A model railroader here in town died a few years ago. His wife has asked me to dispose of his railroad collection, starting with his printed material. While going through the pile I found an 'Incredible' four volume set. TRAINS magazine, but in a form I've NEVER encountered. These volumes are actual books, fully bound with heavy covers. These four volumes are the first 4 years of TRAINS magazines starting with the first issue in 1940. There is an add in the 11th issue asking you to order these bound volumes with gold lettering for $4.00. My guess is this guy did just that. Imagine, reading what WE now call history, while it was happening. Not looking at old photos of the EAST BROAD TOP but photos that were taken within a couple months of publication. The very first article in the magazine is by Lucius Beebe, Maps and schemeatics are unreal and detailed. Reading why the T-1 was going to revolutionize passenger railroading. New Steam Locomotives, How a Sperry Track car works, individual stories and on and on. NO CLUE to there value, But the information is PRICELESS!!!!!
Marty- You can indeed buy bound volumes. And for those who have loose issues, you can have them bound if desired, or buy a binder to clip in your magazines. Boxcab E50
There was a farmer in Central Point, OR with the last name of Beebe who has an old SP bay window caboose behind the house. I wonder if he and Lucius were related?
Yes, both Trains and Model Railroader were available bound in book format and sold as annuals. I was lucky enough to get a few of the Trains and MR annuals from the mid 1940's to the early 1950's. Interesting note, I found all of them in a dumpster from a former employer. The rest of the story, each one was signed "To Niles Testor from Al Kalmbach." They sit on my book shelf beside me and are very interesting to read. I don't want to know what else got tossed into the dumpster. Jim
Well, tonigth I've to check my neighbors bin !rolleyes: ANybody aware that the complete collection of 70 Years of Trains Magazine is available now bound in DVD format for a mere 150 bucks ? 70 Years of Trains Magazine on DVD-ROM (Pre-Order) Amazing resource and the indexed sw take a snap to find what you need! Enjoy and... happy 2011 (one more is better than one less?) cheers
If you want to cry about prices from the "old days" when I was a kid in the 60's a subscription to RMC was $4.50 or $5.00. You could get a "lifetime" subscription for $75.00 and I thought I wish I could afford $75.00 but that's a lot of money. Boy do I wish I could have a "do over" now.
