Which magazines are still being published during the Covid-19 crisis?

[geoffk]

I read that Platform 5 Publishing has closed for the duration but I received "Heritage Railway" from Morton's in the past week. Many publishers will be in difficulty but some are evidently still going, for how long we don't know, as news and particularly photographs will dry up.

 

[davetheguard]

Hi Geoff,

I've a subscription to Modern Railways which arrived as usual last month. The next issue is due in a week's time; I've not heard of any plan not to publish.

But yes, you're right; what are they going to put in it? The news (apart from HS2) appears to be: this & that are running at reduced frequency; this & that aren't running/have closed down completely; this & that has stopped construction.

 

[pdeaves]

Currently, Rail and Railway Modeller are still being published, no doubt others too.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Steam Railway is another one still publishing.

 

[Merthyr Imp]

In the current (April) issue of The Railway Magazine the editor states it is produced by staff working from home anyway.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Have now received April 2020 edition of "Railnews" (National Emergency Special) and 18-24 April 2020 issue of "Radio Times" if that helps any.

 

[pdeaves]

I think the limiting factor for all journals is whether the printer (and possibly dispatcher) is still working or not.

 

[gazthomas]

I've had the April "Railway Magazine" and May "Railways Illustrated". Obviously they've all been caught out with CV-19 and publishing lag

 

[midland1]

I have got May's Back Track and Rail Express today.

 

[theblackwatch]

There are a couple of other issues for magazine publishers (not just limited to railway ones either):

- Advertising: This is an important revenue stream for a lot of magazines. In the railway world, a lack of railtours, preserved railway events, model shows etc is going to have a major impact on the number of adverts in the mags.

- Availability: People aren't going out the same to buy the mags. While some people subscribe and get their favourite mags in the mail, others buy them at railway stations or their local shop, which may not be open. This is obviously going to affect sales.

On the latter note, a good number of mags, including Rail Express, Railway Magazine, Modern Railways and Rail, are available in electronic format through www.pocketmags.com - hope this may help one or two people.

 

[Merthyr Imp]

I received the May 'Steam Days' today. There's a note in it to say 'at time of going to press, production and despatch of our magazine is currently not affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.' and that updates will be able available on the publisher's website.

Of course it may have gone to press with that notice in it some time ago.

 

[Busaholic]

I spoke to a newsagent friend this morning when I picked up May's 'Buses' magazine and he said that very few had been affected thus far, although he did say that 'Coach and Bus Weekly' for this week hadn't appeared as yet.

 

[PG]

I spoke to a newsagent friend this morning when I picked up May's 'Buses' magazine and he said that very few had been affected thus far, although he did say that 'Coach and Bus Weekly' for this week hadn't appeared as yet.

Their website has this message:

Unfortunately, due to the current circumstances we are temporarily stopping production of CBW magazine, this is the last thing we wanted to do but really is our only option now.

BUT… We will still be online so make sure to regularly check cbwmagazine.com for the latest news. You can also register at cbwmagazine.com/register to keep up to date with when we will be back in production. We wish all our followers the best over this time and we hope you are keeping safe. The CBW team

 

[gazthomas]

I have got May's Back Track and Rail Express today.

My RE arrived yesterday, later than usual due to (I suspect) Royal Mail issues in my area as my post has been very erratic. Interestingly the usual order of the magazine had changed, with some formatting surprises such as reviews of model trains going over pages rather than being side-by-side. It had fewer pages than usual which the Editor addressed as being due to fewer advertisements

 

[geoffk]

I managed to get "Rail" in our local newsagent. I've not read this before so it will be interesting to compare it with "Today's Railways UK". At least I'll be able to keep up with what's going on, or rather not going on. And of course there is news on line also.

 

[gazthomas]

I managed to get "Rail" in our local newsagent. I've not read this before so it will be interesting to compare it with "Today's Railways UK". At least I'll be able to keep up with what's going on, or rather not going on. And of course there is news on line also.

You'll find them quite different, Rail is more a tabloid. If you can, try Modern Railways, you may find it more similar to Today's Railways UK

 

[theblackwatch]

My RE arrived yesterday, later than usual due to (I suspect) Royal Mail issues in my area as my post has been very erratic. Interestingly the usual order of the magazine had changed, with some formatting surprises such as reviews of model trains going over pages rather than being side-by-side. It had fewer pages than usual which the Editor addressed as being due to fewer advertisements

Must admit I wasn't keen on the change of the order of the pages - I guess I must be too much of a creature of habit as it's not like the content itself was any different. I have let the editor know (he did ask for comments in his intro!).

 

[gazthomas]

Must admit I wasn't keen on the change of the order of the pages - I guess I must be too much of a creature of habit as it's not like the content itself was any different. I have let the editor know (he did ask for comments in his intro!).

It threw me quite a bit, like you I'd got used to the order it was normally in. Too much change to cope with at the moment!

 

[swanhill41]

I realise that this in effect a different subject,but are there any thoughts about whether any of the rail titles stop being published ,full stop?

 

[gazthomas]

I realise that this in effect a different subject,but are there any thoughts about whether any of the rail titles stop being published ,full stop?

Today's Railways (Platform 5) have already taken a break so it's possible that other magazines might take a break or stop altogether

 

[PG]

I realise that this in effect a different subject,but are there any thoughts about whether any of the rail titles stop being published ,full stop?

I think titles which are geared towards the heritage side of railways could well be the first to take a break or reduce frequency of publication.

As far as regards contemporary publications I guess a lot will depend on the depth (and policies) of the publishers pockets.

 

[geoffk]

If you can, try Modern Railways, you may find it more similar to Today's Railways UK

I started with Trains Illustrated back in 1958 and continued for a few years when it became Modern Railways in 1962, amalgamating with industry journal The Locomotive. After a while it seemed to become geared towards the railway professional more than, shall we say, the "serious amateur". I then switched to Railway Magazine, so have tried most of them over the years!

 

[Grippo]

Hi All, I'm having real difficulty getting hold of a print copy of April's Railway Magazine. If anyone has a copy they've finished with and I could buy from them I'd be massively grateful! It's for my dad who, shall we just say, doesn't really get on with digital stuff!!

Looks like supply could be an issue, even for titles that continue publishing

 

[gazthomas]

Hi All, I'm having real difficulty getting hold of a print copy of April's Railway Magazine. If anyone has a copy they've finished with and I could buy from them I'd be massively grateful! It's for my dad who, shall we just say, doesn't really get on with digital stuff!!

Looks like supply could be an issue, even for titles that continue publishing

I have one, send me a message. I haven't touched it for a couple of weeks so should be Coronavirus free!

 

[Grippo]

I have one, send me a message. I haven't touched it for a couple of weeks so should be Coronavirus free!

Top man Gary!! Thank you so much, my dad will be massively grateful!!

 

[theblackwatch]

I had been going to advise that you can buy single issues from Mortons, but it appears the April RM is out of stock!

The Railway Magazine | April 2020

UK's Leading magazine subscription website for classic and modern motorcycle, Scootering, Railway, Gardening magazines subscription offers and gifts.

www.classicmagazines.co.uk

 

[gazthomas]

I had been going to advise that you can buy single issues from Mortons, but it appears the April RM is out of stock!

The Railway Magazine | April 2020

UK's Leading magazine subscription website for classic and modern motorcycle, Scootering, Railway, Gardening magazines subscription offers and gifts.

www.classicmagazines.co.uk

Crikey. I've just posted a limited edition magazine!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is Modern Railways still in print? If not I'll purchase it electronically, but I prefer to read it on paper.

 

[gazthomas]

Is Modern Railways still in print? If not I'll purchase it electronically, but I prefer to read it on paper.

Yes it's still in print as you can buy/subscribe to the print edition on Key Publishings website. I would expect that many publishers would appreciate the up take of 12/24 month subscriptions at the moment

 

[S&CLER]

Is Modern Railways still in print? If not I'll purchase it electronically, but I prefer to read it on paper.

My sub copy of the May issue came yesterday. It's worth it just for a brilliant centrespread signalling map of the former Southern region lines, showing all tracks, all work stations, boxes etc. in different colours.