Kalmbach has sold the train-related assets (including MR, Trains, and Classic Trains) to Chattanooga-based Firecrown Media (publishers of FLYING, Plane and Pilot, Boating and Freightwaves, among others.
Craig Fuller, the CEO of Firecrown, commenting on the Freightwaves site about six hours ago about the acquisition, noted
Firecrown plans to retain all of the editorial and content resources of the former Kalmbach Media brands
Does Kalmbach still have any non-train related assets?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
It seems that all they kept was Discover Magazine and perhaps some other collateral that came along when they bought Discover circa 2011.
There is nothing constant in this world but change. I think a fresh take on the Magazine might be good. I always thought that they had a opportunity to grow the circulation of the magazine with a decent sales and marketing program but it seemed Kalmbach wasn't all that interested.
Overmodwhich I take to include the various forums. It will be interesting to see what develops.
None of Firecrown's current magazines/sites seem to offer forums. Just comments on articles and maybe some facebook/insta/twitter content.
*shrugs*
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Overmod Kalmbach has sold the train-related assets (including MR, Trains, and Classic Trains) to Chattanooga-based Firecrown Media (publishers of FLYING, Plane and Pilot, Boating and Freightwaves, among others. Craig Fuller, the CEO of Firecrown, commenting on the Freightwaves site about six hours ago about the acquisition, noted Firecrown plans to retain all of the editorial and content resources of the former Kalmbach Media brands which I take to include the various forums. It will be interesting to see what develops.
which I take to include the various forums. It will be interesting to see what develops.
The way the Trains Forum has been malfunctioning lately, either the new management will update or more likely discontinue it
"Just fade away."
Has Firecrown bought out other pubsor other businesses? If so what has been their action with them? We all know buyouts more oftern than not end up being a negative result. Just look at GE and United technologies.
charlie hebdo The way the Trains Forum has been malfunctioning lately, either the new management will update or more likely discontinue it "Just fade away."
blue streak 1 Has Firecrown bought out other pubsor other businesses?
Has Firecrown bought out other pubsor other businesses?
Flying magazine has been a recent acquisition, they're doing better with than Bonnier in terms of publication quality. They still have many of their long term columnists, notably Peter Garrison whose first article was published in 1968.
I have some concerns, but not panicking.
I do feel a twinge of sadness seeing the Kalmbach name go away, with my first exposure being the June 1964 issue of Model Railroader.
My understanding is that Firecrown itself isn't even four years old yet; Craig developed it out of the analytics business that was Freightwaves. So there is a certain enthusiast flavor to what they have, combined with an origin in the practical transportation business.
Hope David and Rosemary will Approve?
" Weep Not for Sacramento Northern. "
Trains, 1959.
Thank You.
First issue I read of Model Railroader, agev 10, 1942. Trains, 945 or 1946. L'll Miss rhe continuity but am willing to assume the staff womn't let quality slip with any of the magazines.
But see my comment on the Classic Trains forum.
Well there goes a great set of forums down the tube|
blue streak 1 Has Firecrown bought out other pubsor other businesses? If so what has been their action with them? We all know buyouts more oftern than not end up being a negative result. Just look at GE and United technologies.
If Firecrown understands the business, and in my opinion whoever's been running Kalmbach the past several years apparantly didn't, then things should work out all right in the end.
The hobby publications business. especially the rail-hobby portion of it, is alive and well for those who know what to do with it and understand the audience. Look at a major Kalmbach competitor, White River Productions for example. Their business has been growing while Kalmbach's has been shrinking. Kevin EuDaly at White River understands the business and it shows.
In my opinion the forums are the best part of the deal as they allow for interaction among people who share a common interest. Stand alone magazines without an interactive online presence wouldn't work in this day and age. Hopefully Firecrown understands that and promotes the forums. Alternatively they could swing everything over to the Trains Facebook page which might actually be the better way to go.
UlrichStand alone magazines without an interactive online presence wouldn't work in this day and age. Hopefully Firecrown understands that and promotes the forums.
Good point, but to bring up White River again they've got a minimalist on-line presence with their publications and no forums, and they're still growing. I wish they DID have an on-line forum but they don't. It doesn't bother me much.
"O Gauge Railroading" magazine has an on-line forum but I don't care for it much, it's not as concise as the Kalmbach forums are and honestly a bit confusing.
White River has a fairly robust online presence on Facebook. Perhaps a stand alone forum would therefore be redundant.
I hope Firecrown doesn't transition the forums to Facebook, have very strong reservations about interacting with that site.
Erik_Mag I hope Firecrown doesn't transition the forums to Facebook, have very strong reservations about interacting with that site. I don't do Facebook myself. I tried it a few years ago and found myself blocked and only after a week! I have no idea why, all I did was casually converse with another Facebook user with no obscenities, political comments, or anything even mildly offensive. I've never tried to get reactivated and won't. I can look in on Facebook sites from time to time but that's as far as I'll go. If the Forums go Facebook I'm gone.
I don't do Facebook myself. I tried it a few years ago and found myself blocked and only after a week! I have no idea why, all I did was casually converse with another Facebook user with no obscenities, political comments, or anything even mildly offensive. I've never tried to get reactivated and won't.
I can look in on Facebook sites from time to time but that's as far as I'll go. If the Forums go Facebook I'm gone.
I would be ok with it migrating to Facebook. I'm there anyway...one advantage would be that forum members would be more able to converse on a number of topics.. most of us have interests outside of trains..why not experience one another as complete human beings?
UlrichI would be ok with it migrating to Facebook. I'm there anyway...one advantage would be that forum members would be more able to converse on a number of topics.. most of us have interests outside of trains..why not experience one another as complete human beings?
I have found the Facebook Police to be even more capricious than Kalmbach has been in running this forum
BaltACD Ulrich I would be ok with it migrating to Facebook. I'm there anyway...one advantage would be that forum members would be more able to converse on a number of topics.. most of us have interests outside of trains..why not experience one another as complete human beings? I have found the Facebook Police to be even more capricious than Kalmbach has been in running this forum
Ulrich I would be ok with it migrating to Facebook. I'm there anyway...one advantage would be that forum members would be more able to converse on a number of topics.. most of us have interests outside of trains..why not experience one another as complete human beings?
That's interesting.. alot of people say that, but I haven't experienced it myself. Personally I stay away from political discussions or anything that might serve to inflame. Not interested in online fighting.. just sharing of interests and work related stuff.
BaltACDI have found the Facebook Police to be even more capricious than Kalmbach has been in running this forum
I know of folks who have gotten dinged for year-old posts.
Most of the FB stuff is bots anyhow. Use the wrong keyword and zap!
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Erik_Mag I hope Firecrown doesn't transition the forums to Facebook, have very strong reservations about interacting with that site.
Me too.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
If this forum goes to Facebook, I'm done. I don't want anything to do with it.
Well then..that leaves only me and 2.9 billion others who use it...I guess it's not for everyone...
I too would very much miss the forums. I don't often post but read a lot. Technical problems aside, its the best thing since USENET decintigrated. I refuse to go to Facebook, X, Instragram ect. for a number of reasons, one of which is that I over 22 years old. Hopefully it will all work out. If it goes the way of the Espee, I'm sure gonna miss you folks.
David
I also don't see the need to register for an app, such as Facebook, to use the forum.
"Disruptive technology"
The problem was a shift in leisure time activity and publishing due to digital technology. Getting existing cost structures to work with new revenue models is really hard, going on impossible. Add the whammy of Boomers hitting the drop zone and it is amazing they held on as long as they did.
Hopefully new ownership can stabilize the product lines.
spsffanI refuse to go to Facebook, X, Instragram ect. for a number of reasons, one of which is that I over 22 years old.
Most people who use those apps are probably at least twice that old.
Have you ever honestly checked them out? Plenty of railfans on those platforms. Forums are all but dead.
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