Change of Editor at Railways Illustrated

[alexl92]

I understand that Pip Dunn has moved on from Railways Illustrated to take on a new challenge. Does anyone know anything of the new gentleman, Mark Nicholls?

I haven't been able to pick up either Pip's last issue or Mark's first unfortunately.

 

[Aldaniti]

I understand that Pip Dunn has moved on from Railways Illustrated to take on a new challenge. Does anyone know anything of the new gentleman, Mark Nicholls?

I haven't been able to pick up either Pip's last issue or Mark's first unfortunately.

Apparently the new editor is former railway staff with experience in publishing. Pip Dunn added his mark to RI in the right direction but it has - and this is only my own personal view - become a little too focused on number crunching; lists, dates, liveries carried - sometimes in quite extraordinary detail. My eyes have glazed over after reading some articles! Of course, some like that, I'm sure - and you can't please all of the people all of the time. Generally I've been a happy reader - but what marred Pip's last couple of issues for me was what I can only describe as a toy-launch against West Coast Railways, not the best of journalism, and which was probably not just a response to WCR's recent problems.

It'll be interesting to see in what direction the new editor takes the magazine. I believe his first issue is that published in early July.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I'm not at home as I type this but from memory Pip Dunn has headed off to edit a road freight industry magazine or something along those lines.

 

[alexl92]

Apparently the new editor is former railway staff with experience in publishing. Pip Dunn added his mark to RI in the right direction but it has - and this is only my own personal view - become a little too focused on number crunching; lists, dates, liveries carried - sometimes in quite extraordinary detail. My eyes have glazed over after reading some articles! Of course, some like that, I'm sure - and you can't please all of the people all of the time. Generally I've been a happy reader - but what marred Pip's last couple of issues for me was what I can only describe as a toy-launch against West Coast Railways, not the best of journalism, and which was probably not just a response to WCR's recent problems.

It'll be interesting to see in what direction the new editor takes the magazine. I believe his first issue is that published in early July.

Pip was hard on WCRC - I think it stemmed from David Smith's reluctance to talk to the press about anything. Agree with the number crunching thing - sometimes it did become '47425 worked 0X00 the 1234 Norwich - Liverpool, then this working, then that' for an entire article, but I generally enjoyed the magazine very much and appreciated Pip's contributions (even if his love of 20s did come across a little too strongly at times!)

I'm not at home as I type this but from memory Pip Dunn has headed off to edit a road freight industry magazine or something along those lines.

Yes - as well as being a railway enthusiast he's also a truck man, and he's moved to Truck & Driver magazine.

 

[Skymonster]

It'll be interesting to see in what direction the new editor takes the magazine. I believe his first issue is that published in early July.

The new issue, Mark's first, should be on the shelves any day now... I saw it late last week - there's a few minor changes (and there'll be a few more in future) but it'll be a gradual evolution rather than a revolution. Quite a few of the regular sections are written by specific contributors, so most of those sections aren't changing, and Pip is still contributing some features.

 

[Whistler40145]

Received my copy today by post. Slightly surprised that the rumours section at the rear of the magazine isn't included, but it looks good

 

[theblackwatch]

I chatted to Pip at the weekend at the NYMR (yes, people who write for different mags do talk with each other and get along!). As Skymonster says, Pip is still contributing on a freelance basis, writing the Classic Trains, What's Happening To and From the Front Coach columns for RI. Any new Editor is going to make one or two changes to the content of a magazine and introduce/drop things - just look at how different RI was under Pip's editorship compared to when Colin Marsden was in charge.

 

[tjlrailblue]

yeh the 'power by the hour' and all the number and allocation changes is a bit dull imo too

i still like the magazine overall though

the new editor is a former railwayman who has edited airports of the world magazine

i tend to buy either traction, ri or rail express depending on what articles appeal to me most

Tim