The LNER Encyclopedia

How many of us have railway related magazines (prototype and model) that we have bought and now are just gathering dust?

Charity shops don't want them as they take up too much room and forever have to be tidied up after people have been browsing through them, is it really worth putting them on Ebay when anyone who is interested in the hobby/pastime will probably have them anyway. Your local model club will probably have a good archive of old magazines and therefor the same problem arises as with charity shops and there are only so many duplicates that can be stored.

I have recently been undergoing a course of dental treatment and as usual the waiting rooms have their usual clutch of magazines for patients to browse. These tend to be, in my experience, of a more general nature or sunday supplements and aimed predominantly at the fairer sex.

What a surprise therefor to find a copy of The Railway Magazine for this month in my dentists waiting room on my visit last Friday.

I spoke to my dentist on this matter and he said it had been brought in by a neighbour who lives close by his practise.

I told him I had copies of various magazines ( not only railway related as I have other interests as well) and asked him if he would like some for his waiting rooms. He said that he would on the proviso that they where fairly recent. The reason he gave for this is that when they undergo inspections by the various authorities the inspectors do not like to see old magazines as it may indicate that not enough attention is being given to patient amenities, which I suppose is a valid point.

How many times have your read in our hobbies magazines or in interviews with members of preserved railways of the need to get more people, especially youngsters, interested in the hobby?

Another point I think worth mentioning is how many adults are there out there that are now at the point in their lives where their family has grown and moved on. Perhaps a magazine may rekindle an interest in the hobby they had when they themselves were young. Who knows they may even think that they could share this with their grandchildren.

So why not "Spread the word"

Hertford Museum seems pleased to accept donations of magazines and timetable booklets with local content, and in the process of thinning out my timetable collection assembled over the last 40 years I've given them a number of these which they accepted with enthusiasm.

Unfortunately Ware Museum (in the town next door) seems to regard them as the contents of someone's dustbin That's doubly sad because of Ware's contribution to railway history through D Wickham and Co Ltd.

Nonetheless, receptive local museums seem to be a good way of spreading the word.

I to take most of my various railway society/national trust/English Heritage/Camra magazines to the dentist and have done for quite a few years now as it always seemed a shame to throw them out.
My dentist tells me they are quite popular and some people ask if they can take them home and will he be getting any more! So I agree that it might encourage some to take up other interests and help 'spread the word'.

G'day Gents

I, like many other people have never given a thought, about giving mags to the local dentist, interesting, I've a lot.

The thought of a local government (Gestapo) checking up on the quality and age of a dentists magazines, is appalling, it's getting more like 'Big Brother' every day, what moron thought that one up.

Shakes head in disbelief.........................manna