LR Presse

LR Presse is a French press and publishing group specialising in model railways, real railways and transport. Its origins trace back to 1937, when Jean Fournereau, an artisan maker of miniature trains, founded the magazine Loco-Revue. Fournereau wanted a French publication in the spirit of the English model railway press: one that would report on real railway news, explain how railways work, and give practical advice to the many isolated modellers of the day, before clubs or a federation existed. Loco-Revue remains the leading French model railway magazine by both seniority and readership. Over the decades the single title grew into a family of publications. Voie Libre appeared in October 1997, Ferrovissime in January 2008, Clés pour le train miniature in May 2012 and Univers Rétro in 2023. In the 2000s these titles were consolidated into the group now known as LR Presse. The company is also a book publisher, issuing works on model railways, real railways and transport, and it runs an online shop, trains.lrpresse.com, selling model railway brands and its own publications. LR Presse remains a family business: the fourth generation of the Fournereau family is at the helm. It is based in Morbihan, Brittany, and describes itself as being 'for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts'. Its catalogue has not been limited to railways — it has also published titles on aquariums, bonsai and the circus — but rail modelling and railway culture are its core. The group's editorial identity combines hobbyist service journalism with serious railway history and modelling technique.

LR Presse's history is inseparable from that of Loco-Revue, the model railway magazine founded in 1937 by Jean Fournereau. Fournereau was an artisan who manufactured miniature trains; his models were among the first faithful scale reproductions, far removed from the toy-like, lithographed-tin products of the big brands of the time such as Jep or Hornby. At a moment when railway modelling was still in its infancy in France, he conceived the idea of a magazine modelled on what already existed in England — a publication that would cover real railway news, explain how railways worked and their principles, and offer advice to modellers, who were often very isolated. There were no clubs yet, let alone a federation; everyone tinkered alone. Thus Loco-Revue was born, and it remains the leading French model railway magazine both by seniority and by audience. For decades the title was the company's anchor. As the hobby grew, so did the publishing programme. Voie Libre was launched in October 1997, broadening the group's coverage of railway modelling. In the 2000s the various titles that had spun off from Loco-Revue were consolidated into the group that became known as LR Presse. Ferrovissime, devoted to real railways and their history, first appeared in January 2008, succeeding earlier titles such as Correspondances ferroviaires (published from April 2002 to November 2007, 36 issues) and Ferrovissimo (a bimonthly launched in 2004, 17 issues). Clés pour le train miniature, a beginner-oriented modelling title, was launched in May 2012. Univers Rétro joined the stable in 2023. The company also experimented beyond railways. L'aquarium à la maison was created in May 1999, taken over by LR Presse in March 2005 and later sold. Esprit Bonsaï appeared in May 2003 and ceased publication with issue 130 in June–July 2024. Cirque Magazine ran until 2007 with six issues. Modèles Ferroviaires, launched in November 2006, ceased publication in December 2013. These moves show a publisher willing to test adjacent hobby niches while keeping rail at its core. LR Presse is also a book publisher specialising in works on model railways, real railways and transport, and it operates a dedicated online shop at trains.lrpresse.com offering leading model railway brands alongside its own publications. The company remains a family business, now run by the fourth generation of the Fournereau family, and is based in Morbihan, Brittany. Its stated ethos — 'since 1937, for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts' — summarises a long-standing identity as an enthusiast publisher rather than a large media conglomerate.

• 2024

  Esprit Bonsaï ceases publication with issue 130 in June–July.

• 2023

  Univers Rétro is launched.

• 2013

  Modèles Ferroviaires ceases publication in December.

• 2012

  Clés pour le train miniature is launched in May.

• 2008

  Ferrovissime is launched in January, succeeding earlier railway titles.

• 2007

  Correspondances ferroviaires ends in November; Cirque Magazine ends after six issues.

• 2006

  Modèles Ferroviaires is launched in November.

• 2005

  LR Presse takes over L'aquarium à la maison in March.

• 2004

  Ferrovissimo, a bimonthly, is launched.

• 2003

  Esprit Bonsaï appears in May.

• 2002

  Correspondances ferroviaires is published from April.

• 1999

  L'aquarium à la maison is created in May.

• 1997

  Voie Libre is launched in October.

• 1937

  Jean Fournereau founds Loco-Revue, the French model railway magazine that becomes the group's foundation.

Specialist, enthusiast-led French publisher and retailer for model railway and railway culture, family-owned since 1937.

• Loco-Revue

  French model railway magazine founded in 1937; the group's flagship and the leading French title in its field.

• Voie Libre

  Model railway magazine published since October 1997.

• Ferrovissime

  Magazine devoted to real railways, published since January 2008.

• Clés pour le train miniature

  Beginner-oriented model railway magazine published since May 2012.

• Univers Rétro

  Magazine launched in 2023.

• trains.lrpresse.com

  Online shop selling model railway brands and LR Presse publications.

1. 1Accueil - LR PRESSE | Site institutionnellrpresse.com
2. 2LR Presse - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3LR Presse - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org