CTT ARTICLES

[FJ and G]

Regarding CTT articles and getting published, I have a list of 7 tips. (I am the editor of "The Military Engineer," magazine):

1. Compile your ideas and the cost/benefits of each
2. Put together a well-written proposal(s) specifying exactly what you hope to accomplish by writing the article and why the readers would be interested in said proposal
3. Email the proposal and perhaps a jpg or chart to illustrate to CTT.
4. CTT then approves or disapproves it and makes some recommendations
5. Do the write up, including all elements (who, what, when, where, why, how), ensure the article flows logically and every detail is covered if writing a how-to. Ensure photography is high quality--well lit with natural-type lighting from several angles and everything is in focus
6. Bounce your article and ideas off someone with a critical eye for details
7. Be prepared for a wait. Magazines with non-time-sensitive material like CTT may use material a year or so later, as they try to plan their editorial calendar and themes far in advance.


dave vergun

[brianel027]

Well I have another idea for an off-shoot story on 6464 box cars. I'd love to know about the "real" versions, when they were run, why they were done and when did they stop being used. For example, the B&O TimeSaver and the B&O Sentinal box cars? I know nothing on those, but would like to... and how accurately did Lionel reproduce their versions. I've seen Pacemaker model box cars with all red doors, red and grey doors, variations in the lettering, but I don't know if the NYC actaually had all those variations.

I know the NYC Pacemaker was often run in unit trains. I've also found out that the "Early Bird" scheme came next... I thought it came first.

I found out that the Reading's slogan "Bee Line Service" was part of a promotion and guarantee to customers that cars would be brought in and out in a set specified amount of time.

Every model train company seems to offer blue Conrail box cars. Truth is, Conrail had one and only one done as a test. There were far many more Conrail box cars done in Penn Central green, though you'd never know it from the manufacturer's offerings. In addition to the regular tuscan color, left over paint from the predecessor lines was also used. Again, there were more CR box cars in EL brown than CR blue.

Anyways, you get the idea... I think it'd be facinating to know a little bit about the real life counterparts of some of our favorite box cars... 6464's or later Lionel MPC versions.

[Anonymous]

I, too, would like to see more articles about prewar trains.... especially, the restoration of them.

Often, you will see "restored to like-new" on the auction web sites. And, the photos appear to be professionally done.

Just who are the best "restorers" of pre and postwar trains, and what methods do they use... or, which methods are the best... i.e paint, decaling, engine tune up... etc. etc.

Yes!!! More articles on the above.

I'd also like to know more of the history of the model railroad items that have been manufactured. For instance, I've been trying to find out when Lionel's 027 track was first introduced... and, if there have been various modifications to it over the years. But, I haven't been successful. One resource stated it was introduced in the early 1900's... but that's all I could find... even though this track system is still widely used.

Is there a good website that gives the history (size, when it was made, who made it, when/if it was modified or improved... etc. etc.) of the various types of track systems made?

Thanks for any information you can give me.

Alan-H

[cheapclassics]

I think we may have touched on a dilemma facing the magazine people. They can only write about what is new, different, new spins on old material, or new discoveries about older trains. Yes, the Lionel 4-4-2 is very popular in starter sets, but how many new articles can be generated about (although I do have an idea for a version of its 2-4-2 predecessor). Early in the history of CTT, there was a very fine set of articles on the 6464 series. Recently there was one on scarce variations. How much more can be done? I do not know. As with many others, I do enjoy reading about areas which I do not collect, such as Flyer and clockwork trains. All toy trains are fascinating, and I do not envy the editors of either magazine.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Anonymous]

Whoa! I have to stand with 'Pease' on this one! This should be a place for
trains, train information, and train opinion. NOT a place for name-calling
or smart-aleck remarks! This is one of the reasons why so many have left
other boards to come here. We should all try to get along and enjoy our
trains, no matter what kind they are.

By the way...SOME of us "old farts" can , and STILL do MORE in one DAY than
most do in one WEEK! So take the nastiness somewhere else.

Say "I'm sorry." and go stand in the corner for 10 minutes.

[Anonymous]

I think that AlanHN needs to apologize to people here! That comment is not needed!
I have some those "classic" trains and I'm only 22! I don't need Viagra! You have a very bad opinion of some people in this hobby! This and greed by the train companies is why the hobby is dying! You sound like some of those people I read over in another train forum. They don't like "classic" or "toy" trains either.

[Anonymous]

I have a Lionel 4-4-2.... they even offer it with Railsounds in some sets. I think I'm in the same ballpark with you, I have never spent more than 250 on a loco. I don't even bother reading reviews for the expensive stuff anymore.

All good arguments there, and if you're running for office, you have my vote, you can represent me!

Now if Lionel will just ship my 027 L&N Berkshire.....

[Anonymous]

BRIANEL

Dave V is right on the money. CTT needs to run Viagra adds to increase the advertising revenue so they'll have the space for those CLASSIC toy train articles for all the old farts that have them,

Alan (LioNelson)

[brianel027]

Mike C., I took no offense at what you or the others said. But I did feel it was important to make what I believe is an extremely important clarification.

I am not at all convinced that the sole future of the hobby is with full scale and command types of trains. Again, I would have to see sales figures. But I wouldn't be surprised if they bear out what I already suspect. There's a lot of talk of the future of trains even being more hi-tech. But that won't grow the hobby or even help it until the technology is A) affordable B) simple to use and set up C) reliable. And right now in my opinion it is none of those things. It's is expensive, not simple to use for a novice and exceptionally prone to failure and unreliable. The many many complaints on failed product bear me out completely. A train engine being returned to whoever isn't much fun for a kid who just got his first train set. It's probably not much fun for the adult who has just got his 43rd train engine either.

The electronics should be something a modeler can easily grow into. Engines that allow the components to be easily plugged in by the owner as their interest in the hobby grows. As will their willingness to devote more discretionary income into trains once they are interested. That doesn't mean though that they'll come to accept spending $600 on a train engine.

I buy a lot of trains, but I will NEVER spend $600 on a train engine, or any amount of money even close to that on one thing. Even though there are modelers who do willingly spend that amount of money on one thing, there are many more who feel as I do.

The train companies are in a battle of trying to out do - and more importantly - outlast the others. Part of this will hinge on sales. But much will come from internal operation, investors, financing, debt, capital investment, owners, etc... things we train buyers often know about.

Overall sales may be up some, but the real battle involves one company taking away more sales from the other company. MTH has a well known grudge against Lionel. K-Line made the statement they wanted to be the number one company. I doubt Lionel plans a new motto which reads "We're happy to be number 3." And I haven't even mentioned Sunset, Atlas, Williams and Weaver - they're in this too.

This competition to outdo certainly helps account for why there is so much duplication of products and innovations. MTH was once leading the way, while others were looking to catch up. MTH had RealTrax. Now Lionel has FasTrack. Atlas 0 is still better, but you think Lionel and MTH will admit that???? Lionel had their new Milk Cars a year or two ago. Now the others have their. Lionel introduced the hidden coupler tab. K-Line has one now. And I could go on and on...

Chrysler Motor Co. has had the right idea... introduce new vehicles that are new, innovative, exciting BUT practical and affordably aimed squarely at the masses. The Chrysler minivan for a prime example of that.

The new scale features-loaded train product naturally generates the most excitement and press - because it's new! And in all honestly, some of the stuff is pretty darn impressive. The Lionel 4-4-2 starter steam engine isn't new. It's not real exciting or cutting edge. But it helps introduce the hobby to far far more people than any scale prototypically accurate offering. And it works and runs well. I bet that 4-4-2 probably outsells them all too. BUT there's no prestige in it either. So you won't see it on the cover of the next Lionel catalog, even though it should probably be there. Same could be said for the K-Line MP-15.

Why you ask? Because the future of Lionel (and the whole hobby) is as much about hi-tech scale innovation as it is about bringing kids into the hobby. And having a selection of product that appeals to a broad-base of modelers. Which means quality and affordable prices much more than electronics and prototypical detail.

The plain Jane 4-4-2 Lionel starter steam engine is every bit (if not more) important as any top line offering.

[cheapclassics]

Brianel,

Please do not take offense at what I said. I am on your side of the fence here. Most of my stuff is O-27, and I must admit I have some self-interest in seeing more O-27 articles. Sometimes I just relay what appears to be happening from my standpoint. I, like yourself, may not like what is going on, but I have to tread a little carefully here.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Anonymous]

To Ogaugeoverlord; (and his staff)

You guys MUST hire Brianel! This guy's great! He could be your
next staff writer! I mean this sincerely! He is able to vocalize the
majority of the operators' feelings here in a balanced, easy-to-
digest manner! Listen to him! You won't be sorry!

[brianel027]

Okay, I need to respond and clarify some things here.

AlanNH: while you are correct that the detailing, realism and operating possibilities today are far improved over the trains of yesterday, I've never had problems with e-units reversing over switches. Very often the problem is not bad trains, but old dirty track.

The reason the older trains are so popular is they DID work well (with a few exceptions like Scouts) AND could be repaired either locally or by the owner. The repair/failure rate on the new stuff has been high (40% I've heard). I doubt the Lionel of postwar days ever had a return rate even half of that.

Even the train magazines have reviewed new scale-sized/electronic features loaded product that was dead on arrival. Every single TMCC and DCS operator I know has had to return product. The OGRR Forum has had no shortage of compalints on product failure. I've never once ever had to send away a postwar engine for repairs. The older trains are not junkers unless they're beat up. I agree with you on the price frenzy over some of the older stuff. But the prices on the new stuff aren't all that attractive either on a list price level. Where people are spending money is when they see blowout prices listed.

David: the surveys do show a marked increase in operators over collectors. But they also show the biggest jump in sales has been with starter related items... ie: lower end non-command stuff. Lionel's own statements have stated the starter product showed the most dramatic jump in sales. That's been stated in both train magazines.

Sure, the newer electronic loaded, scale stuff does sell. And the new features and scale detail has converted former HO modelers. But this still doesn't indicate there are more "scale" modelers. When you see the magazine articles on these basement sized layouts with the latest scale-sized feature loaded product all over the layout, it shows one person is spending a lot of money on trains. With the new scale product, I think it's a case of fewer modelers spending much more money and buying more product than the typical operator.

The majority of train modelers don't have basement-sized layouts, nor can afford to spend thousands of dollars on trains in a single purchase. But that doesn't mean that other traditional train buyers aren't concerned with operation.

Mike C: The big money may or may not be on the new scale items. There is definitely a prestige thing here - and very stiff competition. The train companies are not going to take a back seat to one another if they can help it. That means they will continue to compete heavily on the newest hi-tech developments, regardless of sales numbers... and there's certainly no shortage of blowout prices on high-end scale product either. Which means it isn't selling as well as it should.

The postwar guys and 027 guys (speaking for myself) aren't asking to be at the head of the table. We just want to be included at the table once in a while. The advances in the hobby are wonderful, no question. And on a very large layout, I can see the real advantages of command operation.

When (in other threads) I talk about seeing some new 027-type product, I'm not talking about a flood of new 027 items. Nor am I talking about doing it at the cost of the scale product. I'm talking about one new representative engine to become today's equal to the 1950's Alco FA.

Guys, when you go to an automobile show, it's always the top line, luxury car that gets all the ooohs and ahhhs and gets the most press. But it's the K-car that sells the most. Same with open houses at real estate projects... folks dream of the manion on the hill, but live in a double-wide modular home. From the folks I know, 027 and 0 tubular traditional operators outnumber scale command guys 6 to one.

The new high end trains may also get all the oooohs and ahhhs, and attract the most attention. Whether they actually sell more, I'd have to see some actual sales figures. Dealers I speak with tell me what I already know... the lower end non-command, non-scale starter-types of products sell way better than the high end stuff. My last visit to a train shop: all the Lionel starter cars and non-command engines were gone... sold out. Train-19 cars had to be reordered. All RMT Beeps were sold out. Most of the top line scale items that were on the shelves before Christmas were still there on the shelves.

The hobby is more diverse than ever. Reflecting on that diversity is a good thing. It shouldn't have to come at the cost of excluding anyone. The more folks in the hobby, the merrier. That means wide variety of product at a wide variety of prices. In my book, high end is no more worthier than low end. They're all still trains.

[cheapclassics]

When CTT first started, Lionel was the only major player. K-line was still making Marx and Kusan re-issues, and MTH was just getting started. LGB items usually appeared in every issue. The biggest advertisers were the dealers selling the postwar and prewar collector stuff. Now the market has changed. Garden Railways took the G market away, which makes sense for Kalmbach. The big money is in the new items, and operations rule the roost. There will always be a place for the prewar, the postwar, and the O-27 fans. It is just that the place is not always at the head of the table.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Anonymous]

I've stated this before, and I'm sure Kalmbach doesn't really care, but...

I'LL SUBSCRIBE AGAIN WHEN THEY PUT THE "CLASSIC" BACK IN "CTT".

Until then, I'll pick and choose what magazines I purchase.
Not that it matters.

[Anonymous]

David NEVER kids around.....

And he never makes mistakes either!

[FJ and G]

Lionel Scout. Mom sold it when I joined the Marine Corps. Grrrrr

--------

Oops just noticed that this posted to the wrong topic. Should have posted to: What was your first train set. Oh well, it'll have to stay here for now.

[cnw1995]

I'm a new subscriber to CTT - just a few issues - and I enjoy all the stories - if I can paraphrase brienel, I try to see what I can learn from them if they're not exactly what I'm interested in... I like the ones on old trains too - even if I don't have any of them - like the article on the AF tank cars.

[Anonymous]

Vergun;

You ARE kidding.......Right? RIGHT?!

[FJ and G]

I'm interested in modern stuff & hi-rail & surveys do indicate an increased amount of interest in these areas.

Having said that, I realize and fully empathize with those who like pre/post-war stuff.

My solution would be to make the magazine about twice as thick to include a bit of everything. To thicken the magazine, you need to go like hel* after advertising dollars.

Since a lot of older folks read the magazine, maybe some Viagra ads, pacemaker (not the NYC trains but the heart thingies), and some big cigar ads. I guarantee you that your ad revenues will be more than enough to triple the size of your magazine.


Dave Vergun

[Anonymous]

TEN YEARS AGO.... ALL there was was classic toy trains.

I have several cases full of post war engines.. dont run em ; cant with TMCC or DCS forcing me to have 16-18V on full all the time.

Also they never really worked all that well; as soon as you passed over a switch track, the e-unit would buzz and click the engine into neutral. The detailing on an old 637 or 2046 is by today's standards, well crap!

the F3s of yore really dont hold a candle to the latest F3 Santa Fe by Lionel!

There was no sound system, chuff rates, engineer chatter... remote control tracks were needed at select points that you wanted to uncouple the engines from the cars... yuk.

The accessories ran on vibrating loud motors..

I'd really rather forget those junkers and keep em in a case..

Just me. The rest of you can wax nostalgic all you want. But I LOL when I see some nut at train show trying to sell old F3s for $3500 or more...


Anyone want the guy's name???


Alan
.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to put in my 2 cents worth in support of this thread.

I have been buying mostly newer stuff lately, but I am still trying to learn more about prewar, with the intention of buying something that is consistant with my postwar and modern 027 stuff. A little more coverage of such things would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

You know...The original mission statement of CTT was to preserve and promote
the knowledge of collecting, restoring and operating classic toy trains of ALL brands
and eras. The founders of the magazine were/are TCA members and wanted to
get the message out to the general hobby folks as well as serve as a vehicle for
TCAers who wanted a more diverse and voluminous publication to go along with
the TCA Quarterly. Maybe they need to be reminded...?

[nitroboy]

I'm a avid pre-war collector who has a very limited budget. So, to collect pre-war I came to the conclusion either to rob a bank or restore junkers. So I got into the restoration end of the buisness. I buy the cheapest, dirtiest, worse condition possible and fix 'em up like new. I learned alot from my father who did this in the 70's and 80's and just from 'getting my hands dirty' approach.

There is so much about the restoration side of the hobby that it needs some form of documentation on ways to do things. For example, stripping old pieces for painting. There are a few ways to accompli***his. Boiling in detergent, paint stripper, bead blasting.... I've experimented with all of them to find that bead blasting works the best (at least for me). No fumes, no gunky mess, just quick and easy. But to the hobbiest who would like to do this task, and is new to the restoring ways, a list of the pros and cons for each would come in quite handy.

My vote would be for a reccuring department in the pages of CTT that is devoted to the restoring side of the hobby.

Dave

[mersenne6]

I'd second the recommendation concerning writing articles on prewar trains for the TCA e-train magazine. I've written a couple of articles for them. The most recent one dealt with the prewar AF automobile car. I know Bob Mintz would be delighted to see any article on prewar trains you might be interested in writing. I've got a couple others in the works which I hope to send in before the end of the year.

If you have a real interest in some aspect of prewar and if you have spent time gathering the information, the odds are that you probably know more about that particular subject than most of the people you are likely to meet. With that level of expertise why not have a go at being an author and share your knowledge with others.

[dk99358]

I could go for some standard gauge articles. Even tho I try to read all the articles, some just don't interest me much. I'm sure that someone else is passionate about the subject.

Sask_Tinplater: The TCA has an online mag called E*train. They are always looking for articles and are quite willing to assist new authors. Maybe you could get your feet wet with them.

Dale

[Anonymous]

I have had a subscription with CTT since issue #2. I have a copy of issue #1 that
my late father gave me and that started my preference with CTT. I had been a
subscriber to Model Railroader since the 1970's, but I fell away due to the fact
that they seemed to cater only to HO'ers and most of what they did there was not
applicable to my O Gauge stuff. Great mag, though. I had then become an O Scale
Railroader subscriber in the 1980's in order to try to get the info I desired for my
use. Again, that magazine became a very narrow-viewed publication. In the past
year it has degenerated into really a catalog with three or four small articles (and
a LOT of blank page space) so I have decided to let it go. I continue to stay with
CTT because they have been, for the most part, fairly well balanced in their coverage
of the O Guage segment of the hobby.

However, I must agree that lately there has been a distinct lack of coverage of
"Classic" toy trains. I think that the balance is getting a little lopsided. There are
still MANY PreWar tinplaters out there and I don't think that an occassional bit
piece on tinplate maintenance, operation, or history would hurt the magazine.
On the contrary, it would break the "routine" and maybe, just maybe regenerate
the interest in the hobby where it is needed most. Playing with the trains, not
what costs the most, or has the most dodads, or whose is "better", but actually
PLAYING with trains! The article(s) on table layouts are a step in the right dir-
ection. There have been a few such articles in the past that featured tinplate.
I even recall one that featured a portable tinplate layout that folded into a self-
contained carrying case. It even had tinplate buildings andd accessories! Why
can't we have a few more of these?

As for the latest dodads...How many of the tech-heads out there know that the
"new" issues of classic tinplate locos are built with electronic reversing units,
bells, whistles, and even command control? The new classics are even up-
graded with heavy-duty can motors so they can operate a prototypical speeds.

These are things that CTT should be writing about as well as the latest and
greatest plastic and brass stuff. There are more similarities than one first
realizes.

Ogaugeoverlord and the rest of CTT Staff...are you reading this?

Thanks

[brianel027]

Trainbud, your summation is indeed part of what is wrong with the hobby... the "I, Me, Mine" way of thinking to borrow George Harrison's song title. If George was still with us and was a train guy, he could have written the same song again with much of the same frustration that prompted to write it in the first place.

I am different and I like reading ALL the articles. I learn something from all of them. BUT I know what you are saying. There was a thread on the other forum questioning the logic of wasting editorial space on starter set reviews and articles on holiday layouts. This line of thinking is so narrow-minded and selfish. When someone mentions Williams product, someone else chimes in and wishes it all had TMCC (as if they're are no other options TMCC out there). The final straw for me with the other forum came when someone said they wished 027 would just go away and be dropped forever.

I even enjoy reading the Model Railroader magazine. If you approach it with an open mind, there's information and tips that are easily adapted to our 3-rail trains. But on the other forum, you admit to reading the MR and you get called a "weenie."

The hobby is not about labels. It is about trains, regardless of size or scale. I've never understood how some can just dump on another scale as if it were the enemy? The hobby needs to be more inclusive, not exclusive! People have different incomes as well as different interests and different amounts of space they can devote to a layout. How is it that any of these modelers are any less than another? Besides, some of these scale-sized trains look just as toylike on a 31-inch or 42-inch curve as do the less-than-scale trains on an 027 curve!

It is so ironic that the train forums are filled with ligitimate gripes about the failure rate and high level of returns on command based / electronics loaded trains. The problem doesn't appear to be getting better either. YET the forums are also full of complaints every time a product appears that DOESN'T have the electronics or isn't scale-sized? Ironic huh?

Unfortunately the publishing business is driven by advertising dollars. The folks that are driving the hobby right now are an older audience that wants the high-tech and scale-sized trains. The other big audience is still the postwar collectors. Pleasing your audience is part of any business. Having worked for a newspaper, I can tell you no editor wants to take orders from an advertiser. But an advertiser's recommendations do carry some weight. No publication wants to lose a large advertising account due to editorial content. But subscribers comments also carry weight... any publication likes to keep those guaranteed subscriber dollars. And the larger your guaranteed readership, the easier it is to bring in those advertising dollars.

Whether any of this happens with CTT, well it may to one degree or another... that's just business. One way to get articles you'd like to see is to simply write a letter to the editor. This paper I worked for started running a page of personal ads from a 1-800 dating service. Some of the ads were a little bit out there. We received a small handful of angry letters with subscription cancellations - didn't take much - but the publisher said he wasn't risking losing more, and the ads were pulled.

I think CTT does a pretty good job trying to cover the bases. I wonder if the other magazine would have put a feature 3-part story on building an 027 starter layout on the cover? I'm glad CTT did that. I'm sure some are saying "why didn't they use this or that track instead?"

Granted, there are not many articles on pre-war trains. Maybe if enough folks say they want that, there will be some. The 3-rail hobby has gotten very diverse over the past decade. There are more choices than ever. Look at all the different and non-compatible track systems!!! So folks are more spread out than ever in their interests and how they model. The old adage rings true, it is hard to please everyone!

Your letters to the editor maybe the best tool towards seeing articles you'd like to read.

[Anonymous]

I believe you're right about CTT's response, Jack ~ I just never understood it.
TMCC guys will read what thy want. Postwar guys will read what THEY want; same with prewar guys.
But when you intentionlly leave out one group, even for a short time, what do you think happens to THEIR subscriptions?
I didn't renew my subscription for exactly that reason. Too much NEW stuff in a magazine that proclaims, "CLASSIC".
Now I just visit my LHS and 'pick and choose' what issue I want. I'll change when THEY change.

[Anonymous]

Hi.I'm new at this.Got any tips?