Design
A Classic British Rail Design Manual Is Making a Triumphant Return
One enthusiast hopes to track down the final missing pages of the U.K.’s iconic national train service guide before releasing it as a book.
The British Railways rebranding in 1965 announced to riders it was ready to usher in an era of modern, efficient service.
The rail system, nationalized in 1948, had previously been known for its old steam locomotives, outdated rail cars, and hard-to-navigate stations. Shortening its name to British Rail, the transit network also commissioned a comprehensive graphic standards manual to usher in an era of faster trains and better stations. Originally made by Design Research Unit, the four-volume binder set is now being recreated in book form by graphic designer and British Rail enthusiast Wallace Henning.