Railway Mags

Magazines that deal with real railways i.e. those you can see thundering through your local station (assuming you have a local station of course.) Whether they are UK based or from overseas, you will find them all under this heading.

Subcategories

  • British Railway Journal

    British Railway Journal magazine, published by Wild Swan Publications.

  • BackTrack

    BackTrack is a monthly magazine, published by Pendragon Publishing, concentrating on researched articles and photographic features about British and Irish railway history. It is available through newsagents in the UK and by subscription from the publisher, but does not rely on advertising income and therefore does not publish an ABC circulation figure.

    The magazine was founded in 1986 by Nigel Trevena, of Atlantic Transport Publishers (based in Truro, Cornwall), for the purpose of "recording Britain's railway history" (strapline until mid-1993). The editorial in the 'introductory issue' promised that each issue would contain "at least one article on each or the 'Big Four' companies ... (or their respective BR region)", would have "a branch line article in every issue" and would ignore current developments and the preservation scene. The magazine generally adheres to these principles even today, and it claims to be the leading (general purpose) railway historical magazine in Britain (current strapline).

    Trevena was forced to retire from active participation in 1989 for health reasons and handed the editorship to David Jenkinson, who had then recently retired from his job at the National Railway Museum to concentrate on writing. In turn, Jenkinson's health lead him, at the end of 1994, to hand on the post of editor to Michael Blakemore, the present incumbent. David Jenkinson and Michael Blakemore's company Pendragon Publishing (office located in Easingwold, N. Yorks) bought the rights to the magazine from Atlantic in 2003.

    The contents include picture features of two to five pages, usually in colour, and articles which may be described as amateur-scholarly, with sources footnoted, accompanied by colour or black-and-white illustrations and maps or diagrams as appropriate. A small section at the back contains "Reader's forum" (letters) and book reviews. Advertising is kept to a minimum (usually inside-front-cover and inside-back-cover only). No subjects more recent than ten years before publication are entertained, although contemporary developments affecting historic subjects are mentioned when necessary and current approaches to railway history are occasionally analyzed.

    publisherissuesfrequency
    Atlantic Transport Publishers, Truro, (later Penryn), Cornwall Introductory, 1986;
    vol.1, 1987 – vol.17, 2003    		 v.1-3: 4/year;
    v.4-8: 6/year;
    v.9-17 monthly
    Pendragon Publishing, Easingwold, York vol. 18, 2004 onwards to date
    (as at August 2012)    		 monthly

    (Words from Wikipedia.)

  • British Railways Illus

    British Railways Illustrated magazine. Published by Irwell Press. Later published by Guideline Publications.

  • British Rail Fleet Survey

    In 1955 the British Transport Commission announced a £1,200m Modernisation Plan which was to change the face of Britain's railways. In the intervening years steam motive power gave way to diesel and electric traction and in a mere 25 years, designers' pipedreams have become reality.

    Ian Allan initiate this new series which will examine, part by part, the development of today's British Rail fleet, illustrating and describing the gradual evolution which has produced the latest locomotives and high speed trains.

    The first volume analyses the earliest diesel-electric prototypes and pilot scheme designs; from then on each of the new projects and production types will be presented to the reader in chronological order. Eventually, British Rail Fleet Survey will provide a comprehensive pictorial record of the development of today's railways.

  • Foreign Railways

    Railways on the continent.

  • GWR Journal

    Published by Wild Swan Publications Ltd. The preview edition was originally published in October 1991.

  • Loco Profile

    Loco Profile magazine, more a pamphlet really. Various subjects.

  • Locomotives Illustrtd

    Locomotives Illustrated was founded in 1975 by Geoffrey Freeman Allen with the intention of creating a series of magazines, each issue dedicated to an individual class of British steam locomotive. By mid-2007, the magazine had covered almost every class of steam locomotive and the publishers, Locomotives Illustrated ended in early 2008 after 170 issues.

    From issue No.171, the title became 'Modern Locomotives Illustrated'.

    See Wikipedia

  • Modern Railways Pictorial

    Possibly a sister magazine to Modern Railways, published by Ian Allan Ltd.

  • Narrow Gauge World

    Narrow Gauge World magazine.

  • Railway Reflections

    Railway Reflections, looking back at times gone forever? It was published by Railway Reflections, Barnet, Herts, EN5 5UJ. The editor was Hugh D. Ramsey. The pictures were previously unpublished and included a railway modelling supplement in some issues.

    It was a general interest British railway heritage magazine, mostly pictorial, mainly depicting 1950's & 60's steam workings. Predominantly black & white photos, with a smattering of colour pics. There were 28 bi-monthly issues which were published between November 1980 and July 1985. There was also one Special Issue 'Farewell to the Deltics'. The publication came to an unannounced halt for reasons unknown.

  • Railway Bylines

    Railway Bylines magazine, published by Irwell Press. (Guideline Publications from December 2019 issue.) Celebrating Britain's light railways, industrial systems, country lines, and narrow gauge.

    Railway Bylines is the magazine devoted to branch lines, industrial railways, narrow gauge, light railways, Irish railways and those intriguing little nooks, crannies and hidey-holes of the railway network.

  • Railway Mags Misc

    Railway magazine oddments too few in number to go elsewhere.

  • Railways South East

    Railways South East was perhaps the best enthusiast journal on railways ever to exist. It combined excellent production standards (good quality paper and printing), a judicious use of colour, with consistently good articles on historical topics, plus a modest amount of news. It was the brain-child of David Jenkinson, and was taken over by Professor Pat White: the journal sadly died with its second editor. It should be noted that it has a very similar structure to Backtrack in that its front and back covers were finely reproduced colour photographs, and several of the authors are shared.

  • Steam World

    Steam World is Britain's best selling historical railway magazine. Covering the magical times when steam railways were the lifeblood of the country. It features first-hand accounts from drivers, firemen, BR managers and enthusiasts alike. (words courtesy Steam World website - https://steamworldmag.co.uk).

  • Steam Days

    Steam Days magazine.

    Steam nostalgia and Railway History at its best.

    Rex Kennedy editor from October 1992 issue.

    Redgauntlet Publications became publisher from March 1993 issue. Prior to this it was an Ian Allan publication.

  • Trains Illustrated

    Trains Illustrated magazine. Published by Ian Allan Ltd. Became Modern Railways as from the January 1962 issue.

  • Traction

    Traction magazines.

    First issue came out in 1994 (Aug/Sep).

    Tag line at the top reads "A Rail title devoted to Classic Diesels and Electrics - Past and Present."

Active filters