NEWTON, N.J. – Carstens Publications Inc. is closing at the end of business on Aug. 22.
“It is with regret that Carstens Publicatons Inc. will be closing permanently at close of business on Friday, August 22, 2014. Carstens Publications Inc. has been a leading publisher of leading hobby magazines for over 50 years. Unfortunately the current economic climate has placed us in this position,” says Henry R. Carstens, president. “…We thank you for your patronage over the years, and wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.”
Carstens published Railfan & Railroad, Railroad Model Craftsman, and Flying Models.
John Green: I would suggest everyone check the Railfan and Railroad Website for the August 28 announcement regarding White River Productions acquisition of Railfan & Railroad and Railroad Model Craftsman Titles, etc. They talk about unfulfilled subscriptions in the posting.
Me: R&R lives, apparently.
BTW I'm still waiting for that fellow Trains subscriber (you know who you are; I directed a comment at you [although I my mouse was wearing out hence the bad formatting; I've since bought a new mouse]) to explain how Trains has declined.
I stopped subscribing/buying R&R when I realized that they were slowly becoming the next Rail Classics.
Once Boyd left their editorial standards dropped like a rock. It was so disappointing to be reading an article and get stuck on an obvious typo in nearly every article.
It was sad.
I would suggest everyone check the Railfan and Railroad Website for the August 28 announcement regarding White River Productions acquisition of Railfan & Railroad and Railroad Model Craftsman Titles, etc. They talk about unfulfilled subscriptions in the posting.
The Glass Jar
Railfan & Railroad published a recent story about the state on
nob-profit fundraising.
Railfan & Railroad published a recent story about the state of
non-profit fundraising.
Wes Vernon was a columnist for Railfan & Railroad.
Wes Vernon was a columnists for Railfan & Railroad.
New owner can publish a special pinup issue.
Roger, Paul is just trying to play with everyone's mind and stir the pot. Have sympathy for him, he has not other form of entertainment.
This article doesn't talk of apparently attempts by at least two parties interested in buying RMC and R&R. It a sale takes place, it is likely your subscriptions would be honored because any new owner would want to start with a base of subscriptions and not have to recruit a whole new subscription list.
Oh come on. This decision likely has little to do with the state of the national economy and who sits in the White House and all to do with changing demographics, peoples' move away from the print media to digital, and a decline (and aging) of people interested in railroads and model railroading. My guess, is that Kalmbach is only a few years from shutting down its print products to go digital only. Putting something to a press is expensive, and it costs much less to put it together and deliver the same product digitally.
For many years, MODEL RR CRAFTSMAN was the Bible of model railroading. It will be missed. I was distressed to learn that Carstens seems to be mistreating former subscribers. Hope there is a legitimate reason for such as that besides greed.
We railfans have seen a lot go in the past half century—things like the spaghetti of branch lines in central Illinois, interlocking towers, a big chunk of the passenger service, many steam excursion programs, many main lines, and no a publishing stalwart. The words of the 1964 Chad & Jeremy hit "A Summer Song" are appropriate: "Wish you didn't have to go; no, no, no, no.
Railfans have lost a lot of the prototype in the past 50 years–like much of the spaghetti of lines in central Illinois, interlocking towers, much of the passenger service, many steam excursion programs, many main lines, and now a big one in publishing. The verse of that Chad & Jeremy song "A Summer Song" 50 years ago are appropriate: "Wish you didn't have to go; no, no, no, no."
A sad day. But as others have pointed out, R & R has declined in recent years. I let my subscription lapse after Jim Boyd passed away. Partly, because I just have less time to read these days, partly, because, the print was too darned small. Sad to see it go. I would pick up a copy from the newsstand every now and then. But it ceased being real competition to TRAINS years ago. Rest in Peace!
Very sad day.
I wondered what was going on. I just renewed my subscription and was trying to call to find out why I wasn't receiving my magazine but the phone just ran. Guess that is money gone….
Well another business falls, because of the business climate in this country, due to an uncaring or unknowing administration. The small business man in this country doesnt stand a chance, between exorbinant taxes and unrealistic regulations, we are becoming a socialistic society. I am so sorry for you Mister Carstens, and for all of your hard working employees. Maybe in another 2 years the business climate will change , and we may again have another CARSTENS CORP. Thank You and best of luck to you all!!
I liked Kalmbach's magazines better but, when my own finances were in better shape, I bought them all. At one time I had every issue of RAILFAN. Then I became disabled and had to cut back. TRAINS has been my only magazine for some time after I became disabled, and my daughter gets that for me for Christmas. Still, this is a sad day for the hobby.
CHARLES KUEHN: "R&R used to be as good a railfan magazine as TRAINS. No more (and TRAINS isn't the railfan magazine it used to be either. Too much industry publication wannabee lately)."
JOHN T. LASZEK (who's just begun his 15th year as a Trains subscriber)
In what way(s) do you see Trains doing a Gallitzin to Altoona, Mr. Kuehn? (I missed the DPM era at Trains by a mile or ten evidently [roll eyes])
My only surprize is it didn't happen sooner.