Adverts, etc. on 1980s stations

[DK123GWR]

What adverts, maps, information, etc. would have been displayed at major stations in the 1980s. I am thinking of Reading and Paddington in particular as they are the nearest to the location of my layout. I have attempted to find images but have not had much success, so any help would be very much appreciated.

[GlenPudzeoch]

Network maps, red star parcels, a lot of cigarette adverts, local adverts - invest in (I recall the Peterborough is going up - on the south part of the ECML)  the sort of suggestive sexist ads they could not get away with now, ones with Rolf Harris (litter) and Jimmy Saville - what coudl possibly go wrong?

[SM42]

Travellers Fare and other assorted self avertisements for railcards and the like I recall were common. In fact BR seemed to advertise itself a lot more than it did others. 

 

There is a 1981 Traveller''s fare poster here

 

https://blog.railwaymuseum.org.uk/how-british-rail-limited-the-butter-on-its-sandwiches/

 

I also recall one from the London area that said somthing like  "Every day we carry out operation bigger than D Day, it's called getting you to work" and had, I think, an aerial view of Waterloo on it.

 

There are a few here too. Ok Glasgow related but give a good feel for the style that BR used.

 

Reading would possibly have Railair link publicity

 

https://retours.eu/en/49-train-and-airplane/

 

And Interrail too

https://retours.eu/en/43-interrail-posters/

 

Season tickets

 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/340162578092382966/

 

Getty images web site has a few 1980s railway posters in there. Bit of a search through though required.

 

A google search for 1980s BR advertising does throw up a few images from the early 80s, but as you said, they are thin on the ground.

 

The timetable would of course be quite popular too. IIRC that you looked for your destination,  and it showed the train times underneath from the station you were at and which platform it should leave from, or if you needed to connect somewhere . Each station therefore had its own unique set that applied at that station only.  At larger stations they were in  a series of aluminium framed cases on a wall  or even in flip folder type affairs. 

It was actually quite a good system and seemed to stand the test of time into the 1990s and beyond.  Still see similar on Poland's stations. Not sure if they haven't all gone electronic  in the UK though now. I haven't caught a train for a long time.

 

 

Andy

 

Andy

[Steamport Southport]

Awful lager, Guinness, books, theatres, occasionally films,

 

Sankey Scenics do a range, funnily enough one has Gary Glitter on it 

 

https://www.sankeyscenics.co.uk/4mm-oo-br-modern-page-1/4587159666

 

 

 

Jason

[DK123GWR]

Thank you everybody. Those links were especially helpful. Railair definitely makes sense for my layout as it depicts a major intechange between all BR regions. As an aside, it's strange to consider that a connection with certain individuals was once considered desireable for a brand - I'm too young to remember any of them as entertainers.

 

One further question: How many posters would there have been? Would they have been on almost any available space or would they be more sparse, with just a handful around the station?

Another further question: And how large would they be?

Edited May 7, 2020 by DK123GWR
Supplementary question(s) added as afterthought

[SM42]

IIRC the BR posters were the same size as the timetables.

 

They fitted in the same type of case. In fact a lot of those cases are still out there so you could easily (present restrictions excepted) measure one

 

I'd say from memory that they weren't on every available bit of space. Maybe one two or three cases near the stairs /  booking hall exit onto the platform, near the buffet,  maybe a couple in the booking hall and perhaps the odd one or two elsewhere.  IIRC they tended to be where most people would be for obvious reasons, so near any station building mainly rather than at the extremities.

In fact I'd say use any  station today as a guide, Things haven't changed much with advertising space of this size.

 

Here's a picture of old Reading, there's one on the left attached to the building.

 

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5628982

 

Some at the new Reading

 

https://www.thebreeze.com/reading/news/local-news/reading-station-scores-highly-in-passenger-survey/

 

Birmingham International station has some more traditional large bill boards beyond the station buildings, They could be used for things like films, cars etc as they belong to the large advertising houses such as JC Decaux etc.

 

Andy

 

EDIT: just found these pictures of Stourbridge Jn station.

The images of the building give a pretty rough guide to the number of adverts etc. The timetable boards are in the central gap with their backs to the stairs down to the subway. To my memory it's looked that that since I were a lad in the 80s

 

http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/stourbridge_junction.php

Edited May 7, 2020 by SM42