How to find out Rolling Stock updates and information

[physics34]

I just resubscribed to RAIL magazine after 15 years and surprised to find they dont list rolling stock updates anymore, ie Renumberings, livery and allocation changes anymore.

Where is the best source for this information these days, in a quick format? Im looking at restarting my own rolling stock database as im am losing track on things and find that keeping your own database is the best way to keep up knowledge.

 

[hexagon789]

I just resubscribed to RAIL magazine after 15 years and surprised to find they dont list rolling stock updates anymore, ie Renumberings, livery and allocation changes anymore.

Where is the best source for this information these days, in a quick format? Im looking at restarting my own rolling stock database as im am losing track on things and find that keeping your own database is the best way to keep up knowledge.

Today's Railways UK or Modern Railways both list current fleet changes. One (possibly both, I forget) gets the information from Platform 5 who you may be aware compile year rolling stock books.

Others can probably suggest any decent online versions

 

[physics34]

Today's Railways UK or Modern Railways both list current fleet changes. One (possibly both, I forget) gets the information from Platform 5 who you may be aware compile year rolling stock books.

Others can probably suggest any decent online versions

Cheers. Yes got the 2020 platform 5 book. Good to here some mags still doing the info

 

[ABB125]

Cheers. Yes got the 2020 platform 5 book. Good to here some mags still doing the info

It's Today's Railways (published by Platform 5) which lists changes every month. Normally a single page, but sometimes there's enough to make it double

 

[physics34]

It's Today's Railways (published by Platform 5) which lists changes every month. Normally a single page, but sometimes there's enough to make it double

Cheers. Wonder why RAIL stopped it?

 

[43096]

Today's Railways UK or Modern Railways both list current fleet changes. One (possibly both, I forget) gets the information from Platform 5 who you may be aware compile year rolling stock books.

Others can probably suggest any decent online versions

Modern Railways doesn’t. Are you thinking of Rail Express (which I think has better coverage of fleet items, particularly units and coaches, than TRUK)?

 

[ABB125]

Cheers. Wonder why RAIL stopped it?

To be honest I never knew they did! I haven't read a copy of RAIL for probably 5 years now!

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

Rail also used to cover freight vehicles (by Bob Wallace). The heir to that column also moved to Rail Express, written by Gareth Bayer.
Pat

 

[hexagon789]

Cheers. Yes got the 2020 platform 5 book. Good to here some mags still doing the info

Today's Railways appears to be the one which does the Platform 5 listings

Modern Railways doesn’t. Are you thinking of Rail Express (which I think has better coverage of fleet items, particularly units and coaches, than TRUK)?

More than likely, I can't recall which magazine it was that I bought a few weeks ago which did have stock listings

To be honest I never knew they did! I haven't read a copy of RAIL for probably 5 years now!

They used to do a lot of things they no longer do since shifting to a more "The Sun"-style equivalent in the railway press

 

[Wivenswold]

Railway Observer is the best source for rolling stock changes but you have to be a member of the RCTS. They've got an offer on new memberships for 2020 £9.50 online RO only/£15.50 Printed & Online

Join 2026 – The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

rcts.org.uk

 

[BenW390Fan]

My Train Database has loco and unit info and updated provided by the community

 

[physics34]

Thanks for all your info

 

[47444]

For locomotives, I find the most reliable source is the RSL list section of the wnxx web site, though you have to pay a subscription to access it.

I haven't found a comprehensive source of data for multiple units (particularly individual car numbers) and hauled stock, though this forum has a lot of information buried in it.

I believe the reason that magazines stopped publishing the information is that the railway industry stopped providing the data to the public, claiming commercial confidentiality.

 

[D6975]

I used to use ABRAIL but since its demise, there's no easy way to get up to date information. All the online sources I've come across thus far are sadly lacking in detail, listing units just by their unit number. With the large number of units that are rearranged/misformed this puts them firmly in the chocolate teapot category.

 

[MDB1images]

Railway Magazine also covers all rolling stock changes.