Several months ago, Editor Neil Besougloff, in his "From The Editor" column, asked for reader input on what their favorite issue of Model Raolroader was.
I would have to say, without a doubt, it was MR's 60th anniversary issue, January, 1994. It was my favorite for two reasons: 1. I was just getting started into scale model railroading. I had just started collecting track and turnouts, as well as some motive power and rolling stock in the previous year (as well as having been a new subscriber to MR in 1993). I was a sponge; I wanted to know everything there is to know about the hobby. 2. As my screen name implies, I'm an Erie/Erie Lackawanna fan. The article in that issue on Harold Werthwein' s Delaware Division of the Erie struck very close to home for me. I grew up along that same Delaware Division and lived out the latter days of the Erie and on into the Erie's merger with the Delaware Lackawanna & Western. I was out of college and living in Ohio when that article came out. There I rediscovered the EL, as it traversed Ohio and Indiana at it's west end. So, that article was not only loaded with new information for me, but it featured a layout that modeled my favorite railroad.
So I ask, what is your favorite issue of MR?
Tom,Maybe I'm over qualified to answer that simple question since I started reading MR when I was around 7 or 8 or around 60 years ago and I still read it monthly just as soon as it arrives at our local Wal-Mart.
Favorite issue..Ok.. The issue that had "A railroad you can model the Aberdeen & Rockfish" in the early 60s simply because that article started my love for short lines.
There are other issues that's been my long time favorites but,we won't go there.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Easy peasy. August, 1957, the first issue of MR I ever bought. It featured the O scale layout of the Houston Model Railroad Club. SP all the way.
Next favorite. November, 1958. That one featured the OO scale Norfolk & Ohio of Carl Appel, who scratchbuilt a number of N&W steam locos.
Andre
My fav would have to be the April, 1990 issue. I was getting back in the hobby after a few years off and was modeling in N scale. This was the first issue I bought after coming back and it featured John Coots Gateway Transportation Co. in N scale. John also owned N Scale of Nevada and at that time I was busy buying his retro-frame kits. It just blew me away. Not to mention the Paint Shop article on Soo Line's new red paint scheme.
The Paint Shop column needs to make a comeback!
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
I started getting Model Railroader in 1994. Don't remember how that happened or anyone else for that matter.
My subscriptions weren't a steady stream. A few are in different years apart within 2-3 but sometimes more. I got them to get the free issue and that's it. My current ones started in 2012 and continuing.
My favorite magazine is the September 1996 with the Cat Mountain and Santa Fe industrial branch.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I read MR from when I was in Jr High (they had it in the Holmes Jr. High library) probably starting around 1973 and right through into the early 1990's. But heck if I can remember dates of the issues! Some favorite articles were David Barrow's Cat Mountain & Santa Fe and David Tagsolds Rio Grande.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
December 1997, the first issue I purchased. One of my favorite project layouts, the Northwest Timber Co. was started in that issue. There's also an article on building BN 6430 Hustlemuscle. And of course, the best column we dont have anymore, Paint Shop.
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
December 1971. (It was my second issue bought one day after November 1971.) I loved the East Broad Top trackplan. For a long time I though about building an EBT layout. But it wasn't the EBT I loved so much as the layout with the single track wandering through the countryside. Eventually, that led me to the Maryland & Pennsylvania RR.
My second favorite is the July 1976 issue.
Paul
January 1959--25th Anniversary issue.
Ed
Personal favorite was the all Shays and narrow gauge theme issue some time in the 1970s. I believe either Russ Larson or Jim Hediger said it was one of their poorest sellers ever.
I'm not sure I can say any issue was my favorite, but I can think of articles that really stuck with me over the years.
For some reason, kitbashing a BL20-2 in March 1997 has been a project I've wanted to tackle for the last 20 years, but haven't been able to justify for a lot of reasons...like...what am I going to do with a BL20-2.
7j43k January 1959--25th Anniversary issue. Second that Ed! I was only 10 at the time. Great color fold-out spread by John Allen. Also a really fine article by Jack Work, scratch-building a CP caboose. A pretty nifty cab, bay-window and coupola. I aways wanted to build it, and finally did in the 1990s. Ed
Second that Ed! I was only 10 at the time. Great color fold-out spread by John Allen. Also a really fine article by Jack Work, scratch-building a CP caboose. A pretty nifty cab, bay-window and coupola. I aways wanted to build it, and finally did in the 1990s.
There have been several. Of course they have featured the Western Pacific.
But I am sure looking forward to the APRIL ISSUE.
I bet you have a dandy in store for us. Right Br. Otte ???
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
I have been reading MR since 1956 and there have been so many great issues but if I have to pick one single issue I have to agree with IRONROOSTER and pick the December 1971 devoted largely to the EBT.
I had recently discovered the Maryland & Pennsylvania RR when MR started their series on the Ma&Pa (Manchester & Paradise) based very loosely on the real Ma&Pa shortline. The series was amazing building that project railroad and interspursing the series with plans and info on the real railroad. They just don't do stuff like that anymore!
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
It's difficult to recall what was in which issue, as there were so many good ones. For some reason, though, I'm kinda partial to the February, 1980 issue.
Wayne
My favprite issue was the March 1989 issue that featured my photo on the cover and inside for winning first place in the annual photo contest. I guess the $1000.00 prize influenced my choice!
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
Toughfy indeed. I guess it might be the 2004 aniversary edition with all the different layouts. But, my favorite articles are on the Utah belt.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Easy one for me; I'm an inner city freight ops guy much like the current Beer Line being featured. All-time favorite was a first cousin to that, the Kingsbury Branch of the Milwaukee Road in April 1975. In fact, just bought a couple o' copies 'cause I lost my original.
I cannot identify a _single_ favorite edition however my favorites recurring editions are the annual "Great Model Railroads". I have each one of those from 1993 to 2017.
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
The next one.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
This question is similar to those that ask "what is your favorite movie or favorite song". The response depends to some extent on the age of the individual. For me, my favorite issue of Model Railroader remains the March 1963 issue that featured John Allen's Gorre and Daphetid. I was 13 at the time and only recently discovered through MR and RMC (found at the local newstand) that there actually was an adult hobby called Model Railroading. The Gorre and Daphetid just blew me away. I must have read that article several hundred times and examined the photographs like a spy satellite analyst. Everytime I looked at the photos I found something new.
I like them all.
Russell
The Dec 2003 one and the Oct 2006 one.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Very true.
I forgot to mention the Dec 2003 edition featured a look at Eric Brooman's Utah Belt Layout.
I thought that was pretty cool.
My answer may seem odd to quite a few, but my favourite issue was the first issue I ever got hold of. I don´t remember which issue it was nor do I remember the exact contents of it - only the year is in my memory - it was 1969!
Reading and understanding was a challenge to this 13-year old at that time. I had English lessons for three years only and was confronted with so many new words that no dictionary would explain. However, the issue opened a completely new world of model railroading to me, it really took me to the moon, while Earth was my Marklin tinplate train set.
That moment I became a "serious" model railroader.
When they built the Virginian! Coal mining on a 4x8, with a yard, expansion possibilities, tunnels, and inclines. It had it all. While 4x8 is universally panned by more advanced modelers, I thought this kit had enough features in it to serve as a long term operational interest to a beginner.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
September 1978, featuring the Arcade and Attica Railroad.
Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/