Our Story

Whistle & Wander was founded by Fletch on Steam, a steam creator with over 1.3 million followers, who saw a gap in the steam world.

Steam news and stories are now being told online, by content creators shaping the conversation, while legacy media's disinterest has created a disconnect between the short-form reels of the internet and the long-form storytelling magazines have always done so well. Whistle & Wander exists to bridge that gap.

Family Legacy

Alex Fletcher was brought up with steam. His grandfather and mentor, John Fletcher, was a well-known steam enthusiast and author in his own right: a driver at the NYMR and for West Coast Railways, who collected accolades throughout his life including driving the Hogwarts Express across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, appearing on Blue Peter with Zoe Salmon and countless other TV programmes, and writing Tales of the Rails, a popular publication within the heritage rail community.

Fletch on Steam continued that family legacy over four years, starting from humble beginnings: overalls covered in soot, shovelling coal up a heavy gradient on a heritage railway. Whistle & Wander comes from that same humble start, and aims to serve the heritage rail community with stories you'll want to read from start to finish, delivered straight to your inbox, wherever you're reading them: at home, on the go, or in the mess room after a busy day out on the rails.

More Than a Magazine

Whistle & Wander is more than just a magazine, it's a platform. A place to celebrate the incredible work and the amazing stories happening in heritage railways all over the world.

This is just the beginning.