Your OGR Magazines

Arnold:

I started out saving every issue.  Several years ago I “crossed the Rubicon” as it were and realized I couldn’t keep everything.  I went through the collection and culled issues that held special meaning and put everything else in the recycle cart.  I continue to hold onto occasional issues that have something I find particularly interesting but; for the most part I’ll read an issue cover to cover, offer it to my youngest son if he wants to look through it; then into the recycle cart it goes.

And I’ve done the same with all my other rail related magazines such as CTT; Railfan and Railroad; and TRAINS.

Curt

Curt, you clearly love train magazines like OGR, and would save all of them if you could. The good news is that you can be a digital subscriber and have access to all OGR magazines going back to about 2007.  Arnold

Wait a minute now Arnold; are Rich and Alan paying you to start this thread?  😉

Curt

juniata guy posted:

Wait a minute now Arnold; are Rich and Alan paying you to start this thread?  😉

Curt

How I wish that were true. LOL.

Part of my motivation was gratitude. I have felt like a lone wolf during most of my model railroading after my kids grew up. It's been wonderful fir me to connect with our Forum friends during the past year since I became a member.

Recently, I've discovered that quite a few Forum members have had their layouts featured in OGR and CTT several times! More connection.

Yesterday, I became a digital subscriber for the first time. Yet more connection.

I am no longer a lone wolf because of the Forum, saving the magazines, and being a digital subscriber.  And what an enormous wealth of information on all aspects of model railroading. Arnold

I have "Every" issue of OGR saved.  That includes Vol 1 no 1.  Have cleaned out the others.

I haven't subscribed to the magazine since Myron Biggar was the owner.  I may have an issue or two of his in my archives.  I have, however, picked up old copies of OGR at meets,  maybe a dozen or so.   I think OGR is a good alternative to Classic Toy Trains and would subscribe to the paper version, but already have more than I can read.  Perhaps I should cut one and add OGR instead.  

I still like receiving the magazine in the mail but also became a digital subscriber. A few years back I got rid of all my issues. Now after I have read the issue thoroughly I give it to one of my train buddies. What I am thinking of doing is getting the disc with all the issues on it. Less space taken up................Paul

rrgeorge posted:

I have "Every" issue of OGR saved.  That includes Vol 1 no 1.  Have cleaned out the others.

 

Is Vol.1 No.1 the Spring of 1988?

Hello, I subscribe to both OGR and CTT because I prefer to read magazines and books. Periodically, I go through the pile of magazines and put most of them in the recycle bin. Eventually, they will all end up there.

Vol 1 No 1 was June 1969 when it was called O Scale Railroading - Started by Vane A Jones.  Note - I was not really into the hobby then.  The trains from my younger days were stored at my parents house. - Other things were on a 16 year old's mind.  I collected the magazines later on. Attached is a copy of the front cover. 

Why put unwanted issues in the trash (same as recycling, the mag gets destroyed either way); take them to the local library. Most have a spot for excess inventory/withdrawn items (some places it may be called Friends of the Library).

rrgeorge posted:

Vol 1 No 1 was June 1969 when it was called O Scale Railroading - Started by Vane A Jones.  Note - I was not really into the hobby then.  The trains from my younger days were stored at my parents house. - Other things were on a 16 year old's mind.  I collected the magazines later on. Attached is a copy of the front cover. 

Thanks RRGeorge. Very interesting. I know I have an issue that goes back to 1988 or 1989 and features Phil Klopp's layout at that time.

Yep, me too.  I have every issue of OGR since the beginning except 1.   I also have quite a few of the O Scale Railroading issues.  OGR's predecessor and mainly a 2 rail mag.  I store mine in computer paper boxes.  I have 1 box with the O Scale RR mags and 3 boxes full of OGR mags.  I find them nice to refer back to if I need to see or read an old article.

Rick

As a brand new digital subscriber, I will soon be mining that resource for its gold nuggets of videos, photos and information and commenting on them in days to come.

I love having the collection of hard copy magazines. I will be studying articles in them that I have set aside about repairing my 022 turnouts (that's the technically correct term for switch tracks) and my UCS remote control track sections; properly wiring an advanced layout (something I desperately need to learn); improving my scenery including weathering techniques and creating real looking rivers, streams, ponds and water; and reading about the past and present layouts of the masters among my Forum friends.

Arnold

I keep mine until the next issue comes out. I stopped piling them up years ago. 

Good Bathroom Reading

I have a bunch of the older issues.I like rereading Dr Tinker's and Walt Hulseweder's columns. Plus the great photography of Fred Dole. I like the look of the black and white ads.

I hope all the non-subscribers realize that we who do subscribe, and the few sponsors, are paying for them to be able to use this forum.

I finally thinned out the collection.  I said I would keep the last year, and then realized that all they did was take up space as I never referred to them once I read through them.  So unless an old issue is laying out and about somewhere, all paper copies are gone.

I actually tried to give them away at one point here on the forum, no takers and I easily had ten years worth.

John

Arnold, great Question, and most all of us at one time or another saved every issue of Model Railroader, Railroad Model Craftsman, Trains, CTT, OGR, Lionel, MTH, K-Line, Atlas O, catalogs, other magazines, brochures, LCCA, TCA, and a whole bunch of other manufacturers books...Well, the digital age is here, and if your computer savvy that’s one thing, if not, that’s another....I have most every issue of OGR when Rich Melvin and the crew took over, and many CTT issues, however, now, I only save OGR, CTT, Lionel, TCA, LCCA.....Most all the older issues are neatly boxed up and labeled....Soon to be for sale.....To me, I like sitting back, in my recliner, with a cup of coffee and strum thru the pages....I am old fashioned and that’s the way I enjoy this wonderful Hobby......Happy Railroading.

I have not been a subscriber for a very long time but have been the last 6 to 8 years and have every one I received or acquired before becoming a subscriber. Also have every issue of CCT and several other O gauge magazines I have picked up over the years some that no longer exists. I kept them all for the reference material like repair articles and how to do scenery articles. 

I have decades of OGR & CTT magazines in neat little piles according to years - I placed an ad on the forum to give them away - no takers!  I like Dave's idea of donating to the local library!  Thanx, Dave! 

Enjoy the New Year!

Paul

I had almost all issues of both OGR and CTT from the last 20 years, but recycled them all just this week. There comes a time when you get overwhelmed by all the stuff you own and decide to purge. This week I hit that point and these were the first to go.

James

I have all of CTT.  All of OGR since I subscribed several year ago.  All of MTH Catalogs.  Most of early Williams paper.  All of Weaver from the Brass period.  Hot Rod Magazine 1952-1978 and shelves full of Train Books.

As I tell everyone who asks what happens when I die, 'not my problem, the kids will sort it out'.

Lately, I've been taking along a bunch of OGR magazines when visiting family and friends and when traveling. As mentioned before, they make for good bathroom and bedtime reading, good to thumb through while watching a ball game on TV, and they can make for good conversation starters.

I have found that even those not into trains at all are very positive about the pictures of layouts in the magazines. Arnold

any old car or Trains/Classic Train mags I don't want I give to the wife to take to the doctors office she works at so the guys have something to read.

Just saw this thread....and I would like to also suggest that you first take your copies to local libraries and schools.  This is a great way to expose others to the hobby who may never have seen what a wonderful hobby we have....  By doing this, you may be making a contribution to helping grow the hobby and bringing joy to someone.  Nothing wrong with recycling but please consider giving them to libraries, schools, offices where there are waiting rooms, and even used book stores.....

Thanks to all of you that subscribe...we need and appreciate our subscribers and advertisers...!

I have a difficult time keeping up with my magazines as it is, and unless I really want to save an issue, I dispose of them after reading. All of them.

i do always read OGR, which I can’t honestly say for every mag I receive.

I didn’t find OGR until sometime after I found this forum, but I have subscribed to CTT for a long time. Finally got to the point I just couldn’t keep stashing them all, so about a year ago I posted an ad on Craigslist. I posted them for free, and along with the magazines, I also gave away most of my Lionel catalogs. 

 Now, if I could only work up the courage to do that with my boxes...

I used to subscribe, then I used to use the purchase of the magazine as a good excuse to visit the hobby shop.  The hobby shop refuses to do business with the folks at OGR so now I have to get to Barnes and nobile for a copy of OGR.  Every other magazine is available at the local shop so I can browse and purchase those issues that have an article of interest.  I only save articles of interest, the rest of the magazine ends up in recycling.  Now that I have a scanner those pages are saved to an external drive and backed up.  I have no need to maintain a pile of paper

I recycle all my read periodicals unless  I want to retain a particular issue.

Had boxes and boxes of railroad and computer magazines.  The library was NOT interested in them, said they'd end up in their dumpster.  I was able to give them away eventually after posting on some local online groups.  It took quite a while - many months - then all of a sudden they were gone and more inquiries were coming in for a few weeks afterward. 

I do subscribe to OGR digital now.  It's like getting a treat without all the baggage. 

I get the digital and the magazine. I seldom read the digital but thought I should get both to help support OGR. I had stacks of CTT and OGR until we moved. We had a huge garage sale at the house. Lots of MPC Lionel, old track, street light and transformers. I was surprised at all the "professionals garage sales" people that grabbed anything Lionel. I put most of my train magazines out for free if they bought some trains. All were gone by that evening. One thing I never thought I could get rid of was the lovely lamp we got as a gift. I had to take a picture of the guy that bought it. Now aren't you sorry you missed that sale? Don

I have subscribed since I first learned of OGR in 2012, so I have saved all of mine.  I will continue because there will always be a reference to someone's article I will want to go back to.

I have subscribed to other train magazines since the late '60s.  I was modeling in HO, N, and narrow gauge over the years.  I donated scads of magazines to a Pittsburgh area club that resells the magazines during open houses for a small donation to the club.

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Lately, I've been taking along a bunch of OGR magazines when visiting family and friends and when traveling. As mentioned before, they make for good bathroom and bedtime reading, good to thumb through while watching a ball game on TV, and they can make for good conversation starters.

I have found that even those not into trains at all are very positive about the pictures of layouts in the magazines. Arnold

 

 

Arnold you have convinced me to order at least digital ..   I like magazines also.  Will probably sign up in the morning.  Thanks! 

Jim 

I have been a subscriber since ~Run 97......I added the digital editions when they started and since  the digital editions started, I have brought my entire collection save a few issues to my office for my patients to enjoy. I have done the same with CTT..

I have the HSL CDs for the early runs of OSR/OGR.

I went digital when CTT went digital also.....and brought those issues into my office, too. CTT recently put out a 1st 25 years DVD.

This spring, I have not renewed my paper copies.......and am going digital only for both.

We’ll see how it goes.

Peter

Putnam Division posted:

I have been a subscriber since ~Run 97......I added the digital editions when they started and since  the digital editions started, I have brought my entire collection save a few issues to my office for my patients to enjoy. I have done the same with CTT..

I have the HSL CDs for the early runs of OSR/OGR.

I went digital when CTT went digital also.....and brought those issues into my office, too. CTT recently put out a 1st 25 years DVD.

This spring, I have not renewed my paper copies.......and am going digital only for both.

We’ll see how it goes.

Peter

Peter,

I have gone digital also; shelves are better used for trains than old magazines.

Lou N

I am a subscriber to both OGR and CTT. I used to save them all for reference but found that I really never went back and reread anything so to the recycler they went. Now, when I’m done with the current issue I either drop them at work and someone picks them up, or I leave them at a fast food place for someone to find and perhaps read. I like to think some kid or someone finds it and maybe sparks something.

I kept the issues with the articles by Lorell Joiner building his Great Southern the rest I gave to the local Model Railway Club, miss Lorell nice bloke. Roo.