Well the demise, due to technological issues, of the comprehensive model train index on this website is to be regretted, and was thoroughly hashed over in another [now locked] thread, but this posting is only related to that topic and suggests to Kalmbach and MR some improvements to just the Model Railroader magazine annual index, paper version and PDF. And that is, that some way be found to integrate the special issues, particularly Great Model Railroads and Model Railroad Planning, but perhaps also the other annual special issues, into the index.
Whether they each get their own "little box" for the index, or are integrated but marked in some manner, I have no opinion.
Without the online index articles in those special issues become almost unfindable -- and the mind plays many tricks as to where an article you are sure was printed, actually appeared.
I suppose similar comments could be made about the Trains magazine annual index and the special issues of prototype stuff as well, but my primary concern is model train articles.
Dave Nelson