Decals for LNER Coach Window Labels
LNER Smoking Prohibited |
LNER Smoking, A |
LNER Smoking, B |
LNER Smoking, Players Please |
LNER Smoking, Wills Gold Flake |
GNR Smoking Toplight |
GNR Smoking Banner, B |
GNR Smoking Banner, W |
GNR Smoking, W |
GER Smoking |
LDECR/GCR Smoking |
NBR Smoking |
LNER 1940s First |
GNR/LNER Door First |
GNR/LNER Door Third |
GNR/LNER Door Smoking |
These decals are for the small labels applied to coach windows by the LNER 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 a few of preserved carriages. For the period photos I have mostly only been able to find black and white photos, and I have also been unable to find any descriptive information. I'm reasonably certain of the colours of the LNER labels from the few colour period photos I have (all distant views), together with photos of preserved coaches (e.g. on the SVR). Some of the pre-grouping labels appear to have a dark coloured background or lettering, for these I've used the same blue colour as the LNER. The remaining labels appear to be black and white or etched glass. I have also had to estimate the sizes of the labels (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 LNER, the blue "Smoking" labels were introduced around 1925. The characteristic gold "Smoking Prohibited" ring labels followed around 1930. According to M. Harris in his books, the ring labels were replaced by red triangular ones a year later, but I have found no photographic evidence of such labels. Indeed, the photo evidence suggests that the ring labels continued until nationalisation.
In 1933 revised "Smoking" labels incorporating advertising slogans were introduced. The "Smoking" lettering appeared the correct way round on both sides of the label. The slogans appeared the correct way round on the inside, but reversed and darker on the outside. The advertising contract for the slogans ended in 1942, at which time the use of "Smoking" labels also ceased, leaving only the "Smoking Prohibited" ones. The "Smoking" labels without advertising possibly changed from the earlier small serif lettering to the later larger sans serif at the same time as the introduction of the ones with advertising, which also used the sans serif lettering.
During WWII, much of the elaborate pre-war lining and lettering was left off when coaches were repainted, including the door class labels. First accommodation was then identified by using large "1" labels in appropriate windows. The use of these labels continued after the war until nationalisation.
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 GNR, the "Smoking" labels filling the toplight windows of the outside doors seem to have become standard in the late 1900s or early 1910s. Prior to that, several different labels were used from the late 1890s, in an order that is difficult to determine. The "banner" labels also occupied the full width of a window, this time the window next to a door, and were located at the top of the window.
The other pre-grouping companies generally appear to have used "Smoking" labels from the early 1900s until the grouping. The GCR labels are shown on preseved coaches in LDECR livery, and are assumed to have continued into the GCR period. These also occupied the full width of a door-side window like the GNR "banner" labels, but mounted a little below the top of the window. I have found no photos of NER coaches, or those of the other smaller pre-grouping constituents, with window labels of any kind.
The GER "Smoking" labels appear to have been etched into the glass. The need for a white backing for my decals makes the transparency of the lettering and translucency of the etching difficult to reproduce. I've therefore used dark grey lettering on a lighter grey background.
The labels used on GNR–NER and East Coast Joint stock appear to have followed contemporary GNR practice.
As well as being applied to the outside windows of each compartment, the GNR and later LNER also applied labels to the windows of the corridor partition, in this case "outside" meaning facing the corridor. The standard prohibition ring was used on the right-hand side window (when viewed from the corridor). Dedicated class identification and smoking labels, of white individually applied letters, were applied to the door windows. At least in the larger scales, such 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 sizes of the labels (mostly estimated from photos) are:
- LNER Smoking Prohibited ring labels, 9in. diameter.
- LNER Smoking labels, 9.5 x 3.4 in.
- LNER Smoking labels wth advertising, 10 x 4 in.
- LNER 1940s 1st class labels, 10.5 x 6.5 in.
- GNR/LNER partition door class labels, 6 x 3 in.
- GNR/LNER partition door smoking labels, 11 x 1.7 in.
- GNR Toplight Smoking labels, 16 x 4 in. within 17 x 5 in. aperture.
- GNR Banner Smoking labels, 15 x 3 in.
- GNR smaller Smoking labels, 12 x 3.5 in.
- GER Smoking labels, 13.5 x 3 in.
- GCR/LDECR Banner Smoking labels 15 x 3 in.
- NBR Smoking labels, 10 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 | 56 |
| 1:22.5 | 83 |
| 10mm | 63 |
| 1:32 | 63 |
| 7mm | 81 |
| 1:64 | 120 |
| 4mm | 154 |
| 3.5mm | 154 |
| 3mm | 154 |
| 1:120 | 154 |
| 2mm | 154 |
Note that, because of their larger height, the LNER "Smoking Prohibited" and 1940s 1st 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 LNER 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.