Trackside Magazine

Had an advert on Facebook this morning for a new preservation magazine called Trackside - The Journal of Railway Preservation. Who is behind this and what is the story of it? Is it a toys and pram scenario at another mag which has caused a breakaway? Their website reveals nothing as to who is behind it at all. As you’d struggle to get a decent mag out of Steam and Heritage Railways combined I don’t see the need for another railway mag on the subject.

 

Seems it's been launched by disaffected Steam Railway personnel who quit that magazine a few weeks ago.

 

This was posted on the RMweb forum the other day, which answered some questions....
https://suite.endole.co.uk/insight/company/13258921-transport-publishing-network-limited

 

Below is the cover of the first issue. I can't see how it will compete with the many other titles already in the Railway Magazine market.



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There's an item, and offer, in https://www.svrlive.com/blmay21

Patrick

 

They have a website at https://tracksidemag.co.uk/

 

How many more magazines do we need, or not need as is the case? All of them scrambling for news, be it good/false or otherwise? Is competition that good for "improving" what is offered to the subscribing consumer? I personally think not, quality over quantity more often is the answer.

 

So what is the niche that they don't think is well served right now? I don't buy any of the "heritage" railway magazines focusing on the current scene (my titles are Modern Railways and Backtrack), so what is it that this title will bring that might part me with my hard-earned?

I've no problem with some competition - both SR and HR were once new kids on the block - but I'd like to know from the publishers what they think they're providing that's different. Especially as I see the WH Smith reading room very rarely these days.

 

I'm guessing that they have their sights on Steam Railway rather than any of the others, as that has certainly declined noticeably over the past 12 months as far as I'm concerned, so much so, particularly after the last two editions, my standing order subscription of many years standing to it is going to be reviewed when that time approaches. Mind you, at least they have continued to produce it, despite Covid, unlike a Museum I'm involved with which hasn't produced a magazine for 9 months now as there is "nothing to report" according to the Editor. I'm going to be interested to see how the membership renewals go for that Group this year.....
I know that news items have been contributed to SR by groups that I am supporting/involved with and nothing has ever appeared in print, so if that is true for other groups, that doesn't help their case....

 

HR now calls itself a Steam Mag.
Trackside wants to cover all aspects of heritage, including archives, photograhps, discussion of issues etc,

 

Anyone can push out a high quality first issue - money from the bank and articles worked up over time. Issue 10-ish and we'll see how it goes.

Lets see if they find a niche or not

 

I did wonder what was happening at SR as they seem to have lost an Editor about 2 issues back (and so far not replaced) plus other names seem to be deserting the ship, coincidentally on another matter (we were discussing the decline of print media) I mentioned in passing to my other half that I suspected that based on recent editions SR might not be around much longer. They seem to have struggled enormously over the last 12 months, which I know much niche publishing has but SR seems to have been especially weak at filling pages.

 

I have taken SR from Issue 1 but have to agree this last year or so they have been struggling to keep my interest going. I think all magazines go through difficult stretches, in my view usually due to the editorial team not reflecting current tastes and go off on their own track hoping to convert others, it doesn't work.
The "old man" Railway Magazine has fluctuated throughout its long career, the current regimen under Chris Milner has been spot on for me since he took over some while back. My interests are broad, Railway Mag ticks those for me (PS - apart from nodding terms with Chris if I see him, I have no other vested interest )

 

Count me amazed there are still enough of us around who prefer the printed page to online-only offerings, something even I'm occasionally at a loss to rationalise to myself!