doublearrow.co.uk
@doublearrow64.bsky.social
British Rail Corporate Identity 1965-1994
Pinned
‘Arrows of desire’, a book all about the illustrious British Rail symbol, published by the modernist® is now available for pre-order at…
the-modernist.org/products/arr...
the-modernist.org/products/arr...
Reposted by doublearrow.co.uk
I swear, the Double Arrow logo is deceptively easy to mess up. One slightly wrong measurement and everything looks off.
December 29, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I swear, the Double Arrow logo is deceptively easy to mess up. One slightly wrong measurement and everything looks off.
Are you saying that this was in circulation before the official launch on 1 January 1965 and the exhibition at the Design Centre?
We need to talk about the (un)faithfulness of the symbol too!
We need to talk about the (un)faithfulness of the symbol too!
"Introducing" : A Dec 1964 British Railways leaflet advertising new DEMU services between Guildford & Reading that came into use on 4 Jan 1965. An interesting take on the new BR 'double arrow' symbol that came into use later that year - or just chance? @doublearrow64.bsky.social
flic.kr/p/2rPcSMb
flic.kr/p/2rPcSMb
December 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Are you saying that this was in circulation before the official launch on 1 January 1965 and the exhibition at the Design Centre?
We need to talk about the (un)faithfulness of the symbol too!
We need to talk about the (un)faithfulness of the symbol too!
Delightful facsimile (and wonderful present); especially appreciate the x-height of the name aligning with the symbol in the ‘catering’ double arrow, although I have a feeling the Rail Alphabet may not have featured in the original due to limited availability in hot metal type back in the day
Got a lovely glass kitchen counter protector for Christmas
One for @doublearrow64.bsky.social!
One for @doublearrow64.bsky.social!
December 28, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Delightful facsimile (and wonderful present); especially appreciate the x-height of the name aligning with the symbol in the ‘catering’ double arrow, although I have a feeling the Rail Alphabet may not have featured in the original due to limited availability in hot metal type back in the day
Lovely cover, show us the map too :)
The cover of a 1975 diagrammatic map showing the British Rail network centred on London; almost what was to become Network South East in later years. The diagram is very much a Bernard Slatter design, with a 'standard' LT central area tube diagram 'grafted' into the centre.
↘️ flic.kr/p/2rNVkJ6
↘️ flic.kr/p/2rNVkJ6
December 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Lovely cover, show us the map too :)
Here in Lancing there is a fine Network SouthEast sign on the signal box which has been battered by the elements—sun, wind, salt—and it looks beautiful because of it :)
December 24, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Here in Lancing there is a fine Network SouthEast sign on the signal box which has been battered by the elements—sun, wind, salt—and it looks beautiful because of it :)
Gorgeous and crazy, look how the main carriageway isn’t even depicted vertically on the sign and the half has a solidus at 60° (no solidus today) just as the arrows are cut at 60° (rather than today’s 45°); Margaret Calvert’s Transport working hard since 1958 though :)
December 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Gorgeous and crazy, look how the main carriageway isn’t even depicted vertically on the sign and the half has a solidus at 60° (no solidus today) just as the arrows are cut at 60° (rather than today’s 45°); Margaret Calvert’s Transport working hard since 1958 though :)
I understand the point of adding a hook to the lower case ‘l’ but would love to know the rationale about making the leg of the R straight; I don’t think these minor changes to Rail Alphabet 2 certainly justify the existence of a new typeface called ‘Rail Alphabet 3’
December 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I understand the point of adding a hook to the lower case ‘l’ but would love to know the rationale about making the leg of the R straight; I don’t think these minor changes to Rail Alphabet 2 certainly justify the existence of a new typeface called ‘Rail Alphabet 3’
Always thoroughly enjoy these informative articles by the @danielhwright.bsky.social on @thebeautyoftransport.com; this one, reflecting on the recent unveiling of the GBR (Great British Railways) brand, is both measured in its objectivity and thorough in its scope…
#TheBeautyOfTransport is looking at the newly unveiled GBR branding - not just what it is, but how we ended up with it, and how far it will actually spread. It's a long article this time, so plenty to keep you going over the holidays. Season's Greetings!
Union Flag Blues: the Branding of Great British Railways
In a blaze of publicity, the branding for Great British Railways, state-owned future operator of some of the privatised British railway network, was unexpectedly launched earlier this month, a mere four years after Great British Railways was first announced. In typical British transport policy tradition, the government almost immediately undermined its own efforts to create a unifying visual identity for the English railway network, having long since ceded the battle to brand the British railway network.
thebeautyoftransport.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Always thoroughly enjoy these informative articles by the @danielhwright.bsky.social on @thebeautyoftransport.com; this one, reflecting on the recent unveiling of the GBR (Great British Railways) brand, is both measured in its objectivity and thorough in its scope…
Reposted by doublearrow.co.uk
Time to add all the signage to D213’s layout what better reference than this gem from @doublearrow64.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Time to add all the signage to D213’s layout what better reference than this gem from @doublearrow64.bsky.social
That symbol is making me want to use the item 🤢
I'm slightly scared to show you this BR sick bag ... hopefully it wasn't post- Travellers-Fare quality
December 7, 2025 at 7:52 PM
That symbol is making me want to use the item 🤢
That’s quite a lot of symbols 😬
December 7, 2025 at 4:27 PM
That’s quite a lot of symbols 😬
Not come across the ‘Travellers-Fare is Quality’ tagline before (I was only five or six years old at that point); interesting that it is set in Univers not Rail Alphabet (or Helvetica) like the actual logotype (compare and contrast)
December 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Not come across the ‘Travellers-Fare is Quality’ tagline before (I was only five or six years old at that point); interesting that it is set in Univers not Rail Alphabet (or Helvetica) like the actual logotype (compare and contrast)
I am certainly fond of Edward Johnston’s Underground type but this printed poster (presumably letterpress) shows the typeface falling apart due to lack of kerning; see especially ‘STATION’ and ‘MONDAY’—AT (and TA) and AY combinations especially clunky here #kerning #keming
#OnThisDay 99 years ago, Grade II listed Charles Holden-designed Balham station opened on the Northern Line interchanging with the existing mainline station; the rest of the Morden extension had already opened 3 months beforehand. Poster from the LT Museum collection buff.ly/3OJLDys
December 6, 2025 at 12:42 PM
One for railway station and/or history lovers, this new initiative from @danielhwright.bsky.social is already a thing of distinction and will only improve further with age…
Yes, I have made another website, and this one is dedicated to heritage artefacts at mainline railway stations. You'll find it at... stationheritageartefacts.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 11:05 PM
One for railway station and/or history lovers, this new initiative from @danielhwright.bsky.social is already a thing of distinction and will only improve further with age…
Naturally it’s in my book (see my pinned post) in the chapter called ‘Getting in shape’; it was an early addition from 1966 (superseded in 1977j and indirectly came to mean ’warning’ although the version on your sign has been finessed (see rounded inner angles compared to original points)
December 3, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Naturally it’s in my book (see my pinned post) in the chapter called ‘Getting in shape’; it was an early addition from 1966 (superseded in 1977j and indirectly came to mean ’warning’ although the version on your sign has been finessed (see rounded inner angles compared to original points)
Nothing like a bit of signwriter's Rail Alphabet; just look at those bizarre extenders on the t’s!
I saw this on some YouTube archival footage and thought of you @doublearrow64.bsky.social youtu.be/3DdoXNMCooE?...
December 1, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Nothing like a bit of signwriter's Rail Alphabet; just look at those bizarre extenders on the t’s!
Can’t be doing with it all centred…
Newton St Cyres. A tiny station with a big Double Arrow. @doublearrow64.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Can’t be doing with it all centred…
This ill-conceived sign is one of the worst in the world
Capitals are aggressive, harder to read and just HORRIBLE to look at, a mixture of upper and lower case is also undesirable
Split the legend before ‘THE’ and there would be a massive saving on materials too
Capitals are aggressive, harder to read and just HORRIBLE to look at, a mixture of upper and lower case is also undesirable
Split the legend before ‘THE’ and there would be a massive saving on materials too
November 27, 2025 at 10:41 AM
This ill-conceived sign is one of the worst in the world
Capitals are aggressive, harder to read and just HORRIBLE to look at, a mixture of upper and lower case is also undesirable
Split the legend before ‘THE’ and there would be a massive saving on materials too
Capitals are aggressive, harder to read and just HORRIBLE to look at, a mixture of upper and lower case is also undesirable
Split the legend before ‘THE’ and there would be a massive saving on materials too
Reposted by doublearrow.co.uk
The Altrincham interchange where Greater Manchester buses link with overhead electric services of British Rail.
From Buses magazine, November 1978 - Pic: J. G. Glover
From Buses magazine, November 1978 - Pic: J. G. Glover
November 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM
The Altrincham interchange where Greater Manchester buses link with overhead electric services of British Rail.
From Buses magazine, November 1978 - Pic: J. G. Glover
From Buses magazine, November 1978 - Pic: J. G. Glover
This ‘hyphen’ looks even more like a centre point; nice line art though
One thing that did not end up on the British Rail menu - the Advanced Passenger Train - seen here on a c.1975 Travellers-Fare tariff, menu & price list cover alongside an 1890s L&NWR express train. #food #railways #trains
↘️ flic.kr/p/2rGvMdi
↘️ flic.kr/p/2rGvMdi
![Travellers-Fare tariff : price list : British Rail : nd [c.1975] : cover. A shiny British Rail "Travellers-Fare" menu card that likely dates from the mid-1970; the only evidence comes from the one item that definately was not to be available on the menu and that was the BR "Advanced Passenger Train" seen on the cover - "prototypes due to enter service by 1978" - along with a London & North Western Railway express train of the 1890s. The various APT prototypes (gas turbine and electric) never got past prototype stages although they helped spawn the HST 125 diesel sets and the various elements of technology, such as the tilt mechanisms, were further developed within the railway industry. The two outline drawings are in black on silver with the BR logotype and "Travellers-Fare" in red ranged between the two illustrations.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yqh2atawixxlb6ncx2fh73r6/bafkreiey7chefbzc6or65nzrgrfnyfwgxtz5vup5wvczmm5caunp4e5npi@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM
This ‘hyphen’ looks even more like a centre point; nice line art though
Not sure that the lozenge version belongs inside #outsidein
November 20, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Not sure that the lozenge version belongs inside #outsidein
Agreed, fabulous fleet; but imagine putting the symbol *after* the logotype and not even lining it up with the x-height (yellow roof also on a hiding to nothing with push-pull operations) @garethdennis.uk
The mighty 47/7, great names, great livery, what a sub class!
47711 ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ stands at Edinburgh Waverley with a service bound for Aberdeen. Scotrail at its finest!
#Class47 #SuperDuff #Scotrail #PushPull
47711 ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ stands at Edinburgh Waverley with a service bound for Aberdeen. Scotrail at its finest!
#Class47 #SuperDuff #Scotrail #PushPull
November 20, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Agreed, fabulous fleet; but imagine putting the symbol *after* the logotype and not even lining it up with the x-height (yellow roof also on a hiding to nothing with push-pull operations) @garethdennis.uk
Your buttered toast hyphen looks rather narrow, almost like a centre point
November 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Your buttered toast hyphen looks rather narrow, almost like a centre point
Reposted by doublearrow.co.uk
Design Research Unit would be a beautiful name for a baby girl
Also love the way the symbol aligns with lower case x-height (as Design Research Unit and Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert intended)
Is this the largest Double Arrow to go on a building in 40 years? It's RS2, it's track gauge high, and I'm mightily proud of it.
November 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Design Research Unit would be a beautiful name for a baby girl