First Birthday of HAPT's Digital Magazine

One year ago this week!

With a little inspiration from work and some technical adaptations from the Wheelman, this place was born. Some of the gang has been more prolific than others but there are 108 posts to mark the first year. Over time, as technical glitches, computer phobia, digital camera fluency, and life in general settle out, we might have quite a busy showcase one day. It already does what I'd hoped for - share railfan stuff!

Over the year, I've enjoyed having a common a place to share railfan stuff among friends. Links to video, photos, short stories, the whole shebang. I like the pace better than a listserv which has a different purpose. I certainly prefer to type on without worrying about some clown with OCD checking my spelling or the precision of my facts. No one has to read it but some of us like to write more than clipped reports. I do like the therapeutic escape.

It's also been fun to back-track some on the past and to go over trips we've made this year. Whether it's Wheelman's far flung adventures, Fiddler's video or Skull's sighting reports, I enjoy the variety. We've added a couple of "correspondents" who have produced some real gems from remodelling in Danville Jct. to steam in Abilene, KS. All of us hope they continue. The posts sure piled up faster than I would have guessed.

I always have to put a photo on my posts. Finding one that works this time was tricky. So I found this 2007 photo of Maine Central 519 which is quartered at Steamtown in Scranton, PA. The slight sepia effect I got trying to recover from harsh shadows (using "Gimp") gave it a texture from my old black and white days. The fact that it was taken in anthracite country, yet reflects the MEC, suits my railroading preferences. Put it all together you get the past, the present, visual railfanning and wide ranging geographical diversity. That's what this "HAPT Magazine" is all about!

By the way, last year I discovered the Google Reader gadget on my iGoogle homepage. This is a window that will feed you content from any blog you subscribe to. It does not update any editing done once a post is published and photo's are tough to view, but it does tell you when someone has posted something new. Check out the gadget if you get a chance.

BC