Carstens Publications closes, RMC and R&R to White River

Well, now there's some good news!

Les

This was good news and White River's press release indicates that existing subs will be honored in the new production runs of RMC until they expire. This is a good idea if done and I hope that it works out well that way for the sake of all concerned. However, re-starting a publication with perhaps a 40k-50k readership and extending all the existing subs means little if any new income except for advertising over perhaps the next six issues. That tends to scare me as I've seen other publications attempt this approach and fold in doing it. Without doubt, most non-subscribers will be waiting to see just what happens with the rebirth of RMC and be shy to immediately jump in with a new sub. It is certainly going to be interesting to see just how this entire scenario plays out.

CNJ999

White River also acquired Model RR news a few years ago and did a great job with it. Lets hope they can do the same with RMC etc.

I see the Carstens website has been updated. White River Productions will be publishing
RMC and R&R magazines. The notice (both Carstens site, and, WRP) say that they will be honoring
all subscriptions. So, maybe some good news? Will be interesting to see any changes that might
occur with the two magazines.

The Railroad Press is now also to be published by White River Productions. I believe this was announced a bit before their acquisition of Railroad Model Craftsman, Railfan & Railroad and the books published by Carstens.

I think it's likely that all of these magazines may become harder to find at newsstands, as distinct from hobby shops. As of a month or more ago, TRP posted on their website that the distributor that had been supplying that publication to Barnes & Noble bookstores -- which is where I'd bought it for years -- wouldn't be doing so any more. I've never seen Model Railroad News, the NMRA Magazine and the various historical society magazines that White River publishes outside of hobby shops.

A couple of years ago,after MRN was picked up by White River,that mag started to show up at Barnes & Noble,and Hastings,
a midwest-west coast book/video seller,TRP might be changing distrubution to WRP's distrubution network from their old setup
RMC,and R+R were sold at Barnes & Noble along with MR and Trains,will most likely changed to WRP's distrubution network
instead of from Quad Graphics(RMC and R+R's printer/distrubuter).

Railroad Model Craftsman and Railfan & Railroad are now part of White River Productions
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

(Bucklin, Missouri) – White River Productions has acquired Railroad Model Craftsman and Railfan & Railroad magazines, effective September 1, 2014. The asset purchase agreement between Carstens Publications and White River Productions was completed Thursday, August 28, 2014.

Carstens Publications’ final issues of the two titles are the June issues, and future issues will be produced by White River Productions. Staff assignments for the two publications have not yet been determined. Included in the agreement is the Books Division of Carstens Publications, which will continue under White River Productions. Not included is Flying Models magazine.

“We are excited to welcome these two Carstens titles to our family of White River Productions publications,” said Kevin EuDaly, president of White River Productions. “These magazines are an important part of railroad publications and White River Productions looks forward to continuing their legacies.” Subscribers will be pleased to know existing subscriptions are to be honored and fulfilled by the new ownership. Fulfillment will be based on the number of remaining issues in existing subscriptions. Due to the need to get the magazines’ cover dates current, a combined issue scenario will likely be employed, but the number of issues owed to each subscriber will be adjusted accordingly.

“If you have six issues left on your subscription, you will receive six issues,” EuDaly said. The magazines’ new mailing address for all subscriber, reader, and industry communication is the Bucklin address.

Advertisers should contact Mike Lindsay of White River Productions at 800-282-3291 or via email at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]. Mike will be managing advertising for the new titles.

About the Carstens’ Publications
Railroad Model Craftsman magazine was founded in 1933 by Emanuele Stieri as The Model Craftsman, aimed at all areas of scale modeling. Ownership of the publishing company passed in 1934 to Charles Penn. In 1949 the name of the publication was changed to Railroad Model Craftsman, with a focus on the scale model train hobby exclusively. Hal Carstens joined the publishing firm in 1952 and purchased the company in 1962, renaming it Carstens Publications.

Railfan & Railroad in concept goes back to 1968 when future Railroad Model Craftsman editor Tony Koester along with Jim Boyd pitched the idea to Carstens for a “railfan’s” magazine. By 1971 Jim Boyd had joined Carstens to work on Flying Models, and in 1974 Railfan was born as a quarterly publication.

It went to six times a year in 1977, and monthly in 1987. In 1979 it was merged with the defunct Railroad magazine (which began in 1906 as Railroad Man’s Magazine), becoming Railfan & Railroad. The magazine was edited by Jim Boyd from its inception until his retirement in 1998, after which Steve Barry took over as Editor.

About White River Productions
Founded in 1992 by Kevin EuDaly, President, White River Productions is currently producing 22 historical society magazines plus calendars, books, and other peripheral items such as membership brochures, advertising rate cards, annual meet announcements, and ballots. The company also publishes Model Railroad News, Railroads Illustrated, Passenger Train Journal, The Railroad Press magazine, and now Railroad Model Craftsman and Railfan & Railroad magazines. The company began when owner Kevin EuDaly decided to write and publish the book Missouri Pacific Diesel Power. He produced The Eagle for the Missouri Pacific Historical Society from 1993 to 1996 and picked up the editor’s reins again for the MPHS in 2010. In between, he has edited and produced numerous historical society publications. His wife, Nadean, manages day-to-day operations at White River Productions.

White River Productions
PO Box 48
Bucklin MO 64631

(877) 787-2467
email: [email protected]
Website: whiteriverproductions.com


Now can we put aside all the doom and gloom nonsense about how the "hobby is dying?"

-otto vondrak
associate editor, railfan & railroad magazine

Has anyone heard anymore about White River Productions and the RMC subscriptions?
I checked their website, and what it said, but am wondering if anyone has received anything
in the mail, or, other notification?