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Swiss specialist publisher of railway literature, based in Lucerne, producing books, calendars, postcards and several European railway magazines.

Last updated September 29, 2026

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Overview

Minirex AG, also known as Minirex-Verlag, is a Swiss publishing house based in Lucerne that has specialised in railway literature since 1972. It is a privately held company and describes itself as a specialist for railway non-fiction. Its output spans books, an annual calendar, postcards and a family of periodicals aimed at railway professionals, industry staff and enthusiasts. The company began with a small range of railway posters and, in summer 1975, launched the Minirex calendar. Postcards followed in 1977, and by the 2000s around 300 railway motifs were available. In 1978 Minirex started publishing its own books and the Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue, with the stated aim of providing an information source independent of the railways and industry. The magazine initially appeared quarterly and later monthly. Minirex expanded its magazine portfolio across the German-speaking world. Eisenbahn-Revue International, aimed particularly at the German market, was launched in early 1992. At the end of 1994 the publisher took over the Austrian magazine Eisenbahn from Bohmann-Verlag and renamed it Eisenbahn Österreich. At the end of 2009 it acquired Schienenverkehr aktuell, previously published by Wiener Verlag Pospischil; unlike the other titles, this magazine includes a model railway section and gives considerable space to historical topics. In 2006 the English-language Railway Update was launched, appearing six times a year with a selection of translated articles from the German-language magazines. All three main magazines appear monthly and target a specialist readership such as employees of railway companies and the railway industry. International topics are gathered in a shared middle section, with a focus on European countries. The publisher employs around a dozen people at its Lucerne headquarters and maintains its own editorial office in Vienna, supplemented by freelance contributors in Germany and other European countries.

History

Minirex-Verlag was established in Lucerne in 1972 and has specialised in railway literature ever since. In 1974/75 the company produced a small series of 300 models of the SBB Re 4/4 I locomotive in H0 scale. Its first publishing product was a range of railway posters. In summer 1975 the Minirex calendar appeared for the first time. Postcards were added to the range in 1977, and around 300 railway motifs are now available. In 1978 Minirex began issuing its own books and the Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue, with the goal of providing an information source independent of the railways and industry. The magazine initially appeared quarterly. At the beginning of 1992 the Eisenbahn-Revue International, aimed primarily at the German market, was launched. At the end of 1994 Minirex-Verlag additionally took over the magazine Eisenbahn from the Austrian Bohmann-Verlag; its name was changed to Eisenbahn Österreich. All three magazines appear monthly and address a specialist readership, such as employees of railway companies or the railway industry. International topics appear in a shared middle section, with a focus on European countries. In 2006 the English-language edition Railway Update was launched; the magazine, published six times a year, contains a selection of translated articles from the German-language issues. At the end of 2009 the publisher took over the magazine Schienenverkehr aktuell, which had previously been published by Wiener Verlag Pospischil. Unlike the publisher's other publications, this magazine also includes a model railway section and devotes considerable space to historical topics. The publisher is based in Lucerne, where around a dozen employees work, and maintains its own editorial office in Vienna. It is further supported by freelance contributors in Germany and other European countries.

  • 2009

    Takeover of Schienenverkehr aktuell from Wiener Verlag Pospischil.

  • 2006

    English-language Railway Update launched.

  • 1994

    Takeover of the magazine Eisenbahn from Bohmann-Verlag; renamed Eisenbahn Österreich.

  • 1992

    Eisenbahn-Revue International launched at the beginning of the year.

  • 1978

    Start of own book publishing and launch of Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue.

  • 1977

    Postcards added to the product range.

  • 1975

    Minirex calendar appears for the first time in summer.

  • 1974

    Small series of 300 H0-scale SBB Re 4/4 I locomotive models produced (1974/75).

  • 1972

    Minirex-Verlag established in Lucerne.

Products and positioning

Specialist publisher of independent railway literature for professionals and enthusiasts in the German-speaking and wider European market.

  • Schweizer Eisenbahn-Revue

    Monthly railway magazine launched in 1978, initially quarterly.

  • Eisenbahn-Revue International

    Monthly magazine launched in early 1992, aimed primarily at the German market.

  • Eisenbahn Österreich

    Monthly magazine taken over from Bohmann-Verlag at the end of 1994 and renamed.

  • Schienenverkehr aktuell

    Magazine taken over at the end of 2009; includes a model railway section and historical topics.

  • Railway Update

    English-language magazine launched in 2006, published six times a year with translated articles.

  • Minirex calendar

    Annual calendar first published in summer 1975.

  • Railway postcards

    Postcard range introduced in 1977, with around 300 railway motifs available.

Sources3 sources

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