Wright – THE BEAUTY OF TRANSPORT – VIRTUOUS CIRCLES 2013

Description

The blog reflects on transport memorabilia and spotlights Railtrack’s major station graphic identities, designed by Lloyd Northover from 1999 as part of Railtrack’s drive to commercialize busy stations. The redesign used the Brunel typeface with white (or yellow) text on dark blue—an accessibility-driven but controversial change—and introduced unique, circular, colour-coded logos for each major station inspired by local architecture, history or landmarks. Examples include Gatwick’s aviation-themed “G,” Victoria’s young Queen Victoria silhouette, King’s Cross’s visual pun, Paddington’s Brunel screens, Waterloo’s lion, Glasgow Central’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh motif, Leeds’s white rose, Edinburgh’s castle, plus identities for London Bridge, Charing Cross, Piccadilly, New Street, Euston (Euston Arch), Liverpool Street (roof ironwork), Fenchurch Street (Tower of London), Cannon Street and Liverpool Lime Street. The author notes Network Rail is de-emphasising these logos and may phase them out, meaning surviving examples could become collectible, while cautioning this is not investment advice.