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The Railway Poster in Britain

British Railways - Posters of the nationalised industry

The Labour government, elected in 1945, had a clear agenda to nationalise many of the principal industries of the nation. This included the railways andmost other major transport operations that became part of the state-owned British Transport Commission on 1 January 1948. Due to the wear and tear of the war years the railways were at a low ebb. Some six thousand stations were in urgent need of repair or reconstruction, and the rolling stock needed repair or replacement. These were the principal tasks which faced the new British Railways (BR).

Flying Scotsman poster

British Railways
The Flying Scotsman 1862-1962 by R. Bagley, 1962
© National Railway Museum / Science & Society Picture Library

The artistic merit that had characterised the railway poster of the inter-waryears was left behind in favour of basic explanations of the problems facing British Railways, which were often lightened with humour. An immediate post-war shortage of paper, printing ink and working printing presses enforced simple and cheap design.

In many ways the nationalised British Railways operated like its predecessors.The new British Railways regions were similar to those operated by the 'Big Four' companies and many of their practices continued for the first years following nationalisation. Posters had a very similar look, although they now carried the British Railways name in a distinctive lozenge design.

Western Super-Mare poster

British Railways
Weston Super-Mare, the Smile in Smiling Somerset by Merville, 1955
©National Railway Museum/Science & Society Picture Library

Some familiar imagery re-emerged in this period. Idyllic scenes of a familyday out were popular. The female form was also used to convey glamour andexcitement, inducing or seducing the traveller to visit resorts, from Bognorto Bridlington. There was also some more innovative graphic work done by artists such as Abram Games.

The railways now had to compete seriously with the car. Posters showed the frustration experienced by many motoristsin traffic jams. In 1958 the first stages of railway modernisation werepromoted with posters showing electrification and new engineering works.In 1959 Progress by Terence Cuneo showed new diesel locomotives being built.

Motorists avoid road congestion poster

British Railways (Western Region)
Motorists... Avoid road congestion and travel fatigue 1957
© National Railway Museum/Science & Society Picture Library