Have you used the Magazine Index yet?

UPDATE as if 2/21/18: We recently learned that the Magazine Index's search function isn't working. We have alerted the correct department about this problem, but aren't sure when functionality will be restored. We will update this post once we know more.

I was asked recently if CTT has any indexes available. The answer is a resounding YES! We have both annual indexes and a comprehensive online index. If you haven't used them before, I'm here to help.

If you're interested in searching a particular year, or perhaps you'd like an index to keep near your magazines, we have PDF files of ALL years of the magazine available, for free, to download. See our list of indexes here.

If you'd like to search a topic, we can help there too. The Magazine Index is used almost daily by everyone on the staff, and it's a helpful tool.

Find the index under 'Resources.'

To find it, visit our website and look at the upper right of the browser window. You will see a link called Resources. Mouse over that to Magazine Index (see photo at right.)

Main screen of Magazine Index

You can simply type search terms into the box, or click on a magazine title under the search box.

ALL of our issues are listed here. And if a back issue is still available to purchase, you'll find a link to "buy this issue" in our catalog.

All issues of CTT are indexed.

Let's say you're interested in track plans. If you simply type in the words "track plan," you'll get a LOT of listings.

General track plan search

However, maybe you only want to search CTT for track plans. If you click on the small Advanced search link that's just under the white search box, you can select from a pop-up listing of magazines. Select "Classic Toy Trains," and your list will be more manageable.

Filtered list of track plans.

It isn't just Kalmbach magazines that are in this index. There are lots of other non-Kalmbach titles too! I find this handy for seeing if an author has written an article for another magazine.

Plenty of magazines to choose from in the list.

NOTE: For the advanced search, you will need to have a trains.com account. (It is free.)

But wait, there's more! *insert television sales pitch music here*

There are also many train-related books that are part of the index too. Wondering what was inside a book of track plans? See if it's listed and find out.

A listing of contents for a book.

What a great resource, huh? Like I said, we at CTT use it nearly every day, and we hope you will use it too. Let's start searching. . .