As the UK continues to face travel restrictions as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, the National Railway Museum has reimagined a set of classic railway travel posters from our collection.
Designed to show support for key workers, including those working in the rail industry, the set of 10 popular travel posters features vintage artwork but with new messages which reflect the Government’s travel advice.
They cover scenic travel destinations such as the Norfolk Broads and the Yorkshire coast, the posters invite people to ‘visit when this is all over’ or to ‘visit online’ instead.
Originally intended to promote holiday destinations served by railway companies, historic railway posters were often created by well-known artists of the day to entice passengers onboard.
The railways played an important role in the development of mass tourism and in particular the traditional seaside, spa and holiday resorts that we know today. By the middle of the 19th century, the railways could provide quick and inexpensive day trips for thousands of ordinary people based in inland towns and cities. This period saw the growth of excursion trains for working class families (for more details, read historian Susan Major’s blog post).
The boom in the sophistication and use of railway posters continued into the 1920s and 1930s—said by many to be a ‘golden age’ of railway poster design. This included the London & North Eastern Railway’s ‘Quicker By Rail’ campaign which aimed to promote rail travel as competition from other forms of transport began to increase. By the end of the 1930s around 15 million people were going on holiday to the coast.
The National Railway Museum has a collection of 10,700 posters and other railway artwork dating from 1804 to the present day. The collection includes examples from the pre-grouping railway companies, the Big Four, British Railways and items from private operating companies.
Judith McNicol, Director of the National Railway Museum, said:
“At a time of widespread travel restrictions, we hope that recreating a selection of the most popular travel posters will enable people to enjoy some of their favourite holiday destinations while celebrating the style and glamour of these works of art. This is also a way for us to show our support for the nation’s keyworkers, including many of the 115,000 railway workers who are continuing to keep things running during this time.
“We hope that these reimagined posters might raise a smile and give people something to look forward to once the lockdown is lifted.”
Part of the Science Museum Group, the National Railway Museum closed to the public on March 17, as part of government measures to control the spread of coronavirus. Despite temporary closure, the Group’s collection is still available to explore online.
Download our free posters
Click on these links to see the full-size images.
Nice to see these posters re-imagined, in the current circumstances.
These posters are brilliant! Thank you for sharing!
I was wondering whether an Isle of Wight one could be done (maybe SR, 1946 version) with the message
Stay at home, download the app, stay lives
Fantastic – well done everyone –
Hi Lydia, A nice idea, even though the rules for movement have already changed. Let’s hope some of these areas are not swamped this weekend. Not surprised that you were attracted by two Septimus Scott pieces.. His iconic New Brighton poster with the bathing belle perched on the top board of the Art Deco bathing pool is one which won’t sadly be repeatable any time soon. Though I visited it many times in the 60s as a youngster, it was knocked down after serious storm damage in 1990. With you permission, I will include your revised version in a forthcoming blog at mikepriestleysrailwayheritage.blogspot.com
Best wishes, Mike.
Lydia, on the New Brighton pic, Wallasey is in one place (lower left) spelt ‘Wallaey’. Otherwise I liked the poster style, well done
Hi
I Love these posters.
Just wondered where I can get a poster link so that I can blow one up to A1 size to frame?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks, Howard
Lovely pictures and clever twist to what’s going on.
Could do with one of the Yorkshire Dales/ Ribblehead Viaduct / Settle-Carlisle if there is one?
Brilliant. Excellent updated images of a familiar theme.
As a train spotter they look very good
What a great idea, thanks for sharing these.
these are great,thanks
Will these be available as postcards ???
What a great idea! Really like these.
A rather pointless exercise in my view.
Why do historic glorious posters have to carry a PC current message?
Sorry I don’t get it.
Lets just enjoy the originals.
Fab posters, very evocative of times past and present.
What a wonderful idea – and so well executed
Outstanding posters, bring back a real sense of nostalgia for those bygone days of Train travel.
Colours superb
Terrific Idea!!!!,
I am using the downloads as desktop wallpaper.
Sure brings back memories for an eighty year old.
Looking forward to the museum reopening. got a drawing list to go through.
Once again many thanks,great gift
Kind Regards
JBC
Fantastic idea, beautifully done. Thank you.
Thank you for access to some of your wonderful posters, they cheer the soul.
Lovely Idea.
Can the lock-down posters be bought?