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Best Railway Magazine
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RailUK Forums
Johnuk123
Established Member
- Joined
- 19 Mar 2012
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- 2,801
If you're only interested in modern stuff then Modern Railways as has already been said.
But whatever you do don't buy individual copies, the subscription route is the only sensible way to go.
But whatever you do don't buy individual copies, the subscription route is the only sensible way to go.
anthony263
Established Member
I also ad my vote to Modern Railways.
I too agree with the point made about getting a subscription
I too agree with the point made about getting a subscription
Modern Railways is probably the best but of course this is quite subjective.
Given that you wish to read on the train consider that Rail is published every two weeks. Modern Railways, and most of the rest, are published monthly.
The advice to get a subscription is wise. You could get a subscription for Rail AND Modern Railways for not much more than cash purchases every month of a single title.
And I think Rail do 6 month subscriptions too.
Enjoy.
Given that you wish to read on the train consider that Rail is published every two weeks. Modern Railways, and most of the rest, are published monthly.
The advice to get a subscription is wise. You could get a subscription for Rail AND Modern Railways for not much more than cash purchases every month of a single title.
And I think Rail do 6 month subscriptions too.
Enjoy.
Looks like its modern railways all the way then 
will pick up a copy later from WH Smith at my station on the way to work have a goosy gander as they say then if i like will do the subscription i see they doe a quarterly subscription for 9.98 so really your getting 2 issues and the 3rd for free which is really good
will pick up a copy later from WH Smith at my station on the way to work have a goosy gander as they say then if i like will do the subscription i see they doe a quarterly subscription for 9.98 so really your getting 2 issues and the 3rd for free which is really good
I (or rather my wife does) regret that I've got every single Modern Railways from its start in 1962 (and indeed its TI predecessor); probably by no means unique among those here. As you might expect over such a long interval, it has gone up and down over the years, generally depending on the editor of the time. Currently they seem to have dropped from a previous high, a key issue being too much emphasis on putting material in which is obviously just direct from a PR "puff" put out on behalf of some organisation by a marketing agency. You can spot these straight away, on the basis that no railway journalist would ever write in such a manner!
They have also moved their target market from general rail interest at the "knowledgeable" observer end, to very firmly being aimed at industry staff. Of course, you can see why they do this, in no small part due to the additional professional/trade advertising such an approach attracts. They have some good commentators on the current scene (Walmsley is the most tuned-in to my way of looking at things). However, there has been a loss of the informed general article about certain areas, rolling stock, etc, which used to contain much interesting information.
I do wish they would put out all the past issues on a DVD, which I think they could get good money for, whereupon I could get rid of all those print copies!
I've always found Rail a bit too juvenile in its style, I believe they struggle to get enough material for their more frequent publication, while the good old Railway Magazine tries to do everything and ends up falling between two stools. In an ideal world there would be a monthly magazine that incorporated the best bits of all of them and put together a single composite publication. I think that printed mags now have a limited forward life, physical printing and distribution actually absorbs most of their costs, and they need to come up with an effective format for the on-line world, without letting go of the good aspects.
They have also moved their target market from general rail interest at the "knowledgeable" observer end, to very firmly being aimed at industry staff. Of course, you can see why they do this, in no small part due to the additional professional/trade advertising such an approach attracts. They have some good commentators on the current scene (Walmsley is the most tuned-in to my way of looking at things). However, there has been a loss of the informed general article about certain areas, rolling stock, etc, which used to contain much interesting information.
I do wish they would put out all the past issues on a DVD, which I think they could get good money for, whereupon I could get rid of all those print copies!
I've always found Rail a bit too juvenile in its style, I believe they struggle to get enough material for their more frequent publication, while the good old Railway Magazine tries to do everything and ends up falling between two stools. In an ideal world there would be a monthly magazine that incorporated the best bits of all of them and put together a single composite publication. I think that printed mags now have a limited forward life, physical printing and distribution actually absorbs most of their costs, and they need to come up with an effective format for the on-line world, without letting go of the good aspects.
I would second that.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Modern Railways is a magazine that I have held an annual subscription for far more years than I wish to remember and I have a dedicated bookcase in my study for the past issues in their special binders.
In my younger days in the 1950's, I always liked The Railway Magazine as it had journey details with the steam locomotive performance technical information on those journeys and occasionally copies of The Railway Gazette came into my possession from a relative.
In my younger days in the 1950's, I always liked The Railway Magazine as it had journey details with the steam locomotive performance technical information on those journeys and occasionally copies of The Railway Gazette came into my possession from a relative.
MidnightFlyer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 16 May 2010
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- 12,856
Indeed. MR is brilliant and in many respects untouchable for a lot of technical matters, but if you're looking for something you can sit down, read and understand without much difficulty you're better off with TR or Rail.
I would seem to be in a minority as I have a subscription to Railways Illustrated.
In some other publications there is too much steam for me, in others too much model railways. Do model railway magazines have big sections on proper railways?
In some other publications there is too much steam for me, in others too much model railways. Do model railway magazines have big sections on proper railways?
Hartington
Member
- Joined
- 5 Jul 2013
- Messages
- 165
I've recently had a short term subscription to Rail courtesy of East Coast Rewards. I am also a long term Modern Railways reader/subscriber. To give myself some balance against the UK centric view of MR I also subscribe to the US magazine Trains. I am known to buy the odd copy of The Railway Magazine as well as Todays Railways (both versions). When I go abroad I always look for local magazines - I came back from Japan with a timetable and a magazine even though I have no understanding of Japanese!
Is one better than the other(s)? It depends very much on your interests. Modern Railways is, as others have said, leaning increasing towards being a trade magazine (no bad thing in my view). Rail was fun for 8 issues but I could not help thinking it was like standing on the end of a platform gossiping with other enthusiasts. Trains has an interesting mix; they ran a very interesting piece on Locontrol (controlling distributed power units) and ECP braking for instance but they have a monthly feature about where to go in the USA to watch trains and what your family can whilst you're doing it and almost everything in betweeen including some articles about other countries.
I would try a few rather than relying on people like me!
Is one better than the other(s)? It depends very much on your interests. Modern Railways is, as others have said, leaning increasing towards being a trade magazine (no bad thing in my view). Rail was fun for 8 issues but I could not help thinking it was like standing on the end of a platform gossiping with other enthusiasts. Trains has an interesting mix; they ran a very interesting piece on Locontrol (controlling distributed power units) and ECP braking for instance but they have a monthly feature about where to go in the USA to watch trains and what your family can whilst you're doing it and almost everything in betweeen including some articles about other countries.
I would try a few rather than relying on people like me!
Whistler40145
Established Member
I prefer Railways Illustrated, under the expert Editorship of Pip Dunn, he used to work for Rail Magazine. I used to subscribe to RAIL, but found it far too political.
I also used to like Traction, but only liked it when David Brown was Editor.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I also used to like Traction, but only liked it when David Brown was Editor.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I have always quite liked Rail Express, but I don't like the modelling section in the middle.
I keep telling myself that the magazine would more than likely be the same size with or without it, but I still am irritated by it's inclusion as I have no interest in modelling.
I keep telling myself that the magazine would more than likely be the same size with or without it, but I still am irritated by it's inclusion as I have no interest in modelling.
43074
Established Member
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 2,090
I believe 'Model Rail' started like that, as a supplement within Rail Magazine before branching out and becoming more in depth.
I think the modelling section in Rail Express is large enough now that they could sell it as a seperate magazine, albeit not full price.
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