I did a quick little inventory this evening to see count how many I have collected over the years. I have been collecting various Model Railroad magazines since 1986 but I do not have a complete set. The most prevalent magazine is Model Railroader:

• 1980’s - Various for a total of 19
• 1988 - Complete
• 1989 - High School/College - Model Railroading not cool.
• 1990 - Boot Camp, etc, etc, etc
• 1991 - Complete
• 1992 - Complete
• 1993 - (5) Total - Okinawa
• 1994 - (5) Total
• 1995 - Minus September and November
• 1996 - Complete
• 1997 - Complete
• 1998 - Complete
• 1999 - Minus April and June
• 2000 - Complete
• 2001 - Complete
• 2002 - Complete
• 2003 - (7) Total. Busy year with a little side trip to Iraq.
• 2004 - (1) Total. Not a great year for Model Railroading! Left Marine Corps and moved back to Michigan to start new job.
• 2005 - Missing February, March, and June
• 2006 - Complete
• 2007 - (6) Total.  Another life changing year with a new job and a move to Denver.

I have 21 special Model Railroader Annuals including Great Model Railroads, and Layout Design.

The second most popular magazine, especially in the last four years as my tastes have become more refined, is the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette. This magazine focuses on the logging and mining railroads of the early 1900’s. This magazine is only published six times a year but I still have 26 issues.

Why do I keep them? They are a great source of inspiration, a frequent reference tool, and the source of many memories. The material is timeless. The Model Train Magazine Index is a great tool that allows me to find a barely recalled article from years ago.

There is one that I no longer have that I remember dearly. The very first one that I ever purchased was the January 1986 Model Railroader. Malcolm Furlow had an article about a model railroad he built for someone that was called the Silverton and Telluride Railway Company. He built mountains from plaster that ran from floor to ceiling. I had never imagined anything like it. It was the source of inspiration for many years and I literally wore the cover off the magazine. I don’t know what ever happened to the magazine, I think my little brother Steve stole it.

Update: Ebay is my friend. January 1986 is on its way!