First in the Field – Southern Railway – Leslie Carr – 1946

The artwork for this Southern Railway poster was carried out by the artist Leslie Carr. It features a dramatic image of a train speeding down the railway tracks. The perspective employed to illustrate the train along with the blurred rail tracks and sunny sky offer an impressive feeling of speed. The wonderful railway poster reads “First in the Field”, New West Country Engines, Named after towns in the West of England, Look out for them on the Southern Railway – Getting into its stride again!

By 1929, Southern Railway had become the first railway company to introduce electrification to railway lines to Brighton, the Sussex Coast, Guildford and Portsmouth. However, there were still lines in Devon, Cornwall and beyond Salisbury that, at the time, didn’t merit the heavy cost of electrification. In 1945, Southern decided to inIn 1introduce two new classes of locomotive, the SR West Country and Battle of Britain. Intended to be a stop gap until electrification could be carried out, the company actually produced a total of 110 locomotives in a five year period.

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as a fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a bargain of print and poster for just £22.