However this news has not been well recieved by all enthusiasts, with some predicting the RH's demise.a recent e-mail to Railway Herald subscribers said:Well I am delighted to be able to formally announce and confirm several rumours that I know are currently being beaten regularly by the jungle drums! Railway Herald IS changing and in my opinion it is definitely for the better! As many of you will be aware over the past three years I have also been the Steam Editor and subsequently the Assistant Editor of Railways Illustrated magazine, published by Ian Allan. Both myself and the current editor of Railways Illustrated, Colin J. Marsden, are leaving the title following the production of the April dated issue.
RAILWAY HERALD IS CHANGING!
With effect from then, Colin will be joining me as Co-Editor of Railway Herald, with both of us sharing the same aim of steering the title to be one of the key railway enthusiast magazines, bringing instant and informative news to readers desktop.
Richard Tuplin hit back at the "people [preaching] on a subject about which they know very little" and urged people to wait and see.
The following was posted to news://uk.railway
Richard Tuplin said:Firstly, I am not about to get into a full-blown debate on the subject. Secondly, there are few people who know the full details of the 'new' Railway Herald and thirdly, I find it excellent that people can preach on a subject about which they know very little!
Yes Railway Herald is changing; yes it will become a subscription-based
product at £20 a year (which works out at 38.5p an issue) and yes ALL
contributors will be paid for photographs used in the new look magazine. Initial reaction from the existing readers of Railway Herald
has been very positive.
But I would urge you all to wait and see the new product before casting
dispersions and your own views on whether or not it will be worth subscribing. It will be different to the current version and bigger. We'll announce the full details when WE are ready to do so and you will get to see what the new version looks like and the full extent of its coverage BEFORE it goes subscription only!
In the mean time, to everyone who currently reads the magazine, whether you intend to subscribe or not, thank you for your support over the
past twelve months.
So, will you pay £20/year for Railway Herald or will you 'wait and see'?
Personally I'd rather put the £20 towards a paper mag, and if I want online content there are many other sources of information.