Who also subscribes to Trains?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I was just wondering how many of us MRR’s subscribe to Trains as well. I got an offer to subscribe and am going for it because I have the dreaded trains on the brain disease.

For those of you that do subscribe to Trains, do you often find modeling inspiration in the magazine?

Regards to the list, Derek

2

I subscribe to Trains and MR and have found it to be a valuable source of information, modeling inspiration and just interesting reading about railroading. I also find the railroad news articles interesting and they keep me abreast of what’s happening in the world of trains.

Joe

3

I subscribe to Trains as well as MRR. I like to see the new things that are out there and I do some train watching while I travel. I also used to get Garden Raliroading when I was thinking of building a garden RR

4

I should subscribe but,I buy a issue without fail every month…I have found several articles that could be used in modeling.I especially like the articles on short lines.

5

I’m in the process of switching my modeling focus to a more local (to me) Class II Rail Road, Pan Am.

So in the future, I hope to see some article(s) on Pan Am.

6

I buy them sporadically on the newsstand. I probably should subscribe. I don’t buy for modeling so much as stories/articles that interest me.

Enjoy

Paul

7

I’m an “on -a-again-off-again” subscriber, like I am with MR. There used to be a lot of stuff on line to read about prototype railroading, but so many have gone to “subscriber only content”, just like Trains and MR. As far as inspiration for modeling, that doesn’t take much for me, I see something that interest me, or something that sparks a “why didn’t I think of that” thought, I start planning in my mind how I could model it.

Mike.

8

I subscribe, but… like Paul. I’m more interested in the articles especially on short lines.

Jarrell

9

I subscribe to both as well. I haven’t been inspired to model anything I’ve read about in Trains yet, but like other posters, I have a great interest in many things railroad-related. I have gotten modeling ideas from books I have, such as Civil War Railroads, by George Abdill, and Maury Klein’s 3 volume history of the Union Pacific. Subscribing to Trains enhances my understanding of what I see here in Klamath Falls, where I’m lucky enough to live less than a mile from the UP mainline. The UP has given trackage rights to BNSF and Amtrak, so I can watch dozens of trains every day.

Will.

10

I’ve subscibed to both for about a decade now. I like the magazine on its own merits, not as a source of modelling inspiration. The don’t often have New Haven related stuff, but the do often talk about the Valley Railroad, my full-sized inspiration! Bob Walchart, our Maintenane officer, is a frequent contributor to the answers in the Ask Trains column.

11

I subscribe to both MR and Trains, and I also highly recommend Railfan Photographer.

12

I subscribe to both. While I don’t always find inspiration in Trains for modeling per se, I do frequently find information on prototype operations that can be incorporated into my layout.

13

I have subscribed to MR since the early 1960’s, along with Trains and I later added Garden Railways when I dug up the backyard a few years ago. I dropped Garden Railways a few years later as it didn’t meet my needs (I still have the garden railroad). Trains the past few years has also not held my interest and I dropped the sub on it and just pick up copies that have articles of interest for my modeling at the Local dealer.

Also I notice a trend of the dealers now to stock modern diesels (like those of Kato and others) and not so much diesels of the era I model. So I spend less time at the local hobby shops and more time looking for stores in the US that might have what I want in stock.

So to sum, I have a large inventory of diesels used in late 1980’s and first part of 1990’s, same with rolling stock and none of the newer cars and engines coming out. As long as Trains carries articles about roads and eras I like, I will continue to subscribe. When they get too far down the track and into the next yard, then I will quit buying.

Bob

14

I suscribe to MR,Trains,and Classic Trains. I enjoy the articles in Trains,but Classic Trains contains a lot of ideas for the era I model.

Mike

15

I subscribe to both as well. I also subscribed to RMC (Railroad Model Craftsman) for awhile but have decided to stick with MR and Trains. As with the other posters on here I read trains for the articles and to stay informed not necessarily for modeling inspiration. I have been reading the magazines since I was a kid because my dad was a subscriber and I’ve been for about 20 years myself.

16

I should have said I get modeling ideas from studying the photos beyond the locomotive(s).I guess its a habit of mine to take in the whole photo instead of the main subject…

Unusual habit huh? [(-D]

17

WE subscribe to TRAINS as well {MOH is into trains as well, Aren’t I lucky???}

I actually {we actually} enjoy TRAINS more than MR. We are fascinated by the 1:1’s, especially steamers. There is a LOT of good info in there for those with “trains on the brain” disease!

No, I have not found any modeling inspiration there, but have learned A LOT about how trains operate. My layout is to small to get much inspiration and put into action!

I enjoyed MR for Modeling inspiration and TRAINS for real world practicality.

Enjoy your reading!!!

[8-|]

18

I subscribe to MR, have since about 1968. I buy Railroad Model Craftsman at my LHS, but he is closing, so I guess I will subscribe.

I also have a subscription to Classic Trains since its inception, but there are only about 5 issues of TRAINS that I have ever even looked at.

Modern stuff just does not do it for me at all - and I was saying that in 1980.

I model the mid fifties, I only buy models from that era, I only have about 4 pieces of rolling stock left over from a time when I considered modeling the 70’s.

Life is busy and short - one must choose their priorities in life.

Sheldon

19

No scenery ideas? No industry ideas? No railroad yard/engine service detail ideas?

I guess I’m the only oddball that studies the photos.[:'(]

[(-D]

20

Put me in the Oddball category too Larry. I like to study the photographs for details that I might use on my layout and also just for information’s sake.

Joe