Model Railroading Magazine Index rebirth

[bbussey]

Looks like there will be two versions.  The NMRA (free) version is up and running, but is in BETA mode.  It seems that all of the information from the old site is there, with the exception of the cover thumbnails.

http://www.olimpia.com:8084/magazine-index.html
http://www.olimpia.com:8084/QuickLookPage.html

Kalmbach has posted an announcement that its version will be up early next year that will feature the original data plus some enhancements, but it appears you will have to be a subscriber to at least one of the magazines to access it.

http://trc.trains.com/modeltrainindex

[wazzou]

Kalmbach has posted an announcement that its version will be up early next year that will feature the original data plus some enhancements, but it appears you will have to be a subscriber to at least one of the magazines to access it.

Wow, that was predictable...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Any word on if these will be updated with newer issues?

[bbussey]

According to posts on the Yahoo group STMFC, sometime in the first half of 2011.

[Darkelf]

Actually, it is going to be free:

"The new index will be available for use by all registered Trains.com members. If you're not a member, registration is quick, easy, and free. Simply click on the Register link on one of the Trains.com websites."

--Greg

[Mark5]

Ah, a happy ending ...

[bbussey]

Actually, it is going to be free:

"The new index will be available for use by all registered Trains.com members. If you're not a member, registration is quick, easy, and free. Simply click on the Register link on one of the Trains.com websites."

--Greg

I thought you couldn't register unless you had a subscription.  I know that is the case with looking at online content for Model Railroader.

[diezmon]

I thought you couldn't register unless you had a subscription.  I know that is the case with looking at online content for Model Railroader.

oh no. you can register.... you just don't see anything more than if you're NOT registered.   ;D

[Darkelf]

For giggles, I attempted to create an account...  And succeeded!  And I am not a subscriber of any of the magazines..

Now we just need to wait until January to see if the index is available...

--Greg

[sirenwerks]

Always to play the shill, what gives with Kalmbach's original 'it's beyond saving' cop-out? One minute technology's too far advanced for the data and now it's not, what gives? Did they get rid of nephew Jimmy and hire someone with real training? This is like when the politician lies on camera and no one calls him (sorry ladies, or her) on it later. I want answers!!!

[Zox]

Always to play the shill, what gives with Kalmbach's original 'it's beyond saving' cop-out? One minute technology's too far advanced for the data and now it's not, what gives?

My guess (and that's all it is, a guess):

Somebody did the heavy lifting as a volunteer, and gave the results to the NMRA for free.

Then, in their borderline-incestuous relationship with Kalmbach, the NMRA gave a copy to them, because Kalmbach was taking so much flak about letting the index die originally, and now they can say "but we brought it back bigger and better."

I'll give even odds that once the NMRA has their "digital library" online, the index will come out of beta and go behind the members-only paywall. I'll give the same odds that the Kalmbach version will be somehow crippled, but still technically open to the public (so they can get free labor to make updates). The "extra features" on Kalmbach's version will be subscriber-only and will, entirely coincidentally, be utterly identical to the members-only NMRA index.

[John]

The way Kalmbach could run this is allowing you to search for stuff for free, then letting you buy a digital version of the article(s) online .. thus giving them another way to recycle old articles .. mag, books, pdf's

[conrail98]

They're actually two completely separate projects unrelated to each other. The NMRA one is being done from the ground up to include all model railroad type publications, including NMRA regional/division newsletters and eZines. Who knows where the Kalmbach one came from or if it's the continuation of what they used to have, but it will only be print magazines. Their announcement seemed to take those working on the NMRA one by surprise,

Phil

[sirenwerks]

Considering the NMRA seems to have its head in the sand (or other less sunny locales) about so many other things, I wouldn't be surprised about that at all.