Modern Locomotives Illustrated

Modern Locomotives Illustrated (often abbreviated as MLI) is a highly specialized British railway magazine that launched in 2008. Published by Key Publishing, it was created as a successor to the popular Locomotives Illustrated series, shifting the focus from steam to the modern era of diesel and electric traction.

 

Unlike general railway magazines, MLI is a "technical history" publication. Each issue is a deep-dive monograph dedicated to a specific class or family of locomotives, making it an essential reference for serious rail enthusiasts and model railway builders.

Each issue features:

  • Comprehensive Histories: The full story of a locomotive class, from design and construction to withdrawal or preservation.

  • Technical Data: Detailed specifications, numbering sequences, and livery changes throughout the years.

     

  • High-Quality Imagery: Rare and high-resolution photographs, including many previously unpublished shots and detailed "walk-around" views of equipment.

     

  • Diagrams & Fold-outs: Scale drawings and technical diagrams that are invaluable for accurate model making.

The magazine is renowned for its academic level of detail, covering everything from the iconic Class 37s and 47s to modern Class 66s and 70s. It remains a premium, collectible title for anyone dedicated to the history of British Rail and the private operators that followed.