Demise of Carstens publications?

[Mike 84C]

There was a post on one of the US groups I"m on that Carstens publications ceased trading back in May. Could one our American contributors confirm this? If its true,its rather a shame, I enjoyed the Craftman magazine and the narrow gauge annual was a very good buy.

[snapper]

From Carstens publications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 29, 2014

 

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 ads@railfan.com, ads@modelcraftsman.com, or ads@modelrailroadnews.com. 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 1963, 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.

Edited August 30, 2014 by snapper

[Mike 84C]

Thanks for posting, Snapper, that looks like good news .

Mike

[Mayner]

Besides the magazines Carstens published somewhat quaint landscape pictorials on many of the smaller American railroads, I came across a treasure trove of Casten paperbacks on Eastern roads in a Charring Cross Road bookshop about 20 yrs ago and later met the Carstens at a Chicago train show.

 

A sad passing probably one of the last of the old style family publishing businesses.