2 reviews for Eastern Times Issue 2

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Karen Hughes – October 18, 2023

   A lovely format which is covering the Eastern Region of BR through a number of different stories in each issue. The pictures are well chosen and of very good quality and I have thoroughly enjoyed each issue so far.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Graham Stokes – October 31, 2023

   Rating : 4.0./5.0 (for comparison Issue No1 scores 4.5/5.0 on my personal ratings scale)

   The latest Summer 2023 Issue maintains the high standards of presentation, balance and content set by the first issue (Winter 2023).

   The Balance is achieved by getting the mix of narrative content and image selection right, The articles are informative and well researched, and thus avoid the danger of becoming mere make-weight backup to the wealth of interesting photographs selected to illustrate the text. Similarly the chosen photographs help to maintain the flow of the articles and bring them alive.

   Breadth and depth of content is likewise strong – with a huge variety of subject matter drawn from a wide range of geographic locations across both highways and byways within the former LNER territory. I particularly liked the features on the last Shunting Horse (Newmarket), and the 1935 LNER New Works Scheme. Indeed, so far across the first two issues, the only article that I struggled to engage with was the Issue One article on Feed Water Heaters.

   The text itself is neatly edited, and low density/ uncluttered in its presentation, It flows nicely and the whole layout made for ease of reading; the differentiated fonts chosen for the main body of the text (I’m guessing Bookman Old Style) and photograph captions (Calibri?) work well.

   I will certainly subscribe to this periodical on a regular basis, and I am not at all concerned that this publication may only occur twice yearly; I value the quality of what is offered by Eastern Times more highly than the frequency of new issues and I hope that it will never be compromised in this way.

   Two observations

   1. The content of photographic material is clearly going to be influenced by the content of the articles presented, but I would be a little disappointed if there became a preponderance of modern traction images in the future, unless justified by the location/ setting of the image. My personal view is that Issue Two has quite enough pictorial coverage of modern traction, and much more would become a real turn-off

   2. A major strength of Issue Number One was the inclusion of supporting maps/ diagrams/ tracks plans and gradient profiles, all of which, for me, helped to enrich my appreciation of the subject matter. We had a map of the Mallaig Extension, a gradient profile of the same, a diagram of Temple Mills Marshalling Yard, a map of the Mablethorpe Loop, Louth and Mablethorpe Track Plans, a Lincolnshire Map, and plans of Grimsby and Immingham Docks. I appreciate that these types of illustrative material may not be appropriate for every article and feature, but it is notable that by contrast Issue Number Two included nothing of the kind.

   Wherever possible, it would be nice to see the inclusion of such supporting material being elevated to the same prominence as it enjoyed in Issue One – it would always be helpful for those who, like me, have never resided in, or are unfamiliar with, the areas being described. I do hope that Eastern Times will work towards achieving and sustaining its own high standards of excellence and presentation in that department.

   I would stress that these comments do not detract from my very real appreciation of the arrival of Eastern Times into the quality end of the railway journal market, and I wish all at Transport Treasury and those connected with its production every success in developing the widest possible readership – it certainly deserves it!