Vintage British Railways London Midland Region Enamel Sign c.1950s–60s original!

Vintage British Railways London Midland Region Enamel Sign c.1950s–60s original!! Not reproduction!!

Displayed with other items illustration only not included

64 cm wide

15 cm tall

A superb piece of original British railwayana: a vintage British Railways enamel sign, finished in the distinctive deep maroon ground with bold cream-white lettering.

This rectangular enamelled steel sign has six original fixing holes and would have formed part of the signage displayed around the railway network. The maroon colour is particularly useful in dating and identifying it. British Railways introduced its standard regional enamel station signage from around 1952, with maroon allocated to the London Midland Region. The regional colour system was superseded following the introduction of British Rail's new corporate identity in 1965, giving this sign a likely date of c.1952–1965.

British Railways itself was created following the nationalisation of Britain's main railway companies on 1 January 1948. The London Midland Region largely inherited the former LMS network south of Scotland, including the West Coast and Midland main lines. Its rich maroon colour had historical roots in the crimson lake liveries associated with the old Midland Railway and later the LMS.

The sign has exactly the sort of untouched character we like to see in genuine railwayana. There are numerous surface scratches and marks from use, together with small areas of enamel loss around the edges and fixing holes. The exposed areas have naturally oxidised, while the reverse remains completely unrestored with surface rust, old marks and evidence of its former mounting. Importantly, the lettering remains strong and clearly legible and the maroon enamel retains a lovely depth and shine.

We would leave this one exactly as it is. The chips, scratches and worn edges are part of its working railway history and give it far more character than an over-restored example.

A cracking decorative sign for a railwayana collection, industrial interior, home bar, workshop, office or vintage-inspired room — and an increasingly evocative survivor from the steam-era British Railways network.

Date: c.1952–1965

Origin: British

Organisation: British Railways – London Midland Region

Material: Enamelled steel

Colour: Maroon / cream-white

Condition: Good original vintage condition with scratches, enamel chips, edge wear, oxidation and surface rust to the reverse consistent with genuine railway use. Please study the photographs as they form an important part of the description.

Suggested price: £165

I think £165 is a good retail asking price for this one. A remarkably similar burgundy-and-white British Railways enamel sign measuring 64 × 14.5cm sold at auction for £100 in November 2025, while a 27 × 6 inch London Midland example made £90 in June 2025 and another BR(M) poster-board heading made £110 in 2024. Those are hammer prices rather than dealer retail prices, so £165 gives you a sensible premium for a ready-to-buy decorative example while still leaving a little room for offers.

Suggested listing title:

Vintage British Railways BR(M) Maroon Enamel Railway Sign c.1950s

Once you've got the measurements, I'd add them prominently — for railwayana like this, size can make a surprisingly big difference to value.