Decals for SR Coach Window Labels
SR Smoking |
SR Non-Smoking, A |
SR No Smoking, B |
SR First Class |
LSWR Smoking |
SER Smoking |
LBSCR Smoking Label |
LBSCR Smoking Banner |
These decals are for the small labels applied to coach windows by the SR and its pre-grouping constituents to identify special seating sections, such as smoking or non-smoking. Decals are available to cover the period from the pre-grouping era through to nationalisation. These labels are all derived from period photos, plus information in the relevant HMRS Livery Register. For the period photos I have mostly only been able to find black and white photos. The Livery Register gives colour information for some of the SR labels, supported by the few colour period photos I have (all distant views). For the other coloured labels I've had to make an educated guess. The remaining labels appear to be black and white or etched glass. I have also had to estimate the sizes of the labels not described in the Livery Register (see below). If anyone has authoritative information for colours and sizes (and indeed periods of use), or additiional label types, please contact me and I'll correct or add to my decals as necessary.
The label decal types available are shown on the right, complete with cutting guides. These decals can be supplied in a variety of scales, from 2mm to 16mm, and are available on either white-backed or transparent waterslide decal paper; the transparent versions have the decals reversed (left-right) for application to the inside of the windows, to appear the correct way round when viewed from outside.
History and Use
Under the SR, the red and green "totem" labels were introduced in the 1930s. Prior to that presumably either the various pre-grouping labels continued in use, or the LSWR system was used. The totem labels were replaced by the triangular ones in the late 1930s, possibly with the Bulleid era, for no-smoking areas only – smoking areas were then unlabelled.
The First Class labels appear to have been introduced in the late 1930s, or possibly during WWII as a result of the general reduction in external markings. They were applied both to relevant outside windows, visible from outside, and to the windows of internal corridor doors visible from inside the compartment (or possibly both sides). The background colour appears dark in b&w photos, so I've assumed blue similar to other railways. At least in the larger scales, the internal labels would be readily visible from outside of the coach through the large windows on the outside of the corridor, but you will need to glaze the windows of the corridor partition.
The use of window labels by the pre-grouping companies is more difficult to determine. The following is derived from the few photos I've been able to find:
For the LSWR, the "Smoking" markings were etched into the windows to the left of the outside doors and were in use by the early 1900s. The markings were towards the top of the windows.
For the LBSCR initially "banner" labels were used that occupied the full width of a window, usually to the right of a door, and were also located towards the top of the window. These were later (by the 1910s) replaced by shorter labels with a coloured background (assumed red).
The SER used labels similar to the later LBSCR ones, in a similar position but to the left of the door, at least for a period in the 1890s. The background colour appears lighter than the LBSCR ones, so I've assumed green. I have found no photos of SECR coaches with window labels of any kind.
The sizes of the labels (mostly estimated from photos) are:
- SR Smoking / Non-Smoking totem labels, 10 x 5.6in. diameter.
- SR No Smoking triangular labels, 5.5 x 4.5 in.
- SR First Class labels, 10 x 2.5 in.
- LSWR etched labels, 13.3 x 3 in.
- SER Smoking labels, 13.3 x 3 in.
- LBSCR Banner Smoking labels, 15 x 2.5 in.
- LBSCR later Smoking labels, 12.5 x 3 in.
Note that in the smaller scales the labels will therefore be tiny, making them tricky to handle and apply. The lettering is also unlikely to be legible, but should give the impression of being viewed from a distance.
Application
The decals can be applied in three different ways:
- The white-backed decals can be simply applied to the outside of the windows. Although this is the simplest method, the decals will need to be carefully cut to shape, removing as much as of the black border as possible. Decals with a more complex shape, such as circular or with rounded ends, will be provided with a rectangular mid-grey surround to help make cutting out easier in the smaller scales – cut off as much of the grey as you wish.
- The transparent decals are applied to the inside of the windows, then painted on the reverse with white paint to fill in the white areas (my printer does not have white ink, so the white areas of the decal will be transparent, and colours other than black will be translucent). The decal pattern will be reversed left/right so that it appears the correct way round from the outside. The black decal border should be retained to define the edge of the label and allow for imprecise application of the paint. You may find it easier to use a drawing pen rather than brush to appply the paint, but be careful not to scratch the decal with the nib – perhaps dab the paint on in spots that merge together rather than draw the pen across the decal. The cutting guides are positioned to give a small transparent border around the label. The decals should be allowed to dry thoroughly (eg. at least overnight) before applying the paint, especially if using water-based paint. Opaque white ink can also be used instead of paint.
- The transparent decals are applied to the inside of the windows, as for method 2, then white-backed decals applied on top. The label will then then be correctly visible from the inside of the coach as well as the outside. The black border should be retained in full on the transparent decals, but reduced on the white-backed ones, to define the edge of the label as visible from the outside, while allowing for some imprecision in applying the white-backed ones. Decals with a more complex shape, such as circular or with rounded ends, will be provided with a rectangular mid-grey surround (on both the transparent and white versions) to help make cutting out easier in the smaller scales – cut off as much of the grey as you wish, a little more on the white versions than the transparent ones to allow for some misalignment and prevent the edges of the white decals appearing beyond the edges of the grey on the transparent ones. The transparent decals should be allowed to dry thoroughly (eg. at least overnight) before applying the white-backed ones, to minimise the risk of the transparent ones lifting during application of the white-backed ones.
Methods 2 and 3 will be much easier if the glazing can be installed to accurate positions, as it will then be possible to apply the decals before the glazing is installed, giving much easier access to the inside face. In this case, use of paper templates, marked with the outlines of the glazing material and window aperture, together with the positions of the labels, will help with applying the decals in the correct (and consistent) positions.
To order a set of decals you will be able to select any combination of label types you wish to fill a sheet. The number of label decals that can be fitted on a sheet depends on the scale as follows:
| Scale | No. of Labels |
|---|---|
| 16mm | 60 |
| 1:22.5 | 80 |
| 10mm | 56 |
| 1:32 | 63 |
| 7mm | 81 |
| 1:64 | 132 |
| 4mm | 132 |
| 3.5mm | 132 |
| 3mm | 132 |
| 1:120 | 132 |
| 2mm | 132 |
Note that, because of their larger height, the SR totem and triangular labels count as 2 when estimating how many decals can fit on a sheet.
Decals for 16mm and 22.5:1 scales will be supplied on A5 paper, the remainder on A6.
Configure your Sheet
To order a sheet of decals for SR window labels you will need to select one or more label types, add them to your sheet, and set the quantity you require of each. Once you've completed your sheet of decals, you can then add the sheet to your basket.
Select Labels
To add a label to your sheet as a decal, click on the Add button below its illustration.
The quantity of a decal you add to your sheet will initially be set to 20. This should be enough for a single carriage plus a few spares. For example, corridor and open coaches typically had 8 windows per side that could require labels, while suburban coaches up to 9. If you add a decal to your sheet that's already there, it's quantity will be increased by this amount.
Once you've added a decal to your sheet, you can adjust the quantity of it you require using the buttons below.