Continuing my journey through my 55 years of paper MR issues, I have now completed the 90s.
An interesting series they ran to celebrate their 65th anniversary year was to publish a monthly “Milestones in Model Railroading. See if you agree:
Jan: Al Kalmbach starting Model Railroader magazine (what did you expect?)
Feb: Creation of the NMRA (they did create very helpful standards)
March: John Allen’s Engine house
April: Frank Ellison’s “The Art of Model Railroading”
May: Postage Stamp Trains (they did make the public aware of N scale; I’d probably go with Atlas)
June: Astrac starting command control
July: The Styrene Revolution (I guess wood wasn’t good enough)
Aug: Japanese brass (as if I could afford it then (or now))
Sept: Kadee Magne-Matic couplers
Oct: The evolution of scale models (but they only discussed O & HO scales)
Nov: Ground foam for realistic scenery (goodbye zip texturing!)
Dec: The beginnings and growth of HO scale (we get no love at all in N scale!)
And MR humor (into the 70s and 80s and the last of H A Smith (my favorite)):
1.1 Before I can extend the mainline, I have to file an environmental impact statement with my wife.”
1.2 “Well, whaddaya know! The little bubble was stuck!”
2.1 Want to see the 0-4-0 I bought for this room’s new layout!”
2.2 “This baby will cost you $179.99 plus tax, new drapes for the living room, a new gown, and a night at a French restaurant.”
3.1 “That the last time I visit a layout that has 27 duckunders and walk around control.”
1.1 “Services suspended until my kitchen shelves are put up – by order – Household Authority”
1.2 “There’s been a derailment somewhere in this area.”
2.1 “I made the mistake of asking Fred if he could break away from his trains long enough to fix the refrigerator door.”
2.2 “Captain, you asked me to remind you when we were over Denver.”
