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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 34m

Nice graphite-based click bait! (Ahem, Staedtler Mars Lumograph 100 6H, surely?j

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Just look at that chubby symbol (and here’s the reason why)

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I’m also trying to pretend that there is no Network Rail station icon on it either 😩

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

If we can just move the lettering a bit closer to the symbol…

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

It’s busy, I’ll give you that 😥 So CIE basically took the LT roundel and made it fly, which is ironic as this map predominantly shows land transport 😬

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Take my 5p and give me a ‘Time Table’! For the pink and orange, are we talking M100 Y60 versus M60 Y100 (or similar), or are they actual specials? I’ve never really taken the time to examine the ‘Lazy S‘ Selnec logotype but it’s rather spectacular in all its mid-twentieth century italic glory

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Bezier curves definitely have their limitations and even circles (or quarter circles ftm) aren’t necessarily perfect

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I think if you’re gonna do it, you’ve got to keep it as simple as possible (no additional control points if you can avoid them); row 2 column 2 does pretty well :) Not sure it’s an expedient method, but I think it definitely looks better!

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Whether that is worth it is of course an economic judgment call, even if it does look a little more natural and a less bumpy ride round the corner. The principle applies to all angles btw, not just right angles :) I like your willingness to investigate. Have you come across Tunni lines in type?

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

In type design, someone described it as driving around a 90° corner; you don’t suddenly find the correct steering angle and then suddenly straighten up at the end. For me the bottom row no. 2 is best since it doesn‘t involve any extra control points on 45, and the bezier handles are symmetrical.

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Mike @mikeyashworth.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

How’s that for a van?! @doublearrow64.bsky.social

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Nice, except can’t really be doing with “Welcome to…” In the words, or at least sentiments, of Gordon Pettitt, “Good signage makes one feel welcome” (Can’t remember the exact quote)

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Lovely running-in board at Warrington Bank Quay, complete with Rail Alphabet 2 and Rail Symbol 2

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

New signage on facia outside Macclesfield (obvs); much better than the old monstrosity but shame about the red symbol on dark background, no good for colour blindness, need to make these white

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Important because sensory overload is prevalent right now; that said, some TOCs have been much better than others with CIS but there has to be a joined up approach under GBR

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Tits McGee @scientits.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Excellent sticker on the side of a bus which does actually serve* Millwall football ground * except on match days specifically around kick off and finish times, which is very much TfL’s way of saying, welcome aboard, except *you lot*

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Plenty of scope for that in Wayfinding 3.0 but, for a simple National Rail, sign I think I remain a purist :) (FWIW I don‘t agree with a red symbol on dark backgrounds, which is unhelpful for various types of colour blindness, especially red-green)

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Been there for a while now, I think; better for sure than the old version but the ’r’ and the ‘t’ are drifting apart, admittedly they would be very close using standard Rail Alphabet spacing but there you go (also wondering if that’s a negative symbol) :)

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

The random angularity of the ‘glitch‘ works against not only (a) the horizontal lines of the train, but also (b) the very specific, carefully thought-out angles of the Rail Symbol, indeed a poorer visual foil for the Symbol one would be hard-pressed to find

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

It’s the misunderstanding about what is primary and what is secondary information; in this case the primary message is ‘Platforms 2 and 3‘ this way, and the secondary information (if it’s even needed) is ‘via the stairs’ plus pictogram (which in this case is very much stating the obvious!)

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hahlen.bsky.social @hahlen.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Even Amtrak doesn’t wrap a train in the flag. Sure they use a lot of blue and some red and white stripes, but it’s fashioned into a cohesive livery. This is just…embarrassing.

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

On a positive note, that at least looks like Rail Symbol 2

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

At least with the much poorer GBR wayfinding, it might all be *consistently* awful

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Crummy signage here in Macclesfield which should really just say ‘Platforms 2 and 3’ with the stairs pictogram (and the symbol according to Wayfinding 3.0); the trouble with dozens of TOCs implementing signage is that it’s all pretty rubbish with no incentive to do it in a joined up way

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J. Ackley @j-ackley.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

It's the insecurity of that gets me. The only other country I've seen with flag trains is the USA...

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Or go back to the drawing board and not be affected or constrained by (a) the red, white and blue of an incidental and divisive flag, (b) an ill-conceived and jumped-up organisational name (which shouldn’t really be seen anywhere near a train), and (c) harmful political posturing based on illusion

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

It was within reach but I think that someone who doesn’t get it seems to be making the decisions

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

. . . flic.kr/p/2sAe6H3 (Callum Radford)

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Yes, definitely Rail Alphabet but suspect space spacing, if you follow?

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Ian Dinmore @tarkaman.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

and the full route map...@railarchive.org.uk

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Mike @mikeyashworth.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Cover to the Open Day in July 1979 at British Rail's Stratford Traction Maintenance Depot at Stratford in London. The once mighty works site is now covered by HS1 works inc. Stratford International, the Westfield shopping centre & 2012 Olympic works. @doublearrow64.bsky.social ↘️ flic.kr/p/2szcNft

Stratford Traction Maintenance Depot : Open Day : 14 July 1979 : souvenir brochure : British Rail Eastern Region : 1979 : The cover to the souvenir brochure issued for the Open Day at Stratford Traction Maintenance Unit in east London on Saturday 14 July 1979. The extensive ex-Great Eastern, LNER and BR locomotive and carriage works dated back to 1847; by this date the Traction Maintenance Depot and repair shops co-existed alongside the International Freight and Freightliner Terminals. The site is now fundamentally changed, swept away by HS1 works along with Stratford International station, the 2012 Olympic works and the Westfield Shopping Centre.

The picture shows BR Class 47 169 carrying the name "Great Eastern'. This is flanked top and lower by blue text panels carrying the titling. The BR symbol, logotype & Eastern Region box sits on the top edge.

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

An excellent illustration of the age old phenomenon/conundrum of people wanting their ’bit’ of the railway system to matter at the expense of the overarching branding philosophy; still happening today with, for example, line names and some NR stations still using those tired station identifiers

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

It’s marginally on the orange side of yellow but definitely not orange, especially not hi vis orange; I think my photo was a fairly faithful representation colourwise, even if the symbol leaves a lot to be desired :)

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Check Network Rail’s Twitter from a week or two back

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Although I wouldn’t put it past someone at GBR deciding that Rail Symbol 2 needs ‘improving’ Btw, it’s actually a ‘vest’

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Managed to get a close-up of a GBR/NR tabard today and it’s not good news on the symbol front; might be RS3 looks like they’ve given it an outline/contour which makes it a bit thick, not unlike…etc

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Of course, a locomotive carrying the correct decals for the sector it’s working for is by no means a given :)

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Yes, altogether nicer than the 80x, I sometimes get my Mark 4 fix on the TfW Manchester-Cardiff services, albeit usually only as far south as Wilmslow but occasionally Shrewsbury :)

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Yes they all had a shallower white band (it was deeper on coaching stock to accommodate ‘Network SouthEast’ and triple flash whereas the NSE brand on locomotives was on the blue band) 🤷‍♂️

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Yes I’m sure it was related to 125 but not necessarily a good choice :)

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Don’t know but on Flickr, Railfreight Coal seems to feature most prominently, perhaps followed by Departmental grey/yellow with the odd outlier from other Railfreight sectors and even an occasional InterCity or Mainline ringer!

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doublearrow.co.uk @doublearrow64.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Railfreight Petroleum decals on an MGR, ahem Still not sure why the depth of the white band on Network SouthEast locomotives couldn’t have matched the rolling stock Superb photograph though! :)

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