Modern Railways

Last updated

Modern Railways
Modern Railways Feb 2012 front cover.jpg
EditorPhilip Sherratt
Categories Rail transport
FrequencyMonthly (fourth Thursday)
Circulation 16,000 [1]
Publisher Key Publishing
Founder Geoffrey Freeman Allen
Founded1962
CountryUnited Kingdom
Based in Tunbridge Wells, England
Language British English
Website https://modern-railways.keypublishing.com
ISSN 0026-8356

Modern Railways is a British monthly magazine covering the rail transport industry which was published by Ian Allan until March 2012, and Key Publishing since then. It has been published since 1962. The magazine was originally based in Shepperton, Middlesex.

Contents

It has always been targeted at both railway professionals and serious amateurs, an aim which derives from its origins as an amalgamation of the enthusiast magazine Trains Illustrated and the industry journal The Locomotive in the hands of its first editor Geoffrey Freeman Allen.

It is currently edited by Philip Sherratt after the retirement of James Abbott. [2] Regular contributors include Roger Ford, Ian Walmsley, [3] Alan Williams and Tony Miles. The large section regularly written by Roger Ford is called ‘Informed Sources’. That by Ian Walmsley is called ‘Pan Up’.

Trains Illustrated

The first edition of Trains Illustrated was published at the beginning of 1946. Due to post-war paper shortages issues 1 to 8 appeared at varied intervals in 1946 and 1947. From issue 9 (April 1948) it was published quarterly, from issue 14 (August–September 1949) it became bi-monthly, and from issue 17 (February 1950) it became a monthly publication. The final issue under that title was volume XIV, no.159 (December 1961), after which the sequence continued under the Modern Railways title.

Early issues were edited by Ian Allan and O.J.Morris, with Cecil J Allen taking over from issue 5 and G. Freeman Allen from issue 20; he remained editor until December 1961.

First edition

The first edition of Modern Railways was published in January 1962 as Volume XV, no. 160 in a sequence continuing from Trains Illustrated. [4] It featured a preface letter from Dr Richard Beeching, then Chairman of the British Transport Commission, who wrote:

"The thousands who read your journal every month derive from it a great deal of pleasure and useful information about the activities of British Railways. I feel that we share common ground, for your readers are our friends as well as yours, and we are helped by your success in holding and enlarging their interest. In particular we have come to expect from you, and to value, the kind of well-informed comment on our affairs which is the mark of a lively and competent magazine. Like the railways, Trains Illustrated is now moving towards a new era and I think it wholly appropriate that you should choose Modern Railways as your new title. What is merely a new name for you is an eagerly-sought objective for us. May we both go forward to new and rewarding success."

A feature article in the edition analysed peak traffic operations at Reading railway station in the days leading up to Christmas 1960, stating:

"Reading…has neither a desperate shortage of platforms nor a crippling complication of layout…"

See also

Related Research Articles

British Railways (BR), which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was a state-owned company that operated most of the overground rail transport in Great Britain from 1948 to 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the Big Four British railway companies, and was privatised in stages between 1994 and 1997. Originally a trading brand of the Railway Executive of the British Transport Commission, it became an independent statutory corporation in January 1963, when it was formally renamed the British Railways Board.

The Western Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right on completion of the "Organising for Quality" initiative on 6 April 1992. The Region consisted principally of ex-Great Western Railway lines, minus certain lines west of Birmingham, which were transferred to the London Midland Region in 1963 and with the addition of all former Southern Railway routes west of Exeter, which were subsequently rationalised.

<i>The Railway Magazine</i> British railway magazine

The Railway Magazine is a monthly British railway magazine, aimed at the railway enthusiast market, that has been published in London since July 1897. As of 2010 it was, for three years running, the railway magazine with the largest circulation in the United Kingdom, having a monthly average sale during 2009 of 34,715. It was published by IPC Media until October 2010, with ISSN 0033-8923, and in 2007 won IPC's 'Magazine of the Year' award. Since November 2010, The Railway Magazine has been published by Mortons of Horncastle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 90</span> British electric locomotive

The British Rail Class 90 electric locomotives were built for mixed-traffic duties, operating from 25 kV AC overhead lines and produce 5,000 bhp (3,700 kW). They weigh 84.5 tonnes and can typically achieve a top speed of 110 mph (177 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Allan Publishing</span> UK publisher of transport books

Ian Allan Publishing was an English publisher, established in 1942, which specialised in transport books. It was founded by Ian Allan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 42</span> Diesel-hydraulic railway locomotive used in Great Britain

The British Rail Class 42 Warship diesel-hydraulic locomotives were introduced in 1958. It was apparent at that time that the largest centre of expertise on diesel-hydraulic locomotives was in West Germany. The Western Region of British Railways negotiated a licence with German manufacturers to scale down the German Federal Railway's "V200" design to suit the smaller loading gauge of the British network, and to allow British manufacturers to construct the new locomotives. The resultant design bears a close resemblance, both cosmetically and in the engineering employed, to the original V200 design. Warship locomotives were divided into two batches: those built at BR's Swindon works were numbered in the series D800-D832 and D866-D870, had a maximum tractive effort of 52,400 pounds-force (233,000 N) and eventually became British Rail Class 42. 33 others, D833–D865, were constructed by the North British Locomotive Company and became British Rail Class 43. They were allocated to Bristol Bath Road, Plymouth Laira, Newton Abbot and Old Oak Common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 59</span> Class of diesel electric locomotives

The Class 59 3,300 bhp (2,460 kW) Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives were built between 1985 and 1995 by Electro-Motive Diesel for operation in Great Britain. A total of 15 locomotives were built for three different operators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laira Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot</span>

Laira T&RSMD is a railway traction and rolling stock maintenance depot situated in Plymouth, Devon, England. The depot is operated by Great Western Railway and is mainly concerned with the overhaul and daily servicing of their fleet of High Speed Trains and also the DMUs used on local services. The depot code "LA" is used to identify rolling stock based there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Ford (journalist)</span> British journalist

Roger Ford is a British journalist specialising in rail transport. He is Industry and Technology Editor of the monthly trade and technical magazine Modern Railways, where he is probably best known for his authoritative column Informed Sources, noted for its in-depth analysis of railway technical, commercial and policy issues. He is also founding editor of Rail Business Intelligence.

Geoffrey Freeman Allen was an English author specialising in the field of railways. He authored many books and magazine articles on this subject, and for a time was editor of Jane's World Railways. His name was usually styled G. Freeman Allen. Greater Anglia operate a class 321 electric multiple unit named “Geoffrey Freeman Allen”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil J. Allen</span>

Cecil J. Allen was a British railway engineer and technical journalist and writer.

<i>Tramways & Urban Transit</i> British monthly magazine

Tramways & Urban Transit(TAUT or T&UT), also known as Modern Tramway, is a British monthly magazine about tramways and light rail transport, published continuously since 1938. Its content is orientated both to tramway enthusiasts and to persons working in the tram transport field or studying tramways. It has been issued monthly from the beginning. Although published in Britain, the magazine's coverage is international, and its regular "World News" column includes detailed news on electric trams and light rail worldwide.

Railways Illustrated is a British monthly railway magazine. Inside there is detail of news, stock changes, tours, and more. It is aimed at railway enthusiasts.

Cuthbert (Chip) Hamilton Ellis FRSA was an English railway writer and painter. He was an Associate of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

<i>Modern Locomotives Illustrated</i>

Modern Locomotives Illustrated is a British bi-monthly railway publication.

Ian Allan, OBE was a publisher who specialised in transport titles through his company Ian Allan Publishing.

This tabulation is for periodicals which do not have their own articles.

Locomotive, Railway Carriage & Wagon Review was a British monthly magazine covering the rail transport industry. It was first published in 1896 as Moore's Monthly Magazine. After 65 years and 807 issues, it ceased in November 1959 being incorporated into sister Ian Allan Publishing publication Trains Illustrated in January 1960 which in turn became Modern Railways in January 1962.

References

  1. "Advertising with Modern Railways Magazine". Key Publishing. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  2. "New Editor for Modern Railways". Modern Railways. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  3. Ian, Walmsley. "Ian Walmsley LinkdIn".
  4. Modern Railways pub. Ian Allan, 1962

Bibliography