Railway magazines.

[CallySleeperKid]

I purchased April's copy of Modern Railways magazine a couple of days back, mainly for the feature on Rail Ale, and found it a very good read and am thinking about subscribing, but what railway magazine does everyone buy, or subscribe to and why? I noticed there are quite a few magazine available including Rail, which I used to get as a kid, but went for Modern Railways for the reason I have already mentioned.

What do people recommend? What do you get for your subscription? etc...

I am not to fussed on Steam, or European railways, more interested in modern traction.

I notice you pay for Modern Railways quarterly, which is a help.

Cheers for your views..

 

[anthony263]

Modern Railways, & The Railway magazine

 

[EltonRoad]

I subscribed to RAIL for the last 2 years, mainly cos it's fortnightly and has a comprehensive news section. To my mind it has the right balance of technical and non-technical info, which is good as my interest in railways is purely that - an interest.

Plus it has Barry Doe who I've read since I was about 16 when he used to write in Modern Railways, then defected to RAIL. In my opinion nobody has a better grasp of the fares system (apart from a few on this forum, maybe!).

I used to read Modern Railways when I was a teenager, and even had a letter published (again age 16) about reasonable routes under BR rules. If I recall correctly it was whether Shrewsbury to Scotland was valid via Wolverhampton. I didn't think it was, but some travel centre staff said it was.

These days I like the photos as much as anything and Railways Illustrated is a nice glossy read. So basically I'd say:

RAIL for the news coverage
Modern Railways for the in-depth technical stuff (Roger Ford esp)
Railways Illustrated for the photos
Railway Magazine for general coverage including steam
Rail Express for more photos

I've also looked at Today's Railways UK, one of the newer additions to the range, and find it fairly dull to be honest. The timetable articles are more like reading a description of the telephone directory with no actual opinion on what's going on.

 

[Oracle]

I first bought RAILWAY WORLD in the late 1960s, and wrote to them in I think 1968...now I find myself 'working for' Ian Allans, although only contributed on the railway side to HORNBY MAGAZINE. I have to say though that that's a great read even if you are not totally into model railways, and the circulation is impressive!

I have bought RAIL since it was RAIL ENTHUSIAST #1, when it was quarterly? Then went monthly then fornightly. I have just had one photo published by Mr Editor Harris but he did not credit me! I agree that Barry Doe's column is amazing.

I occasionally buy BACKTRACK as that seems to be a 'bookazine' namely a book in magazine form.

 

[Aictos]

I can't remember the name of the magazine but it's still available and is basically split into 3 parts, section 1 is all about news, section 2 is all about modelling and section 3 is all about movements and liveries etc...

Always try to get it, sadly though the shop at Peterborough now has a very very limited range compared to what it used to have.

It's now more a case of more lifestyle magazines.

 

[GB]

Sounds like Rail Express?

 

[GearJammer]

I buy..

RAIL
Rail Express
Railways Illustrated
The Railway Magazine
Heritage railway
TRACTION
& Steam World?

I also buy Truck & Driver and Trucking and more often than not Model Rail..............

And its just occurred to me i spend a small fortune on magazines

They all got there good points, i don't think there are any bad railway magazines, and if they pass the time of day when you read them and you learn something then they done there job!

They all got there good points

 

[Heinz57]

I buy..

RAIL
Rail Express
Railways Illustrated
The Railway Magazine
Heritage railway
TRACTION
& Steam World?

I also buy Truck & Driver and Trucking and more often than not Model Rail..............

That is one lot of magazines

I just buy Model Rail (On subscribtion) and Hornby Magazine. I used to get The Railway Magazine but I don't now

 

[MCR247]

I like Todays Railways or something, it used to be entrain

 

[Daimler]

I tend to get different ones at different times, but always get The Railway Magazine and Steam Railway.

Of late, I've been buying Modern Railways a lot more (principally for Roger Ford's analysis), while I used to get RAIL.

Steam Railway is the best for me, though!

 

[GearJammer]

Steam Railway is the best for me, though!

............. yeah i get that one to, i forgot that one, lol

 

[Aictos]

Sounds like Rail Express?

Probably, quite good as well.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

For me I like subscribe to the Railway Magazine, and occasionally buy Railways Illustrated and RAIL magazine. Very good magazines, although I don't like 'Modern Railways' magazine alot.

 

[TGV]

To the original poster - I'd say you've got it right. I only normally buy RAIL and Modern Railways. RAIL has the best selection and most up to date news because it's published twice as often as the others. Many in the industry give it a hard time, but that's the same of just about any publication in any industry. The fact is, RAIL does a pretty decent job of covering just about everything going on. In any case, some of the errors you spot in it are forgivable and probably a reflection on the job of creating a pretty lengthy publication every 14 days. Time will be tight in their offices I'd imagine.

Modern Railways is more technical and more industry focused - perhaps not aimed at your average spotter or casual enthusiast - it's a bit more professionally based. Although only published monthy, it is very comprehensive on modern traction and has a more in-depth reporting knowledge and style - but then as I said, they do have twice the time to create pretty much the same amount of content as RAIL. So, the bottom line is you pays your money and takes your choice.

I see "The Railway Magazine" as a good one for the spotters as it's written in a more informal way and has more photos. Then there's all the steam ones for those who like their traction dirty and the modellers ones for those who like their traction small.

 

[CallySleeperKid]

Thanks everyone, I am pretty sure ill go fr either Modern Railways or Rail.

Modern Railway is pad for quarterly and comes with a free binder, but Rail comes every 2 weeks. Downside to Rail is that there is an error on their website when you go to the subscription page, so I cant find a subscription price and what offers you get with the subscription, so at the minute its all pointing to Modern Railways.

I would prefer the more often publication of Rail but im stuck at the minute with subscriptions and prices.

Will see what happens, thanks again everyone.

 

[142094]

Another one here for Rail, it is more focussed towards the industry and not the enthusiast, so much better for those who are interested in that side and not just photting locos. Having said that, there are usually some good photos in it, and I've been in a few times as well. Not as many as some on these fair forums though!

 

[WatcherZero]

As someone interested in the Infrastructure and traction from an engineering rather than aesthetic I much prefer Rail.

 

[Train wasp]

I always buy Railway Magazine.

 

[CosherB]

I get 'Railway Magazine' on subscription, as it seems a good 'all rounder'. I have a general interest in railway operations so it suits well. But being a 'general' rail mag, it doesn't cover anything in deep deep depth.

I might nip down to Smiths this week and buy a selection of rail mags just to see if there's one I should get as well as RM.