Great Western Railway Shortest Route poster

Poster, Great Western Railway, "The Shortest Route between London and Birmingham Is By G.W.R. From and To Paddington", about 1924. Depicts a profile view of the 4-6-0 Castle Class locomotive No 4073 'Caerphilly Castle' with a train of passenger carriages in chocolate and cream livery, with hills in the background. Beneath is a large text box, which takes up most of the poster. At the top is the GWR company crest, and below the text, which includes two inset boxes for "Restaurant Cars" and "2-Hour trains daily". At the bottom right margin text reads "Felix J.C. Pole", General Manager. Printed by Phillip Reid of Fleet Street, London. Format quad royal. Linen backed.

Posters and eye-catching travel guides were used by railway companies at stations to promote leisure activities, holidays and travel opportunities to passengers waiting for their train. Railway companies regularly commissioned graphic artists to design the posters to make them visually engaging and market attractive things to do by train to encourage more customers.