The Rail

The Rail (レイル) is a Japanese quarterly railway record magazine published by Eriei Publishing (株式会社エリエイ出版部, also known as Press Eisenbahn). It is a specialist title dedicated to documenting railway history and operations, with a stated editorial aim of recording 'slightly old' railway topics. Alongside its sister magazine Torein (とれいん), it forms part of Eriei's railway publishing line. The magazine was launched in April 1978 as a B5-size monthly, planned by Yasumi Kuroiwa. In April 1979 it was merged with its sister publication Mai Rail (マイレイル), and the monthly run ended with the April 1980 issue (the 25th issue overall). In the same year it was revived as a special issue of Torein (A4 variant size), numbered No. 1, and continued as an irregular publication under that numbering. From the 9th issue in autumn 1983, it changed from being treated as a magazine (special issue) to being treated as a book. Its second editor-in-chief was Sadao Terada. As of 2009, editing was handled by the third editor-in-chief, Takashi Maesato, with Kentaro Hirai as publisher. The magazine's scope extends beyond Japan: it actively covers railway information and photographs from foreign countries including the United Kingdom and China. From the 14th issue in 1985, an irregular series by Toru Yuguchi titled the Private Railway Travelogue series was published, focusing on local non-electrified private railways and light railways of the Showa 30s (1955–1964). The Private Railway Travelogue series concluded in 2010 with the 72nd issue, comprising 16 volumes in total. The Rail is associated with the etrain.jp website, a comprehensive railway model and railway information site operated in connection with Eriei's publications. The site features the Torein editorial blog, new product information, magazine and book listings, and links to the e-shumi.jp online store for railway models, railway magazines, and books.

The Rail (レイル) was launched in April 1978 as a B5-size monthly magazine, planned by Yasumi Kuroiwa. It was published by Eriei Publishing (株式会社エリエイ出版部, also known as Press Eisenbahn), which also publishes the sister magazine Torein (とれいん). In April 1979, The Rail was merged with its sister publication Mai Rail (マイレイル). The monthly run came to an end with the April 1980 issue, which was the 25th issue overall. In the same year, the title was revived as a special issue of Torein in A4 variant size, numbered No. 1, and it continued to be published irregularly under that continuous numbering. From the 9th issue in autumn 1983, the publication changed status from being treated as a magazine (special issue) to being treated as a book. The second editor-in-chief was Sadao Terada. As of 2009, the magazine was edited by the third editor-in-chief, Takashi Maesato, with Kentaro Hirai as publisher. The editorial aim of The Rail is to publish and record 'slightly old' railway topics. It actively covers railway information and photographs not only from Japan but also from foreign countries such as the United Kingdom and China. From the 14th issue in 1985, an irregular series by Toru Yuguchi, the Private Railway Travelogue series (私鉄紀行シリーズ), was published. It focused on local non-electrified private railways and light railways of the Showa 30s (1955–1964). The Private Railway Travelogue series concluded in 2010 with the 72nd issue, comprising 16 volumes in total. The Rail is linked to the etrain.jp website, a comprehensive railway model and railway information site. The site includes the Torein editorial blog, new product information, magazine and book listings, a nationwide railway model shop directory, and links to the e-shumi.jp online store for railway models, railway magazines, and books.

• 2010

  Private Railway Travelogue series concluded with the 72nd issue, totaling 16 volumes.

• 1985

  From the 14th issue, the Private Railway Travelogue series by Toru Yuguchi began irregular publication.

• 1983

  From the 9th issue in autumn, changed from magazine (special issue) treatment to book treatment.

• 1980

  Monthly run ended with the April 1980 issue (25th issue overall).

• 1980

  Revived as a Torein special issue (A4 variant size), numbered No. 1, continuing irregular publication.

• 1979

  Merged with sister magazine Mai Rail (マイレイル).

• 1978

  Launched as a B5-size monthly magazine, planned by Yasumi Kuroiwa.

A specialist quarterly railway record magazine documenting 'slightly old' railway topics in Japan and overseas, published as part of Eriei Publishing's railway book and magazine line.

• The Rail (レイル) quarterly magazine

  A quarterly railway record magazine documenting 'slightly old' railway topics in Japan and abroad.

• Private Railway Travelogue series (私鉄紀行シリーズ)

  An irregular book series by Toru Yuguchi covering local non-electrified private railways and light railways of the Showa 30s; 16 volumes, concluded in 2010.

1. 1鉄道模型の総合サイト etrain.jpetrain.jp
2. 2レイル (雑誌) - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3The Rail - Wikidatawikidata.org