40 YEARS OF THE DOUBLE ARROWS

摘要

It burst onto the scene with the XP64 launch four decades ago, has outlived many previous rail emblems and has even survived the cull of Privatisation to become the symbol of the current passenger network. This is the fascinating story of the British Rail/National Rail logo. Forty years ago, a radical new image appeared on our railways when Brush Type 4 No. D1733 took to the rails in a striking blue livery and a daring new cabside motif. The BR 'double arrow' logo had been born. Although referred to by cynics as "proof that BR didn't know whether it was coming or going", the symbol has proved remarkably durable, outlasting not only the two earlier BR emblems but three of the 'Big Four' identities as well. Even Privatisation couldn't kill it off, for so well-known is it as a brand that it was adopted at the end of the 20th century as the 'National Rail' logo, thus ensuring its continued use on tickets and pamphlets, at virtually every station on the network and on road signs throughout the country.