LNER Route: Leicester to Marylebone

Rugby Central Station: gcrcs22

An exterior view of the station building located at road level taken during its days under BR ownership. The station is carrying the London Midland Region's version of British Railway's corporate colour scheme, red and cream, the cream was the standard BR shade used on all regions (except the North Eastern), and the red was a dark shade similar to the LMS colour. Cream was used on planking and canopy valencing, with the red on ironwork, framing, doors etc. as usual. The official BR specification from 1960 gives the colours as BS 381C 'Gulf Red' and 'Light Biscuit' in which case the red is brighter than the LMS shade. The paints dried very matt, though, which lessened the impact of this attractive livery. Poster boards & station signs were red with white lettering, including enamelled station signs on which the red was a darker shade. The lorry is obviously making a delivery of parcel traffic (otherwise it would have been sent to the adjacent goods yard). Parking on the pavement would not be acceptable today both because of the damage to the paving as well as the Health & Safety issues of forcing pedestrians out into the road as they pass by the lorry.

back