OGR Magazine

I think if you enjoy the hobby, you will enjoy all o-scale magazines. I know I do. They all offer different aspects of the hobby. I have subscribed to them all since 1999 and every month I still look forward to picking them up from the mailbox.

 

JoeG

THEY. ????

How many different subscriptions are there in a THEY?

I've been on board since Run 99.....Myron Biggar convinced me to be a subscriber...best move I ever made in O gauge. Eventually, I will transition to only an online copy.....now, I get both.

 

Peter

I subscribe to both magazines. OGR is the better of the two IMO. I actually enjoy the digital subscription and if I want to save a copy or a whole year I simply download it to my computer or tablet. I'm trying to get away from saving my plethora of paper print train Magazines in binders, bins and boxes.

I subscribe to both magazines.  I agree, I like OGR better.  I have both paper and digital subscriptions.  I am old school and like to hold a paper copy.  However, the digital subscription gives more photos and I can look back at old issues without keepin the paper copies.  I have given away all my paper copies older than two years.

Before we all get wound up over this, "they" includes several other magazines that cover the model train hobby.

 

Model Railroader is the 800-pound gorilla and has been around a LONG time!

 

Classic Toy Trains also covers the 3-rail corner of things.

 

There are several others, but those two plus OGR are the big hitters in the game.

 

For obvious reasons, I'll recommend OGR! 

 

CLICK HERE to subscribe.

You know we can't mention other magazines here so what kind of an answer did you expect to get. For 3 rail fans there are 2 primary magazines, both are good. I have no favorite, I enjoy both of them. As for online reading I am old school I like that paper copy in my hands.

I don't know if you are trolling but it sure seems like it. I guess I find it incredulous that in the 5 years that you have been on this forum, you have never checked out an O Gauge Railroading or Classic Toy Trains magazine. If that is true, then I would politely suggest that you purchase both publications and decide which one most meets your needs. Many of us subscribe to both and there is nothing wrong with that.

You can buy OGR at a hobby store or Barnes and Noble and decide for yourself if you want to subscribe. It may be available at your local public library as well. 

I don't know if it's all that incredulous, Dennis.

I have not picked up a copy of either of those 2 in decades,

I suspect most retail train stores carry one or several of the publications.  I know that Henning's has them on the counter.

 

Yes, from the previous posts and threads, I think the OP is just trying to get something going, not exactly a surprise.

 

 

Did you notice that I mentioned two other magazines in my post just above yours?

Yes I did but your the boss...

Hey Rich  you KNOW MY OPINION on Classic Toy Trains !!  With out a DOUBT OGR Is definitely BETTER than ctt !!!  Mr Carp is a VGJGUUI*IO MN !!!  Happy Railroading   Gary

The easiest solution is to do what I do, subscribe to them all.  Support our hobby and enjoy it at the same time.  Every time I pay a renewal notice I question if I really need it.  Each magazine has a focus or niche that it serves that I enjoy.  My friends give me a bad time for still subscribing to Model Railroader but I love it's scenery articles, plans for scratch building buildings, and articles on operations.  I would truly miss any of my railroad publications.

 

Art

I have subscribed to both in the past and while I was getting the subscription, it seemed to me that Classic Toy Trains focuses mainly on that....toy trains. I realize that they are all toys, but OGR presents a broader range of modelers from "toy train" layouts with little thought to scenery to realistic layouts that try to try to mimic a miniature natural landscape or cityscape. Because that is my interest, I stayed with OGR. Lots of helpful articles in that by very good modelers.

 

Rick

 

I subscribe to both OGR and CTT.  The magazines are different and I find useful items in both.  I also am a TCA member and get the Quarterly.  I suggest that if you are going to be active on this forum that you should consider supporting OGR since it pays for the forum.

 

NH Joe

Thank you Joe for mentioning helping to pay for the Forum.  That is one item I wantEd to mention, but forgot!

I also subscribe to both of the O gauge publications. OGR is more along the lines of what I like. I think OGR is more scale or hi-rail oriented and is the one I prefer to read. I generally like all of their articles and usually read every issue cover to cover. I subscribe to both the print copy and digital version of OGR. My main reason for the digital subscription is to support this forum which is a great resource for all of us. I seldom read the digital version, I much prefer the print copy.

 

CTT covers mostly post war Lionel and American Flyer, both O & S gauges, and I really don't have a great deal of interest in that stuff. A post war collector would probably really like this one. They do have some articles of interest to me. I do like post war accessories which they write about sometimes. I don't always read all the articles in each issue. Personally for me, the writing style used in many of their articles is a hard read, just doesn't flow or something. I subscribe to the print version only.

 

I do not subscribe to MR, but I do purchase a copy now and then at my LHS. It is ok, but I have little interest in the smaller scales. They do have a monthly column on DCC that I like and also other occasional articles of interest. I seldom read all of the articles in an issue.

 

While not O gauge or model trains, I also really enjoy reading Trains magazine. I've been thinking about adding that one to my subscription list. I have probably been buying it regularly each month at my LHS for about a year or so. Usually read it cover to cover and enjoy almost all the articles.

I don't watch TV, at all, so I do a lot of reading-books, magazines and some internet. I buy both CTT and OGR plus MR and RMC occasionally. I read everything in the magazines. Why not ??  You pay for it.  Sometimes I like the content but often the writing style leaves me cold.  Sorry, Old School-I like paper.

Along those lines (non-model trains), one of my favorite magazines is "Classic Trains." Maybe not for everyone but I usually pore through every issue in detail and enjoy learning about Fallen Flags, train history, and of course the superb photography.

 

Nothing to be sorry about, Jim! I prefer a paper mag, too!

 

Even though digital publishing is growing by leaps and bounds, the printed magazine on paper is going to be around for a long, long time.

When I was getting back into O gauge I started getting Classic Toy Train from the first issue. Got it for years then found OGR. Classic seemed like it was doing a different version of the same articles over and over. I was getting more info out of OGR that I could really use. I was in a book store the other day and picked up the newest Classic Toy Train magazine. I was amazed how small it had gotten. I ended up not buying it. They were still doing the same articles. I'm very happy with both versions of OGR. All my close friends read it. Don

I have a subscription to OGR, and I pick up Classic Toy Trains and Model Railroader at MB Kleins when I stop in. They're all pretty good, sometime there's nothing of real interest in them to me and other times I get inspired by one of them. I remember picking up MR and later O Scale Railroading at the Enoch Pratt library in Baltimore when I was a kid, it kept me interested in the modeling aspect but I could never get mine to look like the ones in the magazines. I eventually went back to my Lionel roots and was some what amused by the furor that changing O Scale Railroading to O Gauge Railroading caused and when CTT arrived I got it too to fuel my reborn love of trains. You can't go wrong with any of them, in fact many of OGR forumites are on the the forums sponsored by the other mags.

 

Jerry

"My friends give me a bad time for still subscribing to Model Railroader but I love it's scenery articles, plans for scratch building buildings, and articles on operations."

 

You are correct Art, we can always learn. All great sources of info. Have digital OGR, still get paper copy many times.

I get both OGR and CTT if push came to shove I would get OGR, and not because I am posting here, but it is the reason I post here. The staff at OGR are dedicated to the magazine, this site and the additional content made available through the digital subscription and videos (guys we need more videos ;-) ).

 

Really? It's a magazine subscription, for Pete's sake. How much could it cost? Try CTT also - I take both (paper only; can't sit in front of a computer for long).

 

If it doesn't suit you, let it go next year. This is not a weighty decision.  

 

I have come and gone with MR in the last few years - good magazine, always was, but, even though ideas can be "multi-scale", I felt disconnected from "their" world, so I let it go - again.

 

I miss Hundman's Mainline Modeler, the mag for those Hi-Railers among us who are equipment-oriented and have minimal interest in "layout" articles; I almost never read them (I do look at the photos). It's been gone a while. 

I have looked at the CTT forum a couple of times and I really didn't like the format or layout or whatever you call it, there was just something about it I didn't like anyway. I have found some good info there from links to a post that were found elsewhere.

Once upon a time I subscribed to both.  CTT seemed a bit more toy oriented and of less value, while OGR had more tech info.  Last straw was when it (CTT) had an article on model Pacifics, which by definition are 4-6-2, and made a statement that Lionel's Pacific was 2-6-4.  Maybe the editor felt a high-mounted headlight was enough.  In any event, I didn't renew CTT.

There are lots of choices for Train Enthusiast....After getting back into the Model Train Hobby in 1997, I began by seeing the new TMCC Lionel Trains.  Then came Classic toy Trains! magazine.They deal with mostly the older toy trains of pre-and post war, plus some of the newer trains...They show wiring diagrams, nice ads, lots of good things. I then heard about Myron Biggar and I think his magazine was O Scale Railroading...I called him and he took my order, himself. I have enjoyed the newer name OGR MAGAZINE, as I think this company offers the hobbiest more Options....The magazine, the OGR FORUMS, The OGR VIDEO'S, The OGR Merchandise, houses, wire devices, etc....Then, of course, there is Kalmbach publications, TRAINS Magazine, Kalmbach Special Magazines....WOW...Then,last but not Least is the TCA, Train Collectors Association,  and LCCA Lionel Collectors Club of America....Then, TTOS, NMRA, and on and on and On...

To make a long story short, The Competition for your Train Dollar is out There, Lots to Choose From, Lots to Enjoy....The more magazines you take, the more you can enjoy, the most Wonderful World of Model, and Toy Trains....You have Choices!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 That says it all. What do you think the forum is? It's filled with opinions!

 

"Let the battle begin" ????????????

 

That's what this thread is really about.

Thanks for the responses.
I do not have the budget to subscribe to multiple magazines, I get MODEL RAILROADER, because it started when my son was born...its become a tradition.

I do online surveys and get free magazines..unfortunately this Hobby is not represented.
But, THIS OLD HOUSE, TIME, BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, AND VARIOUS FOOD MAGAZINES ARE...
I love to read....and have been tested at 300 words per minute, with 95% comprehension...yes I'm braghing.

I amnot a troll...I only ask questions because I want answers...I am not aware of all the O scale publications...and I have seen CTT...but was not impressed as to its usefulness for me, in this hobby.

"Let the battle begin",  was a tongue in cheek, attempt at humor...nothing more...
I did expect strong opinions...as I have strong opinions on what I consider the best HO Train magazine, which is MRR.

I want the most bang for my buck, since a subscription will take away from my Train budget....because there has yet to be a publication that you can run on the rails...

Again thanks for those who gave honest answers and justified their reasons.

And, I am now wondering why some think they cannot mention other Train magazine publications names on this forum....
If thst is a rule, I would be shocked.

Normally I would go run trains, but I am at that wonderful place where I have too many for the amount of footage I have...which means time to add track...

Dont forget your UPDOG..

What does or does not get deleted is quite surprising sometime. If your in 3 rail why are you still getting MR if you can only have 1 Mag in your budget? CTT is pretty much what the title says, older toy like trains with some new tossed in. OGR leans toward the newer modern trains. Both are good magazines if your a toy train nut.

 

I have strong opinions on what I consider the best HO Train magazine, which is MRR.

So do I.  I think Railroad Model Craftsman is MUCH better than MR.

I'm not trying to be a smart *ss here, but if a $30 A YEAR magazine subscription cuts into your train budget, do you really think this is the right hobby for you?

If it is, then I would ditch the MRR subscription, because there is only a few things in there, every now and then, that are helpful. You can learn more about O Gauge right here in this FREE forum.

Doug, he runs very small trains.

 

1drummer - I used to subscribe to OGR, Classic Toy Trains, Model Railroader, and Trains magazines.  When finances became tight I dropped the others and kept my OGR subscription.  In making the hard choices, for me, OGR was my best cup of tea.... and I'm not dissing the others by any means .. they are all good!    I pick up copies of Classic Toy Trains at book stores and train shops on occasion and Model Railoader at the grocery store.  Both OGR and CTT magazines are fine magazines!  Both offer a different bent on model railroading. AND now that I'm beginning to have more coins jingling in my pocket again, I'm strongly considering adding CTT to my subscriptions again. 

 

Why don't you be the one who makes the decision?  You are the one who lives in your skin ... not any of us here on the forum. 

My love affair with "Lionel" (O Gauge) began very early and has survived minor forays into both HO and N (Model Railroader Magazine's primary focus) but I always returned to O.  The floor should shake when a train goes by, shouldn't it?

 

The focus at CTT is primarily "toys" whereas the focus of "O Scale Trains" is primarily "2 rail scale."  If, like so many of us, you want the simplicity, flexibility and reliability of O Gauge and the realism of O Scale then you've made the right start and have chosen the right magazine.  The other magazines have much to offer but this one covers both ends of the spectrum and everything in between plus the Forum is a huge resource of past conversations where you will find those willing to help on any issue within minutes of posting a question.

 

Best of luck in the hobby... ENJOY!

The MRR is a tradition, since I statred it when my son got his first Christmas train...which was HO.

As far as running very small trains?  Not sure what that means...average O train for me is 30 cars....

As far as my budget...I buy used...have a great RESALE STORE nearby...I do not mind spending money,but I dont give it away.

When I make decisions, especially about spending money, and for a long term agenda,  I get as much information as I can, so that I am informed.

Doesn't always happen...thats how I ended up with an MTH LOCOSOUND as my first O scale set...but, in my defense, my wife wanted a train to run around the Christmas tree...and her collection of Thomas Kinkaid and other decorations...and somehow she found an N scale engine, of which I have no idea how it came into our home...but it was to small..and when the wife says buy a train set...you do not hesitate..