Another year

by Michael J. Pratt, Managing Editor

The May, 2001 issue marks the 6th anniversary of Model Railroad News. The first issue, April-May, 1995, was a mere 24 pages. That issue contained new product announcements, and not much else. Today, MRN has expanded its coverage of the model railroading hobby to include in-depth product reviews, as well as monthly and bimonthly columns. Some of you may have also noticed that the last few issues of MRN have featured full color on each and every page.

That first issue back in 1995 was a bimonthly publication that took several months worth of hard work to put together. Leading the way was our Executive Editor, Mike Lindsay.

In those early years of MRN, much of the content was just that — news. In this modern age of computer aided prepress, much of MRN was done the old fashioned way. Press announcements were all keyed in by hand. Photos had to be scanned out-of-house. The black and white sections were pasted up, by hand, on a light table (I still have the sore back to prove it).

Today, MRN contains more than just news. Our new product reviews are considered by many to be the most unbiased and thorough reviews in the model railroading press. Our monthly and bimonthly columns feature everything from basic modeling ideas, to discussions on prototype railroading.

MRN also covers national events such as the annual NMRA Train Show and the National Model and Hobby Show held in Rosemont, Illinois. Our model railroad show coverage is second to none, with new product announcements from more than fifty manufacturers per show not at all uncommon.

Our production has become more efficient. MRN is now almost completely electronic in nature, going from computer directly to film. We receive many product announcements, photos, even advertisements over the internet. All of this means a faster, more efficient publication for our readers.

Starting our seventh year of publication is exciting. MRN’s future is firmly on track. (Sorry, you can’t have a positive editorial without throwing in a pun or two.)

One final note. Model Railroad News would not be where it is today without the unselfish contributions of so many different people. To them, I offer my personal thanks.

And to our readers as well — Thank You!

Michael J. Pratt

Managing Editor