External links
- TNERJ articles on heritage trolleys archived by APTAAmerican Public Transportation AssociationThe American Public Transportation Association is a non-profit organization which serves as an advocate for the advancement of public transportation programs and initiatives in the United States. Since its founding in 1882, APTA has educated the public about the benefits of public transportation...