Author Archives: Paul Rennie

I have just been reading about how the BBC are going to run a series of “slow-style” (realtime) TV shows about the railway. These will be from the platform and involve a discussion about what is going on and why… … Continue reading →

I have been asked to contribute a short essay to the forthcoming re-publication of the British Rail style manual… The project is being directed by the designer, Wallace Henning. He’s a neighbour of ours… http://www.wallacehenning.com/ You can order and contribute … Continue reading →

Here’s a safety awareness matchbox label featuring a train, a level crossing, and a car that shouldn’t be there… This kind of problem is quite wodespread, even today. Just watch online! It’s also surprising how often road vehicles get stuck … Continue reading →

Michael Portillo, the former Conservative MP, has re-invented himself as a media personality. He presents a series of “Great Railway Journeys” in half-hour programmes. Last year, he went into Europe, having previously done the whole of Britain; and this year … Continue reading →

Here’s a lovely 19C photographic image of a train at speed…I love the water tower and the telegraph posts, and the flags on the cow-catcher at the front of the engine.

Here are a couple of fashion pictures by Bruce Weber and starring Hailee Steinfeld. It’s interseting that the railroad tracks still has this amazing popular-cultural traction… I think I’ll start making a list of fashion images that have a railway … Continue reading →

Here is a box and label for a Japanese tinplate model of the 1950s streamliner called the Kodama. This is what it looked like in reality…you can sense the speed, punctuality, and cleanliness of this version of post-war modernity: it’s … Continue reading →

Here is a picture of the post-war French electric loco manufactured by Alstom. I love the port-holes along the side of the engine.

The French railways, SNCF, were pioneers of high-speed electric traction. They have held high-speed records since the 1950s. In general, electric traction is the poor relation of railway enthusiasm. The engines are styled around an unashamed and utilitarian functionality…there’s precious … Continue reading →

Here is a lovely enamel badge for the Hornby Railway Company. The front has a simplified and flat-colour steam loco. The slight curve of the track gives the design a kind of dynamic depth-of-field, in spite of the flat-colour enamel. … Continue reading →