Model Railroad /Train Magazine for the younger crowd

[johngraser]

I have a 4 year old that I would like to get a magazine subscription for. I have given him some of my older catalogs that interest him for a while.

He likes playing with brio/Thomas or when I get my (HO / G) trains out.

Does anyone know of a Train or model railroad magazine oriented more for the younger crowd (1 - 18 Years)?

I have a 4 year old that I would like to get a magazine subscription for.

Or would you just recommend Train Catalogs?

John

[Anonymous]

Model Railroader is probably the best magazine for him.

[Anonymous]

Unless you are looking specifically for a subscription (some kids like getting stuff in the mail with their name on it), I would recommend the "back issue bin". My local shop has a seemingly endless supply of back issues from last month back to the dawn of time. Copies are only 50 cents each. They have everything from MR to Trains to RMC, etc, etc. He can pick the ones that appeal to him.

If he goes to the shop with you, this can also be a good way to keep him occupied... [:)] "Go ahead and pick out two copies for today..." while you look at the latest Broadway engine or other stuff you don't want to risk in his hands.

Andrew

[dknelson]

Many years ago Lionel had its own magazine for young kids -- issues are a collector's item now. There used to be a Kalmach magazine for younger modelers called Model Trains. The projects were simpler, the articles were shorter (heh heh -- still longer than most of the ones in MR today however!) and the projects were a mix of tinplate and scale trainset types. I guess the problem is that the readership either dropped the hobby or moved onto MR or RMC so it had no lasting and consistent subscription base, and as Linn Westcott often pointed out,m a true beginner wants to know about everything all at once, and can't wait until his precise questions are answered. That is why there are Kalmbach books.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Back in the 1950s the folks at Model Railroader used to publish a magazine aimed at the younger crowd. The name was "Model Trains" or something like that. The cover slogan was "All Ages, All Guages". Perhaps the time is right to bring back something like that. What about it, Kalmbach?

Ed

[AltonFan]

ISTM that a model railroading magazine aimed at, say the 8-12 year old crowd might be a good idea. And there'd be no reason to limit it to modeling, either-have articles about prototype railroading.

It might be a good way to sow the seed...