The Queen of Scots

Poster, British Railways (Eastern Region), The Queen of Scots by Reginald Mayes, about 1950. Coloured lithograph depicting the Queen of Scots Pullman train service, pulled by a blue A4 class locomotive. The train is shown running at speed and heading towards the viewer, alongside a field of tartan. Artist's signature at bottom left. Text below gives details of the weekday service between London King's Cross and Glasgow Queen Street stations, with stops at Leeds, Harrogate, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Below is the British Railways 'totem' logo. Text at bottom margin reads "Published by the Railway Executive (Eastern Region) (AR1006), Printed in Great Britain, Jordison & Co. Ltd., London and Middlesbrough".

British Railways Eastern Region poster advertising the Queen of Scots Pullman express train service, about 1950.

The Queen of Scots ran between London King's Cross and Glasgow Queen Street stations, calling at Leeds, Harrogate, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The poster, by Reginald Mayes, shows an A4 class locomotive with a train of Pullman carriages, travelling at speed past a field of tartan. Tartan was often used as to represent Scotland in railway publicity.

Pullman trains were luxury, first class services with high quality carriages provided by the Pullman Car Company. Passengers paid a premium rate to travel on Pullman trains.

The Queen of Scots service was introduced in May 1928. It was suspended during the Second World War and then reinstated in July 1948, operating until the service was withdrawn in June 1964. The journey covered 451 miles (726 km) and took over nine hours.

Reginald Mayes (1901 - 1992) was a poster artist and graphic designer who produced many promotional posters for Britain's railway companies.