endy Williams, our art director, came up with not one but two front covers for the January issue. The first, reproduced here, salutes the "Railroad Worker," whom we declared to be the Railroader of the Century (Highlights). We were just about ready to go to press when news of the Canadian National-Burlington Northern and Santa Fe megamerger agreement rattled nerves from Norfolk to Omaha. On Dec. 20 we ordered a new cover on what could well become the story of the decade.

	After the CN-BNSF megamerger news broke, Railway Age ordered the design of a new front cover on what could well become the story of the decade. Pictured is the first cover.

Whether the "colossus of roads" envisioned by CN's Paul Tellier and BNSF's Rob Krebs will ever materialize is a question that railroad analysts were furiously debating by phone, fax, and e-mail in the waning days of '99. The merger could be vetoed by nervous CN and BNSF stockholders, who saw the value of their shares slide after the news was leaked the weekend before Christmas. Then there's the Surface Transportation Board. Even if it can find nothing intrinsically evil about an end-to-end merger of giants, STB could mix in enough conditions to make the transaction a too-bitter brew for the principals.

If prospects for the proposed new North American Railways get really serious, look for Union Pacific to get really serious about an eastern partner.

Feb. 1, 2000, will be the 42nd anniversary of my joining the Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp. Following a long-time plan, I have resigned as chief editor of this magazine effective that date. William C. Vantuono, currently executive editor, will be my eminently able replacement. This is my last column, though I will continue to be associated with the magazine as senior editorial consultant.

Bye, now.